The Government of Mozambique has officially approved the establishment of the Monte Mabu Community Conservation Area through Ministerial Diploma No. 69/2026, issued by the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries (MAAP) and published in the Boletim da República on 24 August 2026.

This approval marks a significant milestone for biodiversity conservation in Mozambique and formally recognises the role of local communities in the sustainable management of natural resources.

Located in Lugela District, Zambézia Province, Monte Mabu is a mountain rising to approximately 1,700 metres above sea level and home to an ancient tropical forest covering approximately 9,341 hectares. Recognised as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), Monte Mabu is renowned for its high number of endemic species and is one of the largest remaining continuous areas of mid-elevation tropical forest in Southern Africa.

The establishment of the Monte Mabu Community Conservation Area is the main expected outcome of the Monte Mabu Biodiversity Conservation and Community Development Project, implemented under the PROMOVE Biodiversity Programme, funded by the European Union and implemented by the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), in coordination with the National Administration for Conservation Areas (ANAC).

To support the achievement of this and other project outcomes, BIOFUND established an agreement with the WWF-ReGeCom-RADEZA Consortium, whose partners are responsible for implementing activities on the ground. This collaboration led to the establishment of the CONSERVAMABU Association, which will lead the management of the area, focusing on biodiversity conservation and the sustainable development of local communities.

The approval of the Monte Mabu Community Conservation Area reinforces the commitment of the Government, conservation partners and local communities to protecting the country’s natural heritage and promoting sustainable community development. Watch here the video about Monte Mabu and its communities. We are all biodiversity!