Chimanimani National Reserve

Chimanimani National Reserve
Chimanimani National Reserve
Reserva Nacional de Chimanimani
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources)
	The reserve includes Monte Binga, the highest point in Mozambique
	Location of Chimanimani National Reserve in Mozambique
Coordinates	19°47′42″S 33°05′21″E / 19.79500°S 33.08917°E
Designated	2003

Chimanimani National Reserve (Portuguese: Reserva Nacional de Chimanimani) is a protected area in Manica Province of Mozambique. It is located in the Chimanimani Mountains on the border with Zimbabwe, and together with Zimbabwe's Chimanimani National Park it forms the Chimanimani Transfrontier Park.^[2] In 2020, the Mozambican side of the Chimanimani was declared to be a national park.^[3]

The reserve was proclaimed in 2003, and has an area of 634 km². The reserve protects the Mozambican portion of the Chimanimani Mountains, including Monte Binga (2436 m), Mozambique's highest peak. The reserve has a larger buffer zone (1723 km2),^[4] which extends into lower-elevation areas to the south, east, and north, and includes the Moribane, Mpunga, Maronga, and Zomba forest reserves. The forest Moribane, Mpunga, and Maronga reserves were established in 1953.^[5]

The locals preserve the cave paintings, ancient traditions and beliefs, all of which give the park a cultural identity. The Reserve can be reached across the border from Machipanda, the city of Beira (Beira Corridor) from the city of Chimoio. The reserve has several road connections with the north, center and south of Mozambique, as well as with Zimbabwe.^[6]

The park contains rare species such as the Red-capped robin-chat and the Welwitsch's bat.^[3]

References[]

^ UNEP-WCMC (2022). Protected Area Profile for Chimanimani from the World Database of Protected Areas. Accessed 5 February 2022. [1]
^ Briggs, Philip (2014). Mozambique. Bradt Travel Guides. pp. 221–222. ISBN 1841624969.
^ ^a ^b Guyton, Jen (2021-05-03). "Mozambique Mints a New National Park — and Surveys Its Riches". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-05-08.
^ Hudson, A., Milliken, W., Timberlake, J. et al. Natural Plant Resources for Sustainable Development: Insights from Community Use in the Chimanimani Trans-Frontier Conservation Area, Mozambique. Hum Ecol 48, 55–67 (2020). [2]
^ Ghiurghi, Andrea & Dondeyne, S. & Bannerman, J. (2010). Chimanimani national reserve: management plan. 10.13140/2.1.1734.6240.
^ "Chimanimani – ANAC". www.anac.gov.mz. Retrieved 2020-09-28.