Created in 2010, the Ratata Natural Resource Management Committee is in the buffer zone of Gilé National Park (PNAG), on the side of Impaca locality in Pebane district. It has been working in coordination with the park to find sustainable alternatives aimed at improving the livelihoods of over five neighborhoods  hosting around 7,000 families.

The committee has benefited from partner support to strengthen its role in community awareness on natural resource conservation, as well as to boost Ratata’s economic and productive activities. In 2020, Gilé National Park organized training on beekeeping, non-timber forest products,  and human-wildlife conflict management.

Other activities being developed by this committee with the communities include promoting savings and strengthening the value chain of agricultural products produced by the community. This is a legalized committee, with a bank account, and it creates means of generating income and ensuring sustainability through the collection of monthly fees and membership contributions.

This information was shared during a visit recently carried out by staff from the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) and officials from the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) to Gilé National Park, within the framework of the PROMOVE Biodiversidade program, which foresees covering three components: (a) Biodiversity Conservation; (b) Community Development; and (c) Studies and Research, based on priorities identified in coordination with PNAG Administration. The biodiversity conservation component is managed by the FFS-IGF Foundation through direct support to Gilé National Park.

Also, within the scope of PROMOVE Biodiversidade, PNAG plans to carry out training in conflict management and association building as a way of improving the functioning of the Ratata Natural Resource Management Committee and other similar committees in the region.