In the lush, coastal sand forests of southern Mozambique, the Futi Corridor serves as a vital artery connecting Maputo National Park to South Africa’s Tembe Elephant Park. For centuries, this has been a wandering path for elephants and a biodiversity sanctuary. Yet for communities on its edges, sharing this fertile ground has often come at a high cost. Nevertheless, they are committed to conserving the wildlife as much as they are to their livelihoods, and so we witness their remarkable dedication to community stewardship in the Futi Corridor.
The Mwai Community Conservation Concession marks a powerful shift in this story. Born from a partnership between six villages, Mwai is a testament to community-led stewardship.
By voluntarily incorporating 10,000 hectares of land into the protected area estate, these communities have secured a future where they can thrive alongside wildlife. Mwai is a bold declaration that local communities are the rightful custodians of Africa’s wildscapes.