Forest-wise parks in Mozambique

After decades of growth in China-Mozambique economic relations, China is now the destination for approximately 93 per cent of all Mozambique’s timber exports – but this has coincided with an alarming loss of forest cover, raising concerns over the impact of this trade on Mozambique’s forest and rural development. In 2018, under the China-Africa Forest Governance project, the Chinese Academy of Forestry and IIED coorganised a visit by Mozambican stakeholders to two sustainable forest product processing parks, also referred to as ‘forest-wise’ parks, in Nankang and Zhenjiang, China. This report summarises preparatory desk research conducted in preparation for the visit and captures some reflections from Mozambique stakeholders, including those who participated in the visit.