Posted
on 10 June 2011
Lake Niassa, has been officially declared
a reserve by the Government of Mozambique
today, protecting the species and natural
habitats of one of the largest and the most
bio-diverse, freshwater lakes in the world.
“Protecting Lake Niassa will have an immediate
and lasting impact on the health of the
fisheries located within it, providing security
to the people who depend on the lake for
their food and livelihoods,” said Rubina
Haroon, WWF Eastern and Southern Africa
Regional Programme Office, Representative.
“Now it is the time to translate the zoning
and management plans into practical actions
on the ground. Now is the time for friends
of Lake Niassa to rally round and lend a
hand”.
The Government of Mozambique has also approved
the proposal for the designation of Lake
Niassa as a Ramsar site, including not only
the reserve, but surrounding wetlands and
watershed. This wetland will be the second
Ramsar site for Mozambique after the declaration
of Marromeu Complex in 2003.
Lake Niassa, spanning 1,363,700 hectares
and 700 meters deep is Mozambique’s part
of the third largest and the second deepest
lake in Africa (referred to as “Lake Malawi”
in Malawi, and as “Lake Nyasa” in Tanzania,
which are the other two countries that share
it).
The lake’s tropical
waters and shores are home to an estimated
1,000 species of cichlids, with only 5 percent
found elsewhere. The region is also home
to significant and diverse bird populations,
mammals and reptiles.
Through collaboration
of the Government of Mozambique (Ministries
of Tourism, Fisheries, Environment and Defense,
the Niassa Provincial Government), USAID,
The Coca-Cola Company and WWF, village level
mechanisms for monitoring illegal and overfishing,
erosion and deforestation, managing fisheries,
and mitigating the impacts of climate change
were developed. Zones were created that
will allow for total protection of species
in some areas, seasonal protection in others,
depending on spawning times and dedicated
artisanal fishing areas.
Local communities were
instrumental in achieving success by making
several concessions in order to protect
their main source of food and income by
agreeing to the closure of all fishing rivers
during the annual spawning runs for lake
salmon and other species, and the total
protection of the Chambo (Tilapia sp.) spawning
beds during breeding season. Additionally
they created a team of community rangers
responsible to district administration and
cooperating with the Navy to enforce existing
laws surrounding illegal fishing, timber
cutting, illegal migration, mining and piracy.
“Through an innovative approach to water
use management, input from the local communities
and the will of the government, we are able
to protect endemic species of fish during
the critical stages of their lifecycle,”
said Haroon.
The new reserve is the
first fresh water lake under protection
in Mozambique covering an area of 47.8 thousand
hectares adjoined by a buffer zone of another
89.3 thousand hectares. It fulfils the government’s
commitment to protect 10 percent of lake
holdings and is in addition to the 17 percent
of terrestrial land holdings that are currently
protected by the government, 7 percent more
than they committed to when signing the
Jakarta Accord. The reserve will be managed
by the Ministry of Fisheries with support
from the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry
for Coordination of Environmental Affairs.
The Ministry of Defence will help with enforcement.
“Through science we
are able to quantify the economic benefits
of protecting our planet’s natural resources,
like the ones Lake Niassa provide” Haroon
said. “That is why WWF is encouraged by
the steps the Government of Mozambique
