US Department of Agriculture – Forest Service International Programs Technical Assistance Mission Global Solidarity Fund International Mozambique, Niassa and Sofala regions In Support of Global Solidarity Fund International in fire and community forestry management on concessions in the Sofala and Niassa regions. FINAL REPORT June 2006 Mission Dates: March 5-19, 2006 Bill Van Bruggen Scott Stewart Forest Fire Management Officer Forest Legacy Specialist USDA Forest Service USDA Forest Service Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest Northeastern Area Station PO Box 640 11 Campus Drive Springerville, AZ 85938 Newtown Square, PA (928) 333-6318 (610) 557-4135 [email protected] [email protected] TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Acronyms…………………………………………………………………………3 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………4 Trip Activities, Finding, and Recommendations………………………………………6 I. Maputo – Activities……………………………………………………………6 II.Sofala/LevasFlor– Activities, Findings and Recommendation……………..6 Recommendations: Community Forestry Recommendations: Fire Management III.Niassa/Chikweti – Activities, Findings and Recommendations…………...8 Recommendations: Community Forestry Recommendations: Fire Management IV. Maputo – Activities…………………………………………………………11 Conclusions……………………………………………………………………………...12 Recommendations for future USFS/IP Missions……………………………………..12 Appendices Appendix A: Scope of Work…………………………………………………….14 Appendix B: USFS Team Agenda……………………………………………….19 Appendix C: GSFI pre-trip fire management questions…………………………22 Appendix D: Weather Network Options …..……...…………………………….27 2 LIST OF ACRONYMS GDA Global Development Alliance GPS Global Positioning System GSFI Global Solidarity Fund International FSC Forest Stewardship Council LCES Lookouts, Communication, Escape Routes, Safety Zones MCC Millennium Challenge Corporation MOU Memorandum of Understanding NFDRS National Fire Danger Rating System NIFC National Interagency Fire Center NGO Non-Governmental Organization NWCG National Wildfire Coordinating Group RAWS Remote Automatic Weather Station TCT TCT Dalmann Hardwood Furniture Company USAID United States Agency for International Development USDA United States Department of Agriculture USFS United States Forest Service USFS/IP United States Forest Service International Programs 3 INTRODUCTION With a rich, 100-year history of practicing sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation, USDA Forest Service/IP seeks opportunities world-wide to provide forest management technical assistance on issues that affect us both globally and domestically. Through consultations with USAID Mozambique, the USFS identified a former USAID grantee, the Global Solidarity Fund International (GSFI), as a viable partner who is working in the forest sector. USDA Forest Service/IP seeks to contribute to capacity building and poverty reduction through improved forest management in Mozambique by providing technical assistance to GSFI in the areas of fire prevention and community forestry management. GSFI, a private equity initiative taken by the Diocese of Vasteras, Church of Sweden, designs and invests in forest projects in the developing world which yield environmental, economic and social benefits. Like the USFS/IP, GSFI has identified Mozambique as a country with a high potential for poverty reduction through sustainable forest management. Although 50% of Mozambique’s population lives on less than $1.00 a day and there is widespread unemployment in rural areas, experience has shown that investments in the forest sector can rapidly create employment while managing the resource sustainably. A 16-year civil war ended in 1992, but was followed by major flooding in 2000 and 2001, then a severe drought in 2002. As a result of these hardships, poverty remains widespread. As GSFI supports profitable commercial ventures that increase the forest area under responsible management, and contribute to enhanced habitat for biodiversity, empowered communities and local capacity building, it recognizes this new era of peace and stability as opportunity to act in Mozambique. At present, GSFI (in collaboration with the Swedish development agency, Sida, and the Government of Mozambique) is implementing two forest management activities in Mozambique in the regions of Niassa and Sofala. In Niassa, in Northern Mozambique, both fire management and community forestry management are priorities for GSFI. GSFI aims to reforest and responsibly manage 46,000 hectares of deforested and degenerated forest area in Niassa, as well as create 45,000 hectares of conservation area. A 30-year plan has been created, by which GSFI proposes the creation of eucalyptus, teak, and hardwood plantation forests. This will require $30 million of investment over ten years, of which GSFI has committed to providing $10 million, and has already raised $4 million of that. In addition to the proposed plantation forests, there is the existing 1,400 hectare Lichinga plantation pine forest, which GSFI manages, and which should be FSC certified early in 2006. The sawmill at the Lichinga plantation pine forest is a source of local employment, and model for what can be achieved on a grander scale via the larger proposed plantation forests. In Sofala, fire management is the main concern. A commercial company, LevasFlor Lda, has been established, and granted a 50,000 hectare concession of natural forest, 5% of which will be set aside as conservation areas. The main goals at this point are to obtain 4 FSC certification of the natural forest in order to provide FSC certified forest products to both the domestic and international market, provide local employment, provide social development, and achieve sustainability in the forest industry here. The opportunity to achieve all of these goals hinges on establishing strategic approaches / techniques to fire suppression and management in the region, as uncontrolled wildfire presents the largest obstacle to success. The activities below served as the main objectives of this first USFS mission in Mozambique. Our hope is to build upon the work of this first mission in order to expand our involvement in Mozambique through partnership with GSFI, USAID/GDA, USAID/Mozambique, and/or the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Activities • Fire Management needs identified by GSFI include guidance from a USFS fire expert to examine the current ecological impact of fire in both the plantation forests of Niassa and the natural forests of Sofala. The USFS fire expert instructed GSFI employees on fire suppression and management techniques as well as assisted GSFI employees with strategic approaches to prevent and suppress fire (such as identifying necessary equipment that may be required to suppress fire outbreaks) and training needs. The USFS fire expert assisted GSFI and their local partners develop fire management strategies for each concession. • Community Forestry Management needs necessitated the participation of a USFS community forest management expert who is also knowledgeable about agricultural landscape management. This expert was called upon to perform tasks which fall under 3 main categories: 1. Working with GSFI employees on how to utilize Mozambique’s new land law to promote community ownership or access to forest resources or land for reforestation. The new land law, which provides for community ownership of forest resources, lacks application decrees and any work done by USFS and GSFI could serve as a pilot and contribute to the development of these regulations. 2. Assisting Wouter Doulee, an employee of the Diocese of Niassa, in fine-tuning a proposal to be submitted to various donors for additional funding for community forest projects. An early version of the proposal was rejected by one donor for conceptual problems, and the USFS expert will collaborate with the GSFI consultant to strengthen the proposal so that it is solidly grounded in with both good natural resources management practices and the local context. 3. Making field visits, and exploring further opportunities for economic and social development through active involvement and investment of communities in natural resources management. Specific possibilities for communities to benefit from non-timber forest products include sustainable harvesting of non-timber forest products (fruits and nuts can serve as important sources of protein for undernourished populations living in these areas) and reforestation. It is also important to evaluate further opportunities for employing improved forestry and agricultural methods in these areas, such as identifying management techniques that are both more productive and less labor-intensive than what is currently employed. 5 TRIP ACTIVITIES, FINDINGS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS I. MAPUTO Maputo – Monday, March 6 Inbriefing with US AID officials and US Embassy. ACTIVITIES: The USFS team inbriefed with US AID officials in Maputo in the morning. Christine DeVoest, Tim Born, and Jose Martins were in attendance at this meeting and shared work they were sponsoring in Mozambique specific to the USFS mission. Christine shared that there are many stakeholder opportunities in both Niassa and Sofala provinces. Jose Martins shared that there is some effort in Niassa to explore ecotourism opportunities, especially around Lake Niassa. In the afternoon the USFS team inbriefed with John Wysham, economic liaison for the US Embassy. The US Embassy supports economic development, commerce expansion, and job creation in Mozambique. II. SOFALA/LEVASFLOR Sofala: Tuesday, March 7 – Friday, March 10. Toured