A new community conservation area is taking shape in the Futi Corridor, inside the Maputo Environmental Protection Area (APA Maputo) and the buffer zone of Maputo National Park, in the district of Matutuíne, Maputo province, according to MzBio. As part of the initiative, a fence stretching approximately 43 kilometres has already been constructed.
Although the area has not yet been officially inaugurated, the structure is already contributing to the protection of local communities and their smallholder farms in a district where coexistence with wildlife — particularly elephants — has long been a significant challenge.
The Muhai community is already a partner of Maputo National Park in efforts to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. As previously reported by KAMBAKU, the park began installing electric fences around smallholder farms in the buffer zones in 2025, in collaboration with the Muhai Community Reserve, Mozambique Wildlife Alliance, ANAC, and the Peace Parks Foundation.
In a first phase, the farms of 29 families in Guengo and 24 families in Matchia were protected, representing an investment of approximately 2.8 million meticais financed by ABSA Bank.
The Futi Corridor follows the river of the same name and connects Maputo National Park to Tembe Elephant Park in South Africa, restoring a historic elephant migration route.
According to Conserve Global, the local community association has mapped approximately 10,000 hectares on the western boundary of the park for the creation of a community conservation area. The plan envisages fencing off this territory and subsequently removing the existing degraded fence, allowing large mammals to move freely between the park and the new conservation zone.
The initiative had already been planned as far back as 2023. Matutuíne would thus become the first district in Maputo province to have a dedicated community conservation area. The objective is to reduce conflict between communities and wildlife while enabling the sustainable use of natural resources, including agriculture.
Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/2026/09/30/economia/conservacao/maputo-nova-area-de-conservacao-avanca-no-corredor-de-futi/
