As the boat approaches the riverbank, children rush and stand beside discarded handmade fishing nets. Greg Carr is at the head of a group of visitors climbing ashore. He lifts one child into the air, makes faces at another and greets the adults with introductory pats on the back. Carr, an enthusiastic American in khaki pants and a Boy Scout smile, has spent a lot of time over the past three years in Mozambican villages like this one, chatting with officials and local elders in the hot, red dust.
building relationships
Carr’s smile widens when he sees Paulo Maja Cunene, who oversees the district. The tech millionaire turned philanthropist needs Maja Cunene’s help to strike a deal with the villagers. Carr has risked millions of dollars to revive a national park across the river – the Gorengs, once a famous area of savannah and lush wetlands. He believes a restored park will lift the region out of poverty, and success depends on the cooperation of villages like Vinho.
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The Importance of Vinho
Vinho, a subsistence farming community of 280 adults and twice as many children, is one of 15 villages along Gorgonzola’s borders. It has a school that runs through the fifth grade and a water pump used by teenage girls carrying children on their backs to fill plastic jugs. Villagers gather as Carr and Vinho’s leaders sit on wooden chairs covered with blue plastic tarpaulins.
Mazakunen speaks first, telling the crowd that restoring Gorongosa will bring new jobs, health clinics and money to Vinho. He asks the community for cooperation: no fires, no killing animals. The villagers nod in agreement. Mazakunen pumps his fist in the air and cheers, and the crowd responds enthusiastically.
Conservation Challenges
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After the meeting, Gorongosa’s warden, Roberto Zolho, tells Carr that the Vinhão people are responsible for many of the fires in the park, which clear land for farming but devastate the ecology. Carr smiles wryly, recognizing the absurdity of the situation. “Well, we’re starting over,” he says. “You know, it has to start somewhere.”
Carr has launched one of the largest individual commitments in African conservation history. He has pledged up to $40 million over 30 years to restore Gorongosa National Park, a nearly unheard-of time frame in a region where most donors commit for only a few years. Carr’s plan includes one of the continent’s largest animal reintroduction efforts, aimed at answering the critical question of how to promote development without destroying the environment.
Gem of Fall
Gorengs was once one of Africa’s most valuable parks, home to dense herds of buffalo and elephants, among other wildlife. In the 1960s and ’70s, it was a popular destination for celebrities and tourists. However, Mozambique’s 16-year civil war, which began shortly after the country gained independence from Portugal in 1975, devastated the park. Anti-government forces used the park as a refuge, and subsequent fighting and poaching devastated the park.
An approach to revival
When the war ended in 1992, Goreng’s condition was very poor. The Mozambican government had cleared many of the land mines, but the park’s infrastructure was destroyed and the animal population had declined drastically. Despite the dismal scenario, Carr saw potential. He believed that with sufficient investment and local support, the park could be revived.
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In 2004, Carr signed an agreement with Mozambique’s Ministry of Tourism, initially promising $500,000 to restore the park. His commitment grew, and by 2005, he had promised up to $40 million over 30 years. The agreement gave Carr’s organization joint operational control of the park with the Mozambican government, which retains ownership.
Involving the community
Restoring Gorongosa requires more than just funding; it requires the support of local communities. Carr spends a lot of time in these villages, explaining the benefits of ecotourism and addressing concerns. In Nhatsoko, a settlement on the slopes of Mount Gorongosa, Carr sought the blessing of Samatenje, the spiritual leader of the mountain. After initial resistance and cultural misunderstandings, Samatenje eventually blessed the project, a significant step forward.
building trust
Carr’s efforts to build trust with local leaders continue. In Sanjuanita, in the community led by Marcelino Manuel, Carr faced skepticism about his intentions. He addressed these concerns directly, emphasizing the importance of trust and mutual benefit. An elderly man expressed skepticism, recalling past negative experiences with outsiders, but Samuel Antonio, a former soldier, spoke in favor of the project, highlighting the potential for jobs and economic improvement. This support helped sway the community, and Manuel agreed to hold a ceremony for the park.
a personal commitment
Carr, who grew up in Idaho and studied history at Utah State University, made his fortune in telecommunications before turning to philanthropy. His passion for human rights and the environment led him to Mozambique, where he now works on the Gorongosa project almost every other month. Carr’s approach combines financial investment with a deep personal commitment to the region’s people and ecology.
conclusion
Greg Carr’s ambitious project to restore Gorenge National Park is a testament to his belief in the power of conservation and community involvement. By investing in the park’s revival and working closely with local villages, Carr hopes to create a sustainable model for economic development and environmental conservation. His efforts offer a ray of hope for one of Africa’s most iconic landscapes, demonstrating that with determination and collaboration, rebuilding and growth are possible.
Source: https://th-xuyenmoc.edu.vn
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