South-South REDD: A Brazil-Mozambique Initiative

A workable national strategy for REDD in Mozambique is now critical.
 

Almost 70% of Mozambique (54.8 million hectares) is covered in forest and other woody vegetation types. Approximately 80% of the total population (20 million) of Mozambique live in rural areas where the incidence of poverty runs at 54%. Dependence on forest resources is high.

For example, 85% of rural energy consumption is derived from fuelwood and charcoal (consuming about 20 million cubic metres of wood a year). The annual rate of deforestation is 219,000 hectares per year. Mozambique’s rural poor are particularly vulnerable to threats to its natural resources through extreme weather events such as floods or droughts. Its extensive coastline makes the nation as a whole vulnerable to changes in sea level that might also result from climate change.

In response, the government of Mozambique has signed a memorandum of understanding with Brazil to develop a project - South-South REDD: A Brazil-Mozambique Initiative for zero deforestation with pan-African relevance. Administered and supported by IIED, this project has in view the preparation of a national REDD strategy for Mozambique. In parallel, pilot payment mechanisms will be designed at two sites, based on Brazilian experiences of the Bolsa Floresta programme. The project will design and test innovative mechanisms for the development of public policy in Mozambique that targets deforestation and involves payments for environmental services. The project fits with the intention of the new ‘Growing Forest Partnerships’ initiative to strengthen partnerships towards locally controlled forestry.