National Facilitating Committee for the GEF Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Project (MZ6).

Maputo Moazambique


MZ6 seeks to build an informed and effective National Facilitating Committee (NFC) to provide country-level oversight of Project activities in order to ensure that dugong and seagrass conservation considerations are integrated within relevant national-level environmental policy, planning and regulatory frameworks.

Although conservation measures to protect dugongs and their habitats have been adopted by the Government, dugongs continue to face major anthropogenic threats in Mozambique in the form of deliberate hunting and incidental mortality as by-catch in gill-net and beach seine fisheries. Other threats include destructive fishing techniques, hyper-siltation/sedimentation, coastal development and oil exploration.

MZ6 will support the effective conservation of dugongs and their seagrass habitats by providing a national coordinating mechanism for the GEF Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Project. Following its establishment, the NFC will conduct a gap analysis which will help to inform national needs for the development of new conservation measures (legislation, planning and policy) to protect seagrass-dependent biodiversity.

MZ6 will also focus on opportunities for securing local livelihoods (i.e. development of alternative sources of income) within the area of the target marine ecosystems.


1. Establish a National Facilitating Committee to provide national oversight of Project activities.

2. Conduct sixteen training courses for NFC and government stakeholders on the importance of seagrass ecosystems.

3. Identify gaps in legislation and policy instruments and devise recommendations for their improvement to assist the management of seagrass ecosystems and dugong conservation.

4. Develop collaboration with Fishing Associations (CCPs) and other relevant stakeholders to promote best practices that reduce damage to seagrass habitats.