"FAO is proud to be contributing to strengthen forestry governance capacities in Mozambique"

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recently launched in Maputo the third phase of the FAO-European Union FLEGT Program, which is part of the Action Plan on Legislation, Governance and Trade of Forest Resources.

The work plan for this phase of the Program in Mozambique is guided by a roadmap approved by the National Technical Committee (composed of the National Forest Directorate (DINAF), the Delegation of the European Union and the FAO Representation) establishing priority areas to support the country, namely:
-Reduce illegal logging by improving timber tracing;
-Strengthening the private sector in the use and conservation of forests;
-Strengthen civil society and communities in the monitoring, monitoring and re-tracking of timber.

The Representative of FAO stated that in this third phase "the FAO-EU FLEGT Programme will continue to provide subsidies to finance initiatives of government institutions, private sector and civil society organizations, emphasizing that the programme intends to work more closely with the private sector, particularly small and medium-scale forest enterprises, to define and address their main concerns in timber production."

Serrano also mentioned that "FAO is proud to be contributing to strengthen forestry governance capacities in Mozambique and thanks the government and other stakeholders working on this path to the legality and sustainable management of resources" he said.

The Deputy Director of the National Forestry Directorate, Imede Falume, highlighted "the need to promote the sustainable exploitation of forest resources, to increase in the volume of timber processed internally. Consequently, it will contribute to increase the value chain of timber-finished products in Mozambique, aiming at achieving socio-economic development and for the well-being of local communities in particular and for the country in general. "

At the same event, was launched the project "Improving Forest Governance through Strengthening Private Sector Representation in Mozambique" to be implemented by the Mozambican Association of Logging Operators (AMOMA) with the contribution of the Non-Governmental Organization ((Bosques & Comunidad) from Spain.

This project was the result of direct assistance from FAO to the strengthening of the private sector in the use and conservation of forests, where AMOMA was successful and selected to receive funding.

The aim of this project is to strengthen the capacity of forestry operators through their formalization in associations to support the process of creating and formalizing provincial associations of timber operators, training associations on sustainable forest management and establishing federation of forestry operators.