26 February 2009
In Mozambique, ecotourism is helping to give poor people the chance of a stable income.
Among those benefiting are farmers forced to give up their old jobs through drought and poverty. Salomão Valoi (pictured left), from the Massingir district in the south west of the country, is one of these.
Meagre rainfalls and wild animal attacks were affecting Salomão's crops, but he lacked the money and materials to equip his farm against them. Then a DFID-backed programme that helps Mozambicans earn more money from land arrived in his district. Soon Salomão was working with private investors and the state to develop an ecolodge on land that he had once farmed.
Natural riches
Surrounded by rivers, forest, mountains and a beach, the ecolodge attracts tourists keen to learn about and experience the riches of Mozambique's natural landscape. Salomão and his neighbours work in a variety of jobs at the lodge - from taking care of the guests' rooms and working in the restaurant to conducting boat trips, art groups, dances and bush walks.
Since the initiative began working in the area in 2006, the difference has been remarkable. Jobs have been created and incomes have risen. In contrast to when he was working as a farmer, Salomão is now able to provide his family with a decent quality of life, securing school places for his grandchildren and feeding all his dependents year-round. Throughout the ecolodge's development, Salomão has also acted as a representative for his community, consulting with the DFID initiative to ensure that local interests are listened to and respected.
However, Salomão feels strongly that this is just the beginning. There is much more to do, he says, to create a fully sustainable ecotourism complex that benefits the whole community. But, he adds, he's happy that he and his neighbours are now able to face the future with optimism.
Facts and stats
- In Mozambique, all land is owned by the state. Citizens have the right to use land and sell assets on it, but they cannot buy it or take out mortgages on it.
- DFID is contributing £2.7 million (half the total budget) over five years (2006-11) to the Community Lands Initiative (Iniciativa de Terras Comunitárias - ITC - in Portuguese).
- DFID financing to the ITC allows communities to legally secure their land tenure rights and to maximize the economic returns from these rights, including through partnerships with external investors and/or local government institutions.
- The ITC is currently implemented in three provinces: Manica, Gaza and Cabo Delgado. It will expand to three additional provinces in the north (Niassa, Nampula and Zambézia), funded by the US government's Millennium Challenge Corporation. Although they will use separate management systems, both programmes will be monitored by a Common National Advisory Committee (NAC).
