South-South REDD

The implementation of the South–South REDD process was made achievable by those who assumed leadership roles (political and technical), facilitated the meetings and the logistics on the ground (especially the consultations and training) and acted as resources people. It would be impossible to name everyone, but in particular we would like to thank the Minister of Environment, Alcinda Abreu, and Vice-Minister, Ana Chichava, who provided the leadership and often challenged the technical experts.

Their questions – such as ‘how sustainable is this in our context’; ‘how does this link with the on-going processes for reducing emissions such as community-based natural resources management, tree planting by pupils and local leaders’; ‘what are the examples from other countries’; ‘how practical are the suggestions from policy and institutional points of view’ – stimulated the thinking and shaped the REDD+ readiness proposal plan, generally termed RPP. Virgilio Viana, Director of FAS, shared the insights of Bolsa Floresta, thus informing the choices that Mozambique has made. The National Directorate of Environmental Management (DNGA) of the Ministry for Coordination for Environmental Affairs (MICOA) represented by Paula Panguene and Anselmina Liphola; and the National Directorate of Lands and Forests of the Ministry of Agriculture (MINAG) represented by Oreste Nakala (deceased) andLuis Dinis ensured the inter-institutional coordination that was key to delivering the South–South

collaboration targets. The organization of consultations and studies involved several people in particular representing MICOA and MINAG at provincial level (DPCA and DPA) in Niassa, Nampula, Tete, Zambézia, Manica, Sofala, Inhambane and Gaza. Milagre Nuvunga, Director of MICAIA Foundation, and her team facilitated the process of initiating REDD+ piloting in the country. Last but not least, we would like to thank those who participated in the consultations and responded to the questions during the various studies, bringing to the process the voices of land users and those who make decisions at local level.

Mozambique’s process was considered ‘best practice’ by the technical advisory panel of FCPF.