On Wednesday, June 5th, World Environment Day was observed, a date established by the United Nations to raise awareness among governments, businesses, and citizens about the need to protect the planet. This year, the focus was on the urgency to restore ecosystems and combat pollution caused by the excessive use of disposable plastics.
In the country, two recognized voices in environmental activism — Carlos Serra Júnior, director of the NGO Cooperativa Ambiental Repensar, and Regina Charumar, internationally recognized for her work in conservation — argued that the country faces a severe ecological crisis requiring immediate, structural, and sustained measures.
A worrying portrait of the country: waste, pollution, and ecological destruction
In Carlos Serra Júnior’s words, Mozambique is experiencing a critical environmental situation, starting with “low environmental awareness” among the population. “It is a deep-rooted problem, fueled by the absence of systematic and effective environmental education. This gap is the root cause of many harmful behaviors we see daily, such as uncontrolled waste disposal or indiscriminate tree felling,” he explained.
In urban areas, Serra highlighted the “poor management of solid and liquid waste,” noting that it is common for domestic wastewater to be discharged into the environment without any treatment. This reality worsens pollution levels, deteriorates water quality, and compromises public health. “We live in cities growing without planning, occupying risk zones — mangroves, slopes, coastal forests — with brutal ecological impact,” the environmentalist stated. In addition to air pollution caused by burning waste and fossil fuels, Serra emphasized the threat posed by unsustainable agricultural practices in rural areas, where intensive use of firewood and charcoal as energy sources affects the availability of forest resources. “About 90% of families still depend on firewood for cooking. In some areas, scarcity is already felt and charcoal prices have skyrocketed,” he warned.
Coastal areas under threat: erosion, occupation, and loss of mangroves
Regina Charumar, an activist who received the “Civil Society Volunteer of the Year (2021)” award, focused her analysis on the reality of coastal areas, namely Maputo and nearby regions. “We are losing our mangroves and natural protections against coastal erosion due to disorderly urbanization and indiscriminate vegetation clearing,” she said.
The activist added that pollution caused by uncontrolled littering on beaches and riverine areas is compromising the marine ecosystem and the food security of communities. “It is essential to restore ecosystems such as coral reefs, coastal forests, swamps, and wetlands. A healthy ecosystem is the first line of defense against cyclones and floods,” Charumar reminded.
Economic development versus conservation: a false dichotomy
Both activists reject the idea that economic growth and environmental conservation are incompatible goals. For Regina Charumar, the problem lies in the lack of clear rules and the failure to enforce existing laws: “It is possible to exploit natural resources like gas, timber, or coal, but it must be done based on sustainability. We need to think about future generations, respect ecosystem limits, and ensure that resources can regenerate.”
Serra, for his part, noted that Mozambique already has “a new forestry policy and appropriate legislation,” but still lacks “political will and institutional capacity” to enforce the law on the ground.
Local communities as guardians of the environment
Both Serra and Charumar insist on the central role of local communities in conservation efforts. “They live closest to the ecosystems, know natural cycles, but often lack access to information and are not included in decision-making processes,” said Regina Charumar. The activist emphasized that it is essential to educate, raise awareness, and create real incentives so that these communities act as allies in conservation. “When they understand the benefits, they become active defenders of biodiversity — and this brings positive impacts, such as access to tourism revenues or non-timber forest products like honey,” she exemplified.
Environmental education: the missing link
Both activists lament the poor integration of environmental education in the school system. “The 1995 National Environmental Policy already foresaw actions in this regard, but almost nothing has been done,” Serra criticized, adding, “We have a National Environmental Education Strategy ready but not yet approved. It is urgent for the new government to implement it.”
Regina Charumar reinforced: “Environmental education is treated as an extracurricular topic, mentioned only on commemorative dates. It needs to be continuously integrated into the curriculum, from primary to higher education, to form a truly conscious generation.”
A call to policymakers and society
For World Environment Day, the two activists delivered clear and converging messages.
Carlos Serra Júnior called for a paradigm shift: “We must stop cutting and start planting. We must manage our resources sustainably, restore ecosystems, reorganize territory, and invest in community resilience. It is now or never.”
Regina Charumar addressed policymakers and society directly: “We need the environment more than the environment needs us. Let’s not celebrate just one day, but act every day. Let environmental education stop being political rhetoric and become a real priority. It is in our hands to prevent collapse.”
Text: Nário Sixpene
