Gorongosa, Mozambique, July 31, 2024 (Lusa) - More than 20 years ago, Greg Carr rediscovered Gorongosa, and Mozambique's most important park has never been the same again: now rehabilitated, with more fauna and flora than ever, and oriented towards the community, it leaves the US-born millionaire and philanthropist thrilled.

"In my opinion, it's the best park in the world," Carr explained in an interview with Lusa and RTP in Chitengo, in the heart of Gorongosa National Park. "Why? We have biodiversity, beauty. Our project has two objectives: nature conservation and human development for the communities around the park. 

"We have agricultural, health and education projects," he explained, adding: "I'm proud."

The site was chosen by the country's authorities to mark International Forest and Wildlife Inspector Day on Wednesday, with the presence of Mozambique's president, Filipe Nyusi.

According to Nyusi, Gorongosa is today Mozambique's "peace park" - a place that had been affected by war and where five years ago (on 1 August 2019) the Agreement for the Definitive Cessation of Military Hostilities was signed between the government and the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), the main opposition party, whose armed wing fought against the Frelimo government for years.

"I'm not saying it's better, nor am I saying it's unique," Nyusi said. "In a class there may be many stars, but I want there to be more stars [other parks] - they can continue to compete." 

That was an allusion to the gradual recovery and international impact of other parks in the country, in addition to Gorongosa.

For Carr, Gorongosa has also become his home for the last 20 years: "Yes: fifty-fifty, Gorongosa and the United States," he said, mixing Portuguese and English, and stressing that this is a public-private partnership: "It's a team effort with the government."

Gorongosa was the first national park created by Portugal in 1960, during the colonial era, but it was devastated between 1977 and 1992 by the civil war that followed Mozambique's declaration of independence.

In 2008, the foundation set up by Carr signed a 20-year management agreement with Mozambique's government - which in 2018 was extended for 25 years - that has led to the park's renewal on several fronts, including social projects allied to conservation and the number of animals growing from 10,000 to over 102,000.

"I met former President Joaquim Chissano more than twenty years ago; he's a good man, a visionary, who wanted to see Gorongosa restored, but wanted to include human rights, for the park to help people," Carr recalled. "And I liked that vision, of doing both."

Today, the park is almost a world apart in Mozambique, with 1,700 workers including seasonal labourers, and a large force of nature wardens working throughout the territory. Gorongosa coffee and honey are being produced in the park's area, with a view to export and representing income for thousands of families.

"We are the largest employer in the centre of Mozambique," noted Carr. "What's unusual is that the largest number of workers come from outside the park. Inside the park we have nature rangers, scientists, tourism support workers, but outside we have agricultural technicians, education and health promoters. 

"And because we're building a lot of things outside the park, like schools, we have contractors," he went on. "I think we spend two thirds of our time and investment outside, in the Sustainable Development Zone."

Carr said that he himself alone has invested almost $6 million a year, over almost 20 years, to breathe new life into Gorongosa.

"But we have many other donors, including Portugal," he stressed. "That's what's important: we're a team." 

He guaranteed that the plan is to “continue to expand” the park's activities, namely the agriculture that helps support the local population, as well as tourism.

"We're not standing still, we're accelerating," he said.

With the park now full of life again, tourism is the big bet for the future in Gorongosa, he argued.

"Now we're starting to get very full, but I still don't think it's enough," he said, saying that there might be 5,000 fewer tourists this year, but that he is hoping for an average of 20,000 a year. 

"We can do it," he said. "In South Africa, the Kruger National Park, which is their ex-libris, receives over a million visitors a year. Why don't we have ten percent of that here?

"We could have a hundred thousand visitors a year and it would be very important for the local economy," he said, adding in a joking tone: "They could say they're the Gorongosa of South Africa.

"I like the Mozambican people," he concluded. "They have a big heart, a taste for education. This country has a great future."

PVJ/ARO // ARO.

Lusa