LIVELIHOOD INTERVENTIONS AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN QUIRIMBAS NATIONAL PARK

The document examines the intersection of community livelihoods and biodiversity conservation in the Quirimbas National Park (QNP), Mozambique. It highlights the vulnerability of coastal communities to climate shocks and the mixed success of past livelihood projects, which often failed due to a lack of sustainability strategies or failure to account for socio-economic contexts. The author argues for a systems approach that integrates community-led monitoring, sustainable resource use techniques—such as temporary octopus fishery closures—and improved access to finance through Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs).

• The Quirimbas National Park (QNP) is a critical site for global biological diversity, protecting approximately 7,500km² of terrestrial and marine habitat in Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique, including 160 species of coral and five IUCN Red-Listed endangered turtle species.
• Coastal communities in the QNP are highly susceptible to climate-related risks, including flooding, drought, sea level rise, and ocean acidification, which threaten artisanal fisheries and coastal infrastructure.
• Livelihood interventions in the QNP have a mixed record, with approximately one-third of projects failing or stopping prematurely due to a lack of exit strategies, insufficient technical skills, or a failure to consider market dynamics.
• Alternative livelihood projects often fail to replace destructive practices because communities may simply add new income streams to existing activities or reinvest new funds into livestock, agriculture, or fisheries, thereby maintaining pressure on conservation areas.
• Gender-specific livelihood needs exist within the QNP; women on Ibo, Quirimba, and Matemo islands value diversified income from octopus harvesting and gleaning and seek hospitality training for tourism, while men prioritize improving fishing techniques for higher-value pelagic fish.
• The implementation of temporary octopus fishery closures in two sites (Songossawe and Banco T’Chamba) in 2017, based on a Madagascar model, demonstrates potential for resource replenishment but requires stricter enforcement to prevent illegal fishing by outsiders.
• Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs), currently being piloted on Matemo Island by the NGO Associação do Meio Ambiente (AMA), are recommended to improve financial inclusion and resilience for rural communities with limited access to formal banking.
• Effective conservation in the QNP depends on the active engagement of Community Fisheries Councils (CCPs) in co-management, including joint patrolling of no-take zones and the use of community-led monitoring systems like the Management Orientated Monitoring System (MOMS).

APA

CHEVALLIER, R. (2018). LIVELIHOOD INTERVENTIONS AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN QUIRIMBAS NATIONAL PARK. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Policy-Insights-57.pdf

Chicago

CHEVALLIER, ROMY. LIVELIHOOD INTERVENTIONS AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN QUIRIMBAS NATIONAL PARK. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2018. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Policy-Insights-57.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=CHEVALLIER |first1=ROMY |title=LIVELIHOOD INTERVENTIONS AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN QUIRIMBAS NATIONAL PARK |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=May 2018 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Policy-Insights-57.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{chevallier2018livelihood, author = {CHEVALLIER, ROMY}, title = {{LIVELIHOOD INTERVENTIONS AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN QUIRIMBAS NATIONAL PARK}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2018}, month = may, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Policy-Insights-57.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }