The communities around Gorongosa Park, in central Mozambique, will benefit from a 20 million euro program to develop sustainable livelihoods, the promoters announced in a statement.

The initiative is fully funded by Dutch cooperation, and supported by the park and the Mozambican government.

The program aims to "contribute to improving the socio-economic conditions of the communities in the buffer zone of Gorongosa National Park", by increasing agricultural production, improving nutritional indices, providing water and sanitation, as well as initiatives to promote sexual and reproductive health.

The program will run for five years (2022-2027) and should cover 45,000 direct beneficiaries, including 15,000 producers, the promoters said.

"The protection of biodiversity, in order to be successful, must be an inclusive process, with everyone's participation," explained Mike Marchington, the park's Director of Finance and Planning, quoted by Lusa.

Gorongosa was Portugal's first national park in 1960, during the colonial era, which was torn apart between 1977 and 1992 by the civil war that followed Mozambique's independence.

In 2008, the foundation of American millionaire and philanthropist Greg Carr signed a 20-year management agreement with the Mozambican government for the park - extended for another 25 years in 2018 - which has led to its renovation on several fronts, with social projects combined with conservation.

The latest wildlife count, carried out in October, set a new record by surpassing 102,000 animals.