MITADER staff members during the training

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) trained 12 staff members of the Ministry of Land, Environment and Rural Development (MITADER) in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), including the component of Global Positioning System (GPS). These systems will allow soil erosion mapping in Mozambique by processing and interpreting satellite images via Internet. 

The course run from 20 June to 1 July, in the city of Matola, and was directed at members of diverse departments at MITADER. 

The project, which aims to improve the implementation of the Action Plan to Prevent and Control Soil Erosion, will allow the creation of a reliable database on the stage of soil erosion and the foundation of a multi-sectoral commission on soil erosion prevention and control. 

According to the Head of MITADER's Department for Environmental Management and one of the training beneficiaries, Guilhermina Amurane, the course was "very useful, a multidisciplinary tool that may help to capitalize information and knowledge on soil erosion mapping in the country". After the workshop, Guilhermina Amurane mentioned that MITADER is "working on the terms of reference to initiate soil erosion mapping in the provinces of Nampula and Niassa". 

According to FAO Programme Officer, Carla Cuambe, "after this training follows the field testing of all methodology learned". This training complements the course on collection and classification of soil erosion types and soil erosion database management, run in December 2015.