Quirimbas National Park
Encyclopedia
The Quirimbas National Park (QNP) is a protected area in the Cabo Delgado Province of Mozambique
, encompassing the southern part of the Quirimbas Islands
.
The park has a tropical climate with a rainy season from December to April and a drier but cooler season from May to September.
Daytime temperatures vary from around 25 °C (77 °F) to 35 °C (95 °F) depending on the time of year.
Water temperatures are from 24 °C (75.2 °F) to 27 °C (80.6 °F).
Accommodations for tourists range from basic beach-front cottages to luxurious villas on the uninhabited Medjumbe Island
.
Islands include Ibo Island, Mefunvo Island, Metemo Island, Quirimba Island, Quisiva island and Tavari Island.
The region was isolated for decades during the Mozambique civil war.
On land, there are healthy populations of elephants, lions, leopards, crocodiles and even wild dog.
Habitats include mountains, forests, woodland, savannah, mangroves, beaches, coral reefs and sea grass beds.
The park contains a rich variety of marine life including sea turtles, dugong
s and many species of fish.
Three hundred and seventy-five species of fish have been identified, including threatened pipefish and seahorses.
supports a project that attempts to ensure that local communities, park authorities and tour operators share management responsibilities and share benefits from the park.
Objectives include protection, conservation and where needed restoration of the land and marine environment, conservation of marine species and their habitat and promoting eco-friendly ways of making a living among the traditional inhabitants of the park.
The project includes a fishery management program.
A 2010 WWF review found that the main problems concerned lack of money in the sanctuaries, lack of incentives for rangers, and lack of follow-up by the park management when ranger report violations.
The rangers recommended increasing the number of community rangers, providing incentives or salaries for these rangers, and running more environmental education programs.
On a positive note, improvements in species quantity, size and diversity were recorded.
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, encompassing the southern part of the Quirimbas Islands
Quirimbas Islands
The Quirimbas Islands lie in the Indian Ocean off northeastern Mozambique, close to Pemba, the capital of the province of Cabo Delgado. The archipelago consists of about 27 islands, including Ibo, Matemo, Medjumbe, Quirimba, Quisiva and Rolas Island....
.
Location
The park was established in June 2002. It stretches for 110 kilometres (68.4 mi) along the northeast coast of Mozambique, and contains the southernmost 11 of the Quirimbas islands.The park has a tropical climate with a rainy season from December to April and a drier but cooler season from May to September.
Daytime temperatures vary from around 25 °C (77 °F) to 35 °C (95 °F) depending on the time of year.
Water temperatures are from 24 °C (75.2 °F) to 27 °C (80.6 °F).
Accommodations for tourists range from basic beach-front cottages to luxurious villas on the uninhabited Medjumbe Island
Medjumbe Island
Medjumbe Island is one of the Quirimbas Islands off the northern coast of Mozambique, within the Quirimbas National Park. It is privately-owned, operated as an exclusive resort.Accommodations are 13 thatched wooden chalets.The island is long and wide....
.
Islands include Ibo Island, Mefunvo Island, Metemo Island, Quirimba Island, Quisiva island and Tavari Island.
Ecology
The park protects 750639 hectares (1,854,867.7 acre) of coastal forest, mangroves and coral reefs.The region was isolated for decades during the Mozambique civil war.
On land, there are healthy populations of elephants, lions, leopards, crocodiles and even wild dog.
Habitats include mountains, forests, woodland, savannah, mangroves, beaches, coral reefs and sea grass beds.
The park contains a rich variety of marine life including sea turtles, dugong
Dugong
The dugong is a large marine mammal which, together with the manatees, is one of four living species of the order Sirenia. It is the only living representative of the once-diverse family Dugongidae; its closest modern relative, Steller's sea cow , was hunted to extinction in the 18th century...
s and many species of fish.
Three hundred and seventy-five species of fish have been identified, including threatened pipefish and seahorses.
Conservation
The World Wide Fund for NatureWorld Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
supports a project that attempts to ensure that local communities, park authorities and tour operators share management responsibilities and share benefits from the park.
Objectives include protection, conservation and where needed restoration of the land and marine environment, conservation of marine species and their habitat and promoting eco-friendly ways of making a living among the traditional inhabitants of the park.
The project includes a fishery management program.
A 2010 WWF review found that the main problems concerned lack of money in the sanctuaries, lack of incentives for rangers, and lack of follow-up by the park management when ranger report violations.
The rangers recommended increasing the number of community rangers, providing incentives or salaries for these rangers, and running more environmental education programs.
On a positive note, improvements in species quantity, size and diversity were recorded.