South-South REDD: A Brazil-Mozambique Initiative
A workable national strategy for REDD in Mozambique is now critical.
Almost 70 per cent of Mozambique, 54.8 million hectares, is covered in forest and other woody vegetation types. Approximately 80 per cent of Mozambique's total population of 20 million live in rural areas where the incidence of poverty runs at 54 per cent. Dependence on forest resources is high.
85 per cent 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 Growing Forest Partnerships initiative to strengthen partnerships towards locally controlled forestry.
The main purpose of this project is to create the conditions under which Mozambique is able to embark on the implementation of a REDD initiative. The project is divided into four main areas:
(i) The development of a process towards National REDD Strategy – including a national multi-stakeholder dialogue, the strengthening of institutional capacity and pilot demonstration projects.
(ii) Discussion about how to implement policies and measures proposed in the National REDD Strategy
(iii) Development of viability studies for pilot mechanisms for payments for environmental services and public policies related to REDD
(iv) Dissemination of experiences of the South-South REDD collaboration between Mozambique and Brazil.
South-South REDD: A Brazil–Mozambique initiative for zero deforestation with Pan-African relevance (final project report)
REDD Sul-Sul: Uma iniciativa Brasil-Moçambique para Desmatamento Zero com Relevância Pan-Africana
South-South REDD Progress Report No. 3
South-South REDD Progress Report No. 2
South-South REDD Progress Report No. 1