For a long time, people and elephants have competed for space and power in Moamba, a district in Maputo province. This may have come to an end or at least been minimized with the installation of a 3.7-kilometer fence at the Incomati Conservancy.
The initiative is part of the project “Voices of the Savanna: Elephants Monitored, Communities Heard”, led by the Mozambique Wildlife Alliance (MWA) and partners. With an investment of more than 3.1 million meticais, the fence goes beyond a physical barrier. It is an innovative strategy to protect the communities’ farms, infrastructure and livelihoods.
It helps to mitigate the impacts of elephant migration, promoting the safety of the population and the conservation of biodiversity. Seven members of the local communities participated directly in the initiative, reinforcing the importance of community involvement in the protection of wildlife and environmental sustainability.
To raise awareness about the importance of the fence, a guided tour is planned for community leaders and district authorities in Moamba, promoting an open dialogue about the coexistence between humans and elephants.
(By Renaldo Manhice)
