Benguerra Island is part of the Bazaruto Archipelago – which is in a National Marine Park (Moçambique’s first), managed by the National Directorate of Conservation Areas within the Ministry of Tourism and supported by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT).
There is a community of approximately 1,000 people on Benguerra Island and a portion of every park fee goes into Trust for these islanders. The Lodge works very closely with this Community to protect and preserve this idyllic corner of the world. It is understood that without the goodwill and support of the local Community no management strategy for this area can succeed – hence the establishment of a body representing the interests of the Government, the Community and the private sector.
This body is called Khani Kwedho – meaning “Our Home”, and its purpose is to:
- Involve the local Community in conservation and environmental initiatives.
- Implement projects that will improve the quality of life for the Community
- Increase and improve benefits to the Community through responsible eco-tourism.
- Promote sustainable use of natural resources.
- Promote and understanding of the mutual benefit inherent in a sustainable relationship between the Community, protected areas and the tourists who visit the Island.
- Promote the principle of high value/low volume, and thus low environmental impact, tourism.
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The local island community is part of the overall Tsonga ethnic group. The local residents along the coast, from Inhambane northwards, including the Archipelago, are part of the Tsonga sub-group called Khokha. This sub-group includes the Machengua people on the Moçambican mainland opposite the Archipelago. The island inhabitants have evolved their own dialect called Xitsonga. Portuguese and multi-secular Asian cultures influenced local traditions. Obvious influences included new fishing technologies and more efficient agricultural methods. |
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The administration of the Bazaruto National Park falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Tourism, Department of Conservation Areas and the Moçambique government. Their involvement incorporates the formulation of a developmental plan for the Bazaruto Archipelago. Based on sound conservation principles, the plan strives to safeguard the ecological integrity of the archipelago. The interests of local resident communities, who traditionally depend on the fauna and flora for their livelihood, needed to be represented and integrated into the planned activities surrounding the development of the Park. This representation of local communities fuelled the formation of “Khani Kwedho”, translated from the Xitsonga dialect as "our home". |
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In conjunction with the World Wide Fund for Nature, the Government of Moçambique upgraded and strengthened the Bazaruto National Park administration and management institutions. In November 2001, the private sector operators and the local resident community on Benguerra Island agreed that the working arrangement should evolve into a formally constituted body, aptly called Khani Kwedho.
This formal body represents the interests of Government, local resident communities and private sector operators on the Island and ensures the practical delivery of key management plan objectives. These objectives have been identified as:
- Providing a democratic forum for all parties
- Providing a communication link between the environmental conservation objectives of the Management Authority and the commercial development objectives of the private sector.
- Establishing a legally constituted entity mandated to manage funds and resources specifically destined for community development, environmental conservation and protection of Benguerra Island.
The local resident community, the private sector and the Bazaruto National Park Management Authority put forward nominations to represent their interests. |
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Khani Kwedho, whilst not unique in terms of concept, is nevertheless without precedent in the Bazaruto Archipelago. The successful delivery of the stated objectives of Khani Kwedho will contribute to safeguarding the environmental integrity of this special area for the benefit of generations to come. A major beneficiary of these conservation efforts is the Dugong, which depends heavily on the careful management of the Bazaruto Archipelago’s resources for its continued survival.
Agreements have been reached on issues where traditional practices possibly conflict with the aims of tourism, resulting in the promotion of practices that contribute to increasing the environmental magnetism of the archipelago. Conversely, tourism activities have been tailored to respect local custom and limit negative socio-economic impact. |
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