April 16-17, 2024
International Conference on the Miombo Forest Initiative
In Washington, D.C.
Together with the Government of Mozambique and WCS, the ICCF Group hosted the international conference on the Miombo Forest Initiative chaired by His Excellency Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique on April 16 and 17 in Washington, D.C. The main objective of the conference is to promote the potential of the Miombo Forest in contributing to global efforts to achieve goals on climate change, biodiversity conservation, and integrated sustainable development.
The Miombo Forest and Woodlands
The Miombo woodlands cover more than 1 million square miles across southern Africa and provide numerous goods and services that sustain the livelihoods for and feed more than 300 million inhabitants. Including tropical and subtropical grasslands, shrubland, and savannas, the Miombo woodlands comprise the largest ecosystem of dry tropical forests in the world and are responsible for sustaining the Greater Zambezi, one of the most important transborder hydrographic basins.
The large variety of species found in the woodlands provide diversified ecosystems services and products, which are extremely important for subsistence and income generation for local populations. However, a growing population and resulting increased demand for agricultural land, combined with unsustainable use and overharvesting of natural resources in parts of the Miombo woodlands and impacts of a changing climate, pose a serious threat to the products and services of the woodlands, and to the livelihoods depending on them.
The Republic of Mozambique has an unwavering commitment to the achievement of sustainable development goals and is focused on the implementation of solutions to attain global targets on climate. Toward that end, Mozambique has brought together the SADC member states within the framework of regional integration to promote a common approach for the “Sustainable and Integrated Management of the Miombo Woodlands and the Protection of the Greater Zambezi Basin.” Mozambique’s “Miombo Initiative” was endorsed as the “Maputo Declaration on the Miombo Forest” in Maputo, Mozambique in August 2022 by the following eleven SADC Member States: Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The Maputo Declaration on the Miombo Forest establishes priorities for the sustainable management and governance of the natural resources of the Miombo ecosystems.
Conference Schedule
Registration
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Registration for all participants, Continental Buffet Breakfast available
Event details: Registration for all participants, Continental Buffet Breakfast available
Location: Foyer of Salon II
Ministerial Meeting
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Ministerial Meeting (Observers welcome): Harmonization of the Commitment Statement Document with Partners
H.E. Ivete Maibaze, Minister of Land and Environment of Mozambique
Event details: Ministerial Meeting (Observers welcome): Harmonization of the Commitment Statement Document with Partners
H.E. Ivete Maibaze, Minister of Land and Environment of Mozambique
Location: Salon II
Coffee/Tea Break and Move to Salon I
Coffee/Tea Break and Move to Salon I
Welcoming Words
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Welcoming Words and Framing of the Program
John Gantt, CEO of the ICCF Group
Event details: Welcoming Words and Framing of the Program
John Gantt, CEO of the ICCF Group
Location: Salon I
Intervention
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Intervention
Louise Baker, Managing Director of the Global Mechanism, UN Convention to Combat Desertification
Event details: Intervention
Louise Baker, Managing Director of the Global Mechanism, UN Convention to Combat Desertification
Video Exhibition on the Miombo Woodlands
Video Exhibition on the Miombo Woodlands
Intervention
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Intervention
H.E. Ivete Maibaze, Minister of Land and Environment of Mozambique
Event details: Intervention
H.E. Ivete Maibaze, Minister of Land and Environment of Mozambique
Lunch Buffet
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Lunch Buffet available in Foyer
Event details: Lunch Buffet available in Foyer
Location: Foyer of Salon I
Introduction of Panel Discussions
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Introduction of Panel Discussions
Jaime Cavelier, Ph.D., VP of Strategic Partnerships at the ICCF Group
Event details: Introduction of Panel Discussions
Jaime Cavelier, Ph.D., VP of Strategic Partnerships at the ICCF Group
Location: Salon I
Panel I
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Challenges of Energy Transition in Sub-Saharan Africa
Moderated by Oyun Sanjaasuren, Director of External Affairs, Green Climate Fund
Opening remarks by H.E. Ernesto Max Tonela, Minister of Finance, Mozambique
- Hon. Lourdes Capasso, Member of Parliament from Angola and former Lawyer for ExxonMobil
- Dr. Ernesto Uetimane Junior, Professor in the Dept. of Forestry at Eduardo Mondlane University in Mozambique
- Aparna Shrivastava, Deputy Chief Climate Officer, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)
- Yemi Katerere, Coordinator, African CSO Biodiversity Alliance (ACBA)
Challenges of Energy Transition in Sub-Saharan Africa
Moderated by Oyun Sanjaasuren, Director of External Affairs, Green Climate Fund
Opening remarks by H.E. Ernesto Max Tonela, Minister of Finance, Mozambique
Location: Salon I
- Hon. Lourdes Capasso, Member of Parliament from Angola and former Lawyer for ExxonMobil
- Dr. Ernesto Uetimane Junior, Professor in the Dept. of Forestry at Eduardo Mondlane University in Mozambique
- Aparna Shrivastava, Deputy Chief Climate Officer, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)
- Yemi Katerere, Coordinator, African CSO Biodiversity Alliance (ACBA)
Coffee/Tea Break
Coffee/Tea Break
Panel II
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Climate Mitigation and Adaptation with Payment for Ecosystems Services
Moderated by Mike Jenkins, President and CEO, Forest Trends
Opening remarks by Angellah Kairuki, Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Tanzania
- Hon. Werani Chilenga, Member of Parliament from Malawi
- Romas Garbaliauskas, Vice President, Finance Innovation and Replication, Conservation International
- Dr. Agostinho Vilankulos, Professor and Hydrology Specialist, Head of River Basin Management
- Simon Addison, Climate Change Advisor, International Fund for Animal Welfare
- Todd Stevens, Executive Director of Business Planning and Markets, WCS
Climate Mitigation and Adaptation with Payment for Ecosystems Services
Moderated by Mike Jenkins, President and CEO, Forest Trends
Opening remarks by Angellah Kairuki, Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Tanzania
Location: Salon I
- Hon. Werani Chilenga, Member of Parliament from Malawi
- Romas Garbaliauskas, Vice President, Finance Innovation and Replication, Conservation International
- Dr. Agostinho Vilankulos, Professor and Hydrology Specialist, Head of River Basin Management
- Simon Addison, Climate Change Advisor, International Fund for Animal Welfare
- Todd Stevens, Executive Director of Business Planning and Markets, WCS
Coffee/Tea Break
Coffee/Tea Break
Panel III
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Biodiversity Conservation as a Key to Peace
Moderated by Dr. Luthando Dziba, Regional Director: East Africa, Madagascar & West Indian Ocean, WCS
Opening remarks by Pohamba Shifeta, Minister of Environment and Tourism, Namibia
- Hon. Paulus Mbangu, Member of Parliament from Namibia
- Edwin Tambara, Director of Global Leadership, African Wildlife Foundation
- Dr. James C. Deutsch, CEO of Rainforest Trust; former Director of Africa Program and Conservation Strategy at WCS
- Natasha Ribeiro, Professor in the Dept. of Forestry at Eduardo Mondlane University in Mozambique and Miombo Network Specialist
- Dr. Bartolomeu Soto, Regional Manager: South, Peace Parks Foundation and former TFCA Project Coordinator and Technical Advisor for SADC, former General Director of the National Administration of Conservation Areas in the Ministry of Land, Environment and Rural Development of Mozambique
Biodiversity Conservation as a Key to Peace
Moderated by Dr. Luthando Dziba, Regional Director: East Africa, Madagascar & West Indian Ocean, WCS
Opening remarks by Pohamba Shifeta, Minister of Environment and Tourism, Namibia
Location: Salon I
- Hon. Paulus Mbangu, Member of Parliament from Namibia
- Edwin Tambara, Director of Global Leadership, African Wildlife Foundation
- Dr. James C. Deutsch, CEO of Rainforest Trust; former Director of Africa Program and Conservation Strategy at WCS
- Natasha Ribeiro, Professor in the Dept. of Forestry at Eduardo Mondlane University in Mozambique and Miombo Network Specialist
- Dr. Bartolomeu Soto, Regional Manager: South, Peace Parks Foundation and former TFCA Project Coordinator and Technical Advisor for SADC, former General Director of the National Administration of Conservation Areas in the Ministry of Land, Environment and Rural Development of Mozambique
End of program
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End of program, brief closing words
Susan Lylis, Executive Vice President, the ICCF Group
End of program, brief closing words
Susan Lylis, Executive Vice President, the ICCF Group
Location: Salon I
Registration
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Registration for all participants, Continental Buffet Breakfast available
Event details: Registration for all participants, Continental Buffet Breakfast available
Location: Foyer of Salon I
Welcoming Words
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Welcoming Words and Presentation of the Program
John Gantt, CEO of the ICCF Group
Event details: Welcoming Words and Presentation of the Program
John Gantt, CEO of the ICCF Group
Location: Salon I
Day One Summary
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Summary of Day One and Presentation of the Letter of Intent and Commitment Statement for the Miombo Forest Initiative
Ivete Maibaze, Minister of Land and Environment of Mozambique
Summary of Day One and Presentation of the Letter of Intent and Commitment Statement for the Miombo Forest Initiative
Ivete Maibaze, Minister of Land and Environment of Mozambique
Location: Salon I
Intervention
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Intervention
Costa Bacar, Traditional Leader from Mecula District, Niassa Province, Mozambique
Event details: Intervention
Costa Bacar, Traditional Leader from Mecula District, Niassa Province, Mozambique
Location: Salon I
Commitment Statement
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Verbal Adoption of the Commitment Statement to the Miombo Woodlands Initiative
- Heads of Delegation of Signatory Countries
- The ICCF Group on behalf of Supporting Partners
- H.E. Elias M. Magosi, Executive Secretary of the SADC
- (by video) H.E. Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, Commissioner of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Development for the African Union
Verbal Adoption of the Commitment Statement to the Miombo Woodlands Initiative
Location: Salon I
- Heads of Delegation of Signatory Countries
- The ICCF Group on behalf of Supporting Partners
- H.E. Elias M. Magosi, Executive Secretary of the SADC
- (by video) H.E. Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, Commissioner of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Development for the African Union
Cultural Performance
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Cultural Performance
National Traditional Dancing Group of Mozambique
Event details: Cultural Performance
National Traditional Dancing Group of Mozambique
Location: Salon I
Speech
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Speech
H.E. Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique
Introduced by Minister Ivete Maibaze
Speech
H.E. Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique
Introduced by Minister Ivete Maibaze
Location: Salon I
Photo
Location: The Plaza Ballroom
Photo
Seated Lunch
Location: The Plaza Ballroom
Seated Lunch
Adjournment
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Closing words, Adjournment
John Gantt, CEO of the ICCF Group
Closing words, Adjournment
John Gantt, CEO of the ICCF Group
Location: The Plaza Ballroom
Signatories of the Maputo Declaration
Mozambique
Angola
Botswana
Congo
DRC
Malawi
Namibia
South Africa
Tanzania
Zambia
