This week, PeaceParks.TV unveils the new boardwalks of Mozambique’s Maputo National Park. Staff have constructed a wooden pathway to protect sensitive dune systems. This sandy stretch of Ponta do Ouro fringes a section of the park’s pristine 100km coastline.
Dunes are a vital element of the landscape because they are rich in biodiversity. They are, however, extremely vulnerable to human activities. For example, on the high tide, local fishermen and tourists making their way along the coast are forced to use routes along the dunes, damaging the vegetation and causing landslides.
“The walkway is part of the Kuvikela Programme implemented by Maputo National Park in partnership with Peace Parks Foundation, and financed by Blue Action Fund,” explains Vanessa Muainga, Blue Action Fund’s Ecosystems Manager. “With this initiative, the park hopes to reduce human impact, and help the dunes recover on their own.” The wooden boards and a guide rope now offer a much easier and nature-friendly way for pedestrians to navigate the tides whilst protecting Ponta’s delicate dunes.
The Power of the Kuvikela Programme
Marine and coastal protection within the Maputo Environmental Protection Area, has been given a significant boost with a €5.9m grant awarded by Blue Action Fund that launched the Kuvikela Programme. This initiative is working to protect and restore the region’s fragile ecosystems and is helping communities earn an income that is not so reliant on what nature provides. In this region of Sub-Saharan Africa, climate change is causing more frequent and extreme events which impact Maputo National Park’s sensitive coastline, and the communities dependent on it. Kuvikela projects are aimed at building the resilience of both people and the landscape.
Maputo National Park is co-managed by the Government of Mozambique and Peace Parks, who are committed to restoring, protecting and developing this coastal region, which is rich in unique and endangered biodiversity.
Stay tuned to PeaceParks.TV for more on-the-ground action.
