Washington - The minister of the Environment, Ana Paula de Carvalho, reaffirmed, on Wednesday, in Washington, United States of America, Angola's commitment to the preservation of natural resources, mainly the 585,949 km2 of Miombo forest that covers almost half of the Angolan territory.
When speaking at the International Conference on the Miombo Forest, held from the 16th to the 17th of this month, the minister highlighted not only the importance of these forests, as well as their vital role in the protection of endemic species, such as the Giant Sable Antelope, considered one of the National symbols.
On the occasion, the President of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, co-host of the event, expressed the desire that this Washington conference could be a catalyst for essential discussions on energy transition, management of water and forest resources, as well as biodiversity conservation.
According to the Mozambican statesman, practical solutions need to be found to guarantee the sustainability of the Miombo Forest to boost the socio-economic development of the involved nations.
The African leaders present at the conference reaffirmed their commitment to environmental preservation, with one of the main references being the Maputo Declaration, to which Angola signed.
This statement and the "Integrated Landscape Management to Tackle Land Degradation and Increase Community Resilience in the Arid Miombo-Mopane Forests in Angola" project, funded by the Global Environment Fund, are the indicators of strategies to address the challenges faced by local communities.
At the end of the conference, a resolution was adopted that emphasizes the importance of alternative livelihood mechanisms for communities that depend on Miombo forests, in addition to promoting participatory management of these natural resources.
At almost 2.7 million km2, the Miombo Forest is vital to the livelihoods of more than 300 million people across Central and Southern Africa, making a concerted effort towards its protection and sustainable management imperative.
The International Miombo Forest Conference is a high-level event involving the participation of African leaders committed to environmental sustainability.
Co-organized by the Republic of Mozambique, the ICCF Group, the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Rainforest Trust, the event represents a milestone in international collaboration for environmental conservation.
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