Creating Safe Spaces for People and Wildlife (5-minute Video)

Creating safe spaces for people and animals is essential in addressing human-wildlife conflict. The Mozambique Wildlife Alliance (MWA) is actively tackling this challenge through an innovative program. In Mozambique, farming is deeply ingrained in the culture, with each household cultivating its own fields.

However, this traditional practice becomes problematic when crop-raiding elephants enter these areas, causing widespread damage as they are chased from one field to another.

To mitigate this, MWA has introduced a program encouraging communities to form legal agrarian cooperatives by pooling their agricultural land.

A minimum of 20 families and at least 20 hectares are required to establish a cooperative. Once formed, MWA erects electric fencing around the farmland, keeping elephants out and ensuring a secure environment for farming.

This initiative not only protects crops but also fosters greater tolerance toward wildlife. Currently, eight community fields benefit around 250 families and span approximately 300 hectares.

By 2030, MWA aims to expand this model to 100 community farms.

To achieve this goal, MWA relies on strong partnerships with individuals and institutions that share its vision for conservation and coexistence in Mozambique.