Peace Parks Foundation will allocate approximately $23 million this year to support the continued operations and development of four national parks in Mozambique, the organisation announced on Saturday.
"For the current year 2026, we have a budget of approximately $23 million available to support the continuity of operations and the development of the four parks — namely Maputo, Banhine, Limpopo, and Zinave — including the ecological connectivity areas within the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier zone," said Bartolomeu Soto, Peace Parks Foundation's Regional Manager for southern Mozambique, speaking in Gaza Province in the south of the country.
According to Soto, a portion of the investment is directed at Banhine National Park in Gaza Province, where activities to strengthen wildlife populations and improve management infrastructure are currently under way.
"Over the next two years, we intend to continue investing in infrastructure at Banhine National Park, to the value of approximately $500,000. We want to expand the park's headquarters, bringing teams closer to the areas where their presence is most needed," he said.
Soto added that the foundation expects progress on the review and approval process for the collaborative management regulation governing the conservation area, and advocated for an administration that is "increasingly strong, professional, and sustainable."
The official also highlighted a recent transfer of animals from Maputo National Park to Banhine National Park as part of broader wildlife restocking efforts.
"For the first time, 418 animals were translocated from Maputo National Park to Banhine Park. Impalas, zebras, and roan antelopes were brought in," Soto said, adding that the introduction of the first 20 giraffes into the conservation area is planned for later this year.
Peace Parks Foundation, established in 1997 with former South African President Nelson Mandela among its founders, has also championed the reintroduction of rhinoceroses into Zinave National Park in Inhambane Province, describing the initiative as a significant regional milestone in protecting a species that has long been targeted by poachers.
Mozambique has 12 national parks and protected areas, and is home to 5,500 flora species and 4,271 species of terrestrial wildlife.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/08/02/economia/conservacao/peace-parks-foundation-vai-investir-mais-de-20-m-em-quatro-parques-nacionais/
