Maputo, May 3, 2026 (Lusa) – Uncontrolled fires destroyed at least 600 hectares of forest over the last six months, mostly in the buffer zones of conservation areas in Inhambane province, southern Mozambique, an official source said on Sunday.

"There is a higher incidence of uncontrolled fires, especially in the buffer zones of conservation areas," said Renato Bata, director of Provincial Environmental Services in Inhambane. 

He noted worrying numbers around Zinave National Park, inside the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, and within the Pomene National Reserve.

Uncontrolled fires are among the main causes of deforestation in the province, according to the official cited by public television. Poaching, agriculture, and the search for pasture for cattle drive these activities. "In numerical terms, we are talking about approximately 600 hectares, but we know much more than that exists," he said.

Authorities in Inhambane are taking action to halt deforestation through environmental education, "with a focus on combating fires." He said that they "instil in the community the need to protect available natural resources".

In December, Lusa reported that Mozambique loses $500 million (€427.4 million) annually due to "unsustainable" forestry practices, such as illegal logging and slash-and-burn agriculture, according to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Deforestation in Mozambique affected 875,453 hectares between 2019 and 2022, primarily in the provinces of Niassa and Zambézia, according to a report by the National Statistics Institute. The report shows that deforestation fell by 31% in 2022 compared to the previous year, dropping to 209,464 hectares.

The peak of deforestation occurred in 2021, with 303,689 hectares destroyed. This total included 264,999 hectares of tropical forest, 29,258 hectares of semi-evergreen forest, and 99 hectares of mangroves.

LN/RYOL // ADB.

Lusa