Title:
ANALYSIS OF THE FOREST APPROACH IN THE DISTRICT STRATEGIC PLANS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MOZAMBIQUE

Authors:
Jerónimo Víctor Teixeira , Mozambique

Abstract:
This paper analyzes how forests are addressed in local government plans and strategies. The overall objective is to better understand the importance given to forests in the economic development of the country. Specifically, the analysis on this theme seeks to answer the following questions: 1. What is the importance given to forest resources in local development plans? 2. To what extent, and how, are forests incorporated into plans at district level? 3. What is the role assigned to local communities (if any) in forest management based on the strategies analyzed? The methodology of this research was the textual analysis of the forest references as well as the importance given to this natural resource, based on the documents of the local development plans, namely at the district level. Results indicate that the local development plans reviewed recognize the importance of forest resources, but the focus varies from document to document. Among the priority actions presented by the documents, the participation of local communities in decision-making processes on forest use has not been addressed in most of these decision support instruments. The role of local governments in forest management is not explicit in most of the district strategies analyzed.