THE BIODIVERSITY CONTEXT
Whilst empirical data is lacking, it seems from
anecdotal evidence and published books that Coutada 5
used to be a veritable wildlife paradise during the
period of Portuguese supremacy. However, during the
protracted civil war following on the withdrawal of the
colonial power, civil order collapsed and the
biodiversity resources of Coutada 5 were unsustainably
utilised to such an extent that virtually all the major
herbivore and carnivore species became extirpated. The
unsustainable utilisation of renewable natural resources
continues to this day. Relic populations of impala, kudu
and nyala, as well as small populations of smaller
antelope such as suni and oribi, still occur. The
species that were exterminated include lion, elephant,
buffalo, sable antelope, Lichtenstein's hartebeest,
eland, plains zebra, blue wildebeest, reedbuck and
waterbuck. Hippo and crocodiles can still be found in
the Rio Save, albeit in diminished numbers.
However, the diversity of habitats escaped largely
unscathed, except for the long-term negative impacts
arising from frequent and uncontrolled veldt fires that
take place annually. These habitats include sizeable
mangrove swamps along the Indian Ocean coast, a number
of intertidal salt marshes, dambos to the landward side
of the marshes and the mangroves, and a mosaic of
vegetation types. The more important vegetation types
include Mixed Deciduous Woodland (extensive), Mopane
Woodland/scrub (extensive), Riparian Woodlands
(limited), Grassland/Hyphaene Palm Savannah,
(extensive), Miombo Woodland with Thickets (relatively
restricted but often locally prominent), and also
Thickets, including Androstaychys johnsoni thickets,
Mixed Deciduous Thickets, and Rocky Outcrop thickets.
Avifaunal and herpetofaunal surveys have not been
completed yet, but it seems as if in both instances the
species richness and numbers of animals are unexpectedly
depauperate. Anthropogenic influences, such as frequent
fires and other man-made disturbances, may be the
reasons behind this situation.
The condition of the grazing for herbivores varies
according to soil types and the local frequency of
man-induced fires. In the almost total absence of
grazers, the quality of the grazing deteriorated due to
underutilisation, but can nevertheless be classified as
between good and even excellent. The carrying capacity
for herbivores has provisionally and conservatively been
calculated as 1 LSU/16 ha (LSU = Large Stock Unit)
An extensive (possibly the largest in the world)
wildlife re-introduction program will be launched. This
program will meet with all the relevant international
norms, policies, definitions and standards, including
all the listed biological, sociological and legal
requirements. The to-be-relocated list includes 20
species, ranging from the elephant and buffalo down to
the suni and oribi. Based on the above LSU carrying
capacity of 16 ha/LSU, the planned 210 000 ha
wildlife-wilderness block can accommodate an impressive
total of 3 125 LSU's.
The state of the conservation of the country's
biodiversity resources in Mozambique is not good. Though
protected areas (Coutadas included) constitute about 16%
of the total area, most of the protected areas have
suffered from human encroachments and the resulting
decline in wildlife numbers. The country drew up a
comprehensive Strategy and Action Plan for the
rehabilitation and conservation of biodiversity. This
Plan lists eight conservation objectives (with four
relevant to Coutada 5), and nine sustainable utilisation
objectives (with six being relevant to Coutada 5). In
the case of Coutada 5 the realisation of these
objectives are threatened by the bush meat menace
(illegal hunting), human settlements, extensive wood
fuel harvesting, and the illegal logging of hardwood
species.
With regards to the floral component, conservation and
management priorities will be aimed at identifying and
managing special preservation areas, fire management,
and establishing photographic monitoring points.
The conservation and management of the terrestrial fauna
will centre on a comprehensive wildlife re-introduction
program. This program will strive to establish and
maintain viable free-ranging populations of herbivores
and carnivores, which in turn will lead to the necessity
of population control. Such control will include trophy
hunting as the mainstay of economic use, and the removal
of excess game by means of culling and live capture. In
order to contain, manage and protect the expensive and
scarce relocated species, the erection of a game-proof
electrified fence around the planned core
wildlife-wilderness area of 210 000 ha will be an
imperative. The matter of ownership of the re-introduced
wildlife will need to be cleared with the government.
The Terrestrial Wildlife Sustainable Utilisation Plan
entails three modules: firstly establishing the core
wildlife-wilderness area (11 steps), secondly the
establishment and utilisation of herbivores (also 11
steps) and lastly the establishment and utilisation of
carnivores (a nine step procedure). The plans for the
three modules provide a broad range of guidelines, with,
in most instances, implementation requirements.
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