The sustainable development of the Govuro coastal zone through adaptation
to climate change using a community based integrated coastal zone
management approach
A summary report
The problem
The project area is the entire Nova-Mambone Administrative post, which is located along the coast of
the Govuro district. The district is highly prone to extreme climate effects like cyclones and spatial and
temporal variations in rainfall. As a consequence, the district is susceptible to floods and droughts, the
negative effects of extreme weather conditions. To ensure sustainable socio-economic well-being of
the inhabitants of this area, there is a need to put in place viable adaptation measures that are in line
with the climate change risks prevalent in the area, and which resonate positively with the different
stakeholders in Nova-Mambone. The proposed project by the people of the district, sought to address
this problem by identifying the main climate related hazards and their impacts in the study area; the
livelihood resources (natural, physical, financial, social and human) used by the communities in this area
as well as the coping strategies currently being employed and also propose alternative coping
strategies for adaptation.
Objectives
The overall objective of the project was to promote climate change adaptation measures through:
raising villagers’ awareness on climate change adaptation, land use planning and finally through natural
resources management. Achieving this objective required disaster planning by documenting climaterelated natural hazards, assessing the current coping strategies, assessing the resources needed for
coping as well as Land Use Planning (zonation) including a management plan for sustainable use of
natural resources.
Five specific objectives were targeted. These were: raising the villagers’ awareness on climate change
adaptation and natural resource management; describing the current status of natural resources in the
area and developing a prioritized identification of the problems related to climate change; describing
sustainable practices for natural resources management and climate change adaptation in the area;
assessing Land use sustainability in the area and developing a detailed recommendation for sustainable
land use and natural resources management in the area.
The CC-DARE contribution to the solution
The project was implemented by the Centre for Sustainable Development of Costal Zones (CDS ZC), a
governmental institution under the Mozambican Ministry for the Coordination of Environmental
Affairs. CC-DARE provided the funds and technical assistance in the form of anchor persons who liaised
regularly with the national implementation team of the project, and sourcing for specific needs for
project implementation such as knowledge materials and technical skills in order to maintain quick
implementation of the project.
The big picture
In general, the project has helped strengthen the institutional links between the relevant climate
change adaptation players in the district as well as strengthening local capacities in the field of climate
change. The consultation meetings during the Climate Change Risk Screening in the study area were
attended by local Government representatives, technicians, NGO’s, community leaders and the local
population of farmers, fishermen and women groups. During these meetings, the project staff
endeavoured to bring to the participants’ attention, the problem of climate change and natural
resource degradation and the available options for sustainable resource management.
The project focused on three main issues: the elaboration of the catalogue of climate change and
natural resources management in the area; elaboration of Situational Description of the state of the
natural and socioeconomic resources, and finally the zoning and management plan for the area’s
natural resources. This approach enabled the identification of the main climate related hazards and
their impacts in the study area, the livelihood resources (natural, physical, financial, social and human
resources) used by the communities and the current coping strategies and alternative coping strategies
for adaptation. In addition, the project enabled the assessment of the natural resources in the study
area as well as the identification and mapping of the flood risk areas. The following were the direct
outputs and outcomes of the project implementation activities;
 Training of 6% of the total population including technicians and teachers on climate change
adaptation and natural resources management

Improvement of local knowledge on vulnerability evaluation, climate change and management
of natural disasters through training of local technicians as well as the local community

Description of the biophysical and socioeconomic situation and the identification of 5 main
environmental problems of the area. This was achieved through a survey of the infrastructure
and natural resources of the area.

Creation of 16 thematic maps and 1 zoning map of the coastal area of Nova Mambone, showing
suitable areas for agriculture, conservation, tourism, fishery, habitation, etc. Further more, a
map of flooded areas was elaborated to identify critical flood prone areas.

Creation and promotion of 1 village management nucleus at the district town for coordinating
and implementing resource-conservation measures as well as disaster management at the
village level.

Identification of 6 strategies for climate change adaptation at the local level. These strategies
were discussed during the consultation meetings with the communities. In the end, a final draft
of the catalogue of climate change and natural resource management was produced.
The Activities undertaken covered the entire Nova Mambone Administrative Post which is located
along the cost of the Govuro district. Figure 1 below shows the location of the problem area. As stated
earlier, this area is highly prone to extreme climate effects like cyclones and spatial and temporal
variations in rainfall. Consequently, the district is susceptible to floods and droughts, the
negative effects of extreme weather conditions.
Map showing the Location of Govuro District and Nova Mambone Administrative Post