RN Gilé - Pilot project to mitigate deforestation and Miombo forest degradation in the Gilé National Reserve, Mozambique

The Gilé National Reserve (GNR) used to be one of the most preserved treasures of biodiversity in Mozambique.

Mainly composed of dry forest, known as Miombo forest, the GNR hosted the last black rhino population of Mozambique. However, it suffered from the collateral damages of the Mozambican civil war: in 20 years, all of the GNR infrastructures were destroyed and its wildlife was reduced to almost zero.

Since 2009 the International Foundation for Wildlife Management (IGF), benefiting from a loan from the French Global Environment Facility (FFEM), is striving to rehabilitate the Reserve through the re-establishment of its infrastructures, anti-poaching activities and wildlife reintroduction (buffalo, wildebeest, zebra…). So far, those actions have proved to be efficient as wildlife populations are now increasing again.

• Contribute to the Mozambican REDD+ strategy through a bottom-up approach
• Promote an inclusive economic development and protect the environment via carbon funding
• Mitigate deforestation that is increasing on the outskirts of the Reserve, as a result of both population increase and shifting “slash & burn” agricultural practices – which are space consuming

A1 Quantification of carbon stocks and historical deforestation rate and estimation of future deforestation and the potential for greenhouse gas emissions reductions
A2 Designing of a REDD+ strategy for the project and validation of the project by an internationally recognized certification body
A3 Support to 300 smallholder families to adopt agro-ecology practices on about 450 ha, 60% of which should be part of agro-forestry systems based on cashew trees
A4 Designing of 6 agro-environmental plans of actions with 6 communities around the Reserve
A5 Management of the Reserve (anti-poaching units, infrastructures maintenance, biodiversity monitoring, fire prevention)