Geography-Geological Department of the Tbilisi State University

Vakhushti Bagrationi Institute of geography of Georgian Academy of Sciences

 

 

THE INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONIC CONFERENCE

 

NATURAL POTENTIAL OF THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRITORIES: SITUATION, PROBLEMS, PROSPECTS

 

Internet/E-mail discussion 25.05 – 25.07.2003

 

NATURAL POTENTIAL OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOZAMBIQUE AND THE PROBLEM OF ITS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

 

Bondyrev I.V.*, Marques J.M.**

 

* - Geographic and Geologic Department at Tbilisi State University.   1, I. Chavchavadze Av. Tbilisi, Georgia, [email protected]

** - Department of Geology at the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy, 25 June square, P.O., Box 2904, Maputo, Mozambique

 

 

The republic of Mozambique occupies south-east part of the African continent and covers 783 ths. km² area from 10⁰ 27¹ - to 26⁰ 35¹ south latitude.  The territory is situated between global rift fractures of East Africa and accumulative-tectogene coast of the Indian Ocean. Its structure maintains rocks of Pre-Cambrian  (granitoides and crystalline schist) to quaternary ones. The flat part of Mozambique can be divided into two large regions: the south- composed of the complex of sedimentary rocks of Neogene’s-Quaternary age and the north with outcrop of crystalline rocks from the hard base of the earth' crust. As per R. Afonso [1], the basic part of the country  - 534 ths.km²m is filled with Pre-Cambrian deposits. Zimbabwe craton of lower Pre-Cambrian is singled out among them, on which the mountain system of Manica is developed (max. age of rocks 2 billiard years) and Mozambique belt - not more than 0,5 billion years. Four major provinces of the country are situated within Mozambique belt territory - Cabo-Delgado, Nampula, Niassa and Zambezi.  Lowlands and flat lands occupy 41,9% of the territory, situated from 0 up to 200m height a.s.l. Lowlands are changed by hilly highlands (200-500 m. absolute height) in the inland occupying 29% of the territory. The height of foothills varies between 500-1000 m a.s.l. covering the area of 192,5 ths. km² or 24% of the country's territory.  Plateau and high plateaus' relief form typical to the central and north-eastern part of Mozambique are situated at 1000 to 1500 m. a.e.l. 3.7% of the territory. Characteristic of Mozambique mountain systems rise as high as 1500 m a.s.l. and cover only 0,2% of the territory [2,3]. Thus well dissected mountain relief represents the 28% of the territory.

No wonder that Mozambique takes the first place by supply of water resources in Africa. The vast mountain lake - Niassa is situated at the junction of three states - Mozambique, Malawi and Tanzania, at the height of 650-700 m a.s.l., but mountain ranges surrounding it come up to 1800-2000m. The lake is stretched out in length for 73km. Per its depth it takes the third place in the world after Baikal and Tanganyika. The water table of the lake is 38,9 ths. m². Water balance has the following parameters:

Table 1

Reserves of useful minerals of Mozambique [6,7]

 

precipitations and run-off makes  - 70km³, evaporation makes 64km³, the rest goes to recharge the Shire river, the only one flowing out of the lake [4]

Irregularity of atmospheric precipitations causing climatic fluctuations and absence of moisture condensating glaciers - brought about negative consequences. Severe drought in 2001 and tropical cyclone " Dolphin" covering    the central part of the territory and causing catastrophic flooding of the Zambezi, Save, Shire, Molocue, Alto-Ligonia rivers et al. The damage in the province Nampula made 45 billion metikls (1 USD  = 24 thousand metikls) [5] and took a lot of people's life. It is well illustrated in Fig.1

The country is rich in mineral resources. Here are great reserves of iron, manganese, titanium, tantalum, chromium, copper, lead, aluminum, nickel, uranium, zirconium, graphite, fluorite, gas, hard coal, precious stones, rare metals and lands, marble, limestone, gold, etc. Some parameters of these reserves are given in Table 1.

 In addition to hard useful minerals, Mozambique is rich in mineral (Goba, Moamba, Vumba, Metola, Serra de Messa, Maforga, Penhalonga et. al.)  and thermal (Aguas Quente, Maganga de Costa, Gogoi, Escariva, Zonue, Matambe, Namaccura,

Fig. 1. Disastrous flood in Central Mozambique (2002yar)

 a - salvation of people in region Chibuti, b - "Noi’s ark" in valley of the r. Zambezi, c - in expectation of helps, d – satellite image of the deltas of r. Zambezi (NASA, 2002)

 

Metangula, Toa, Nhamburwe, Nhamessoro, Gorongosa, Liciro et al.)  waters found mostly in mountain and piedmont regions of the country.

Forests cover 10,9 m.  ha or 14 % of the territory.  Zerophytic savanna of wood and shrub is spread in the south of the country and in the west of Tete province (Combretum, Bauhinia, Tri­chelia emetiea, Scierocarya caffra). Park savanna (Brachistegia, Fcfcia, Jubernardia, Coloph­s­pertum mopane, Ferminalia) is found in piedmont and lower part of the mountains in Manica, Sofala, Nampula, Cabo-Delgado, Nampula, Niassa and in the north of Tete provinces. In the extreme south typical rare wood savannas (Brachi­ste­gia randii, Isoberlinia) are common. Mountain evergreen tropical woods (Khaya, Erithropholoeum guenense, Adina microcephala, Diaspyros mis.) are spread in the mountains of Chimanimani and other mountain massifs of Manica and Zambezi provin­ces. Mangrove woods are widely spread in coastal zone. Per [8] data, 20m.m³ wood is used yearly for fuel purposes and ruined through hewing and burning system of agricul­ture. Black, red and ebonite trees used for traditional works of art being in great demand worldwide are rapidly destroyed.

Lake Niassa possesses great natural potential, which besides considerable water storage is known by a great variety of fishes than in any other lakes of the world - up to 1000 species out of which 90 % is endemic.

Cahora-Bassa is the largest water reservoir of the country on the Zambezi River (Tete Province). The height of dam is 155m, water table area -2,6 ths.km², and potential capacity -3,6 m.kVt.  It should be noted that peculiar mountain relief does not give the possibility to HPS dam of improvement the water run -off and therefore avoid flooding.  Damage through flooding makes 33% of total agricultural production [8]

Mozambique is rich in soil resources. Here we come across 7 main types: chestnut-lateritic, lateritic-brown of dry savanna, tropical black and grey, alluvial, sandy, peaty and lateri­tic. The first type is spread over the 36% of the territory.

Soil-climatic conditions allow broadly using a potential with/h cultures developed on the territory of the country (Table № 2).

It should be especially noted a high potential of development of culture of tea [9]. The most perspective for the development of these branches are high plateaus (Lichinga, Manica, Moravia-Angonha) and uplands (Gurue, Morrumbala). Here there is 150 ths.ha

Table № 2

Annual collection of main agriculture production of Mozambique

(As of for 1984-1986years)

 

land available for cultivating tea. Production and tea export in 1996г made accordingly 17,5 and 8,0 ths t.

 

Fig. 2  Soil ero­sion in Praia do Sol area.

Mozambique possesses significant resources for the development of fishing (in the Indian Ocean areas so as in the inland reservoirs).

Fig. 3. Bazurutu island - the last dwelling of Dugong dugong

 

Mean annual fish provision makes about 50 ths. t.  It should be stre­s­­­sed that soil ero­sion increases es­­pe­­cially in popu­la­­ted areas.

Within the frame of UNO program on study coastal ecosystems of tropics and ecological programs it is planned to create the most favorable conditions for preserving of one of the last inhabitant of the planet Dugong dugong in Bazurutu island (Fig.3)

Fig. 4. Principal Scheme of the Systems of Block Interrelations Within Sustainable Development [13]

 

Especially pressing is the problem of preserving natural environment i.e. to prevent extinction of animals. For the sake of this an interstate decision was passed to create the largest reserve in the world – “Big Limpopo”  (35 ths.km²) on the basis of Kruger National park (RSA), Gonaregu National Park (Zimbabwe) and Limpopo National Park (Mozambique).

Great attention is paid to training national specialists in the sphere of rational use of natural resources and sustainable development of the territory at the E.Mondlane University. The graduates of the department of the Earth Study and Development under the guidance of Prof. A.G. Chilundo have issued a number of works on this subject [10-12].

In spite of the numerous problems, part of which was inherited by Mozambique from colonial regime and another part arisen by natural cataclysms as well as social-political situation of the country, is still looking ahead and hopes to overcome successfully all dif­ficulties and save the natural resources of the country for future generations. 

 

 

References

 

1.      Afonso R.S. A geologia de Mocambique (Noticia explicativa da carta geologica de Mocambique), Impr.Nac.Mocamb., Maputo, 1976, 178p. 

2.      Bondyrev I.V. Carta géomorfologica da Republica Popular de Moçambique, escala 1:1 000 000 (as 2 folias), Estogolmo: Esselte Map Service, 1983

3.      Bondyrev I.V.  Volcanism in the Southern Segment of the East African Rift Belt //Volc. Seis., 1999,  v. 20p.415-428

4.      Lipets Iu.G. Countries of South-East Africa. M.: Misl, 1968, 399p.

5.       “Noticias”, № 3022, 17.01.2003

6.      Davidenko I.V., Zubkov V.A.  Mozambique in the book "Mountain Encyclopedia", v. 3. M., 1987, pp.373-375

7.      Africa in Figures (Statistical reference book) M., Nauka., 1986, p.

8.      People's Republic of Mozambique (reference book), M., Nauka., 1986, p.241

9.      Bondyrev I.V., Gogatadze Z.Sh. The Outlook for Development of Tea-crop and Tea Industry in Africa’s Developing Countries, Tbilisi: 1989, GruzNIINTI, ser.: ”Agri­culture”, vol. 2, 44p.

10.  Chilundo A., Cau B. Formas tradicionais de propriedade comum de recurses natural na Sul de Mocambique, Maputo: NET, 1999

11.  Loforte A., Raimundo I. Gestao comunitaria dos Recursas Natural: o Parque Nacional de Zinave, Maputo: NET, 1998

12.  Chauque A. Seguranca de posse de terra e conservacao des solos: o caso de ilha Josina Machel, Maputo: UEM, 1995-1999

13.  Enquadramento do sector mineiro dentro do processo de desenvolvimento sustentavel da Africa Austral  /MMSD Southern Africa, 2002, pp.1-6, http: //www.mining. wits. ac.za.

 

 

 

ПРИРОДНЫЙ ПОТЕНЦИАЛ РЕСПУБЛИКИ МОЗАМБИК И ПРОБЛЕМЫ УСТОЙЧИВОГО РАЗВИТИЯ

Бондырев И.В., Маркеш Ж.М.

 

Республика Мозамбик занимает юго-восточную часть африканского континента от 10⁰27¹ Ю.Ш. до 26⁰35¹ Ю.Ш. и охватывает площадь в 783 тыс. км². Около 28% территории страны представлены горным, хорошо расчлененным рельефом. По уровню обеспеченности водными ресурсами Мозамбик занимает одно из первых мест в Африке. Огромное горное озеро Ньяса, расположенное на высоте 650-700м над у.м., занимает по глубине третье место в мире – 694,3м, площадь зеркала – 38,9 тыс.м². Крупнейшее водохранилище страны  - Кахора-Басса на р.Замбези имеет плотину высотой в 155м, и располагает потенциальной мощностью в 3,6 млн.кВт. Однако, неравномерность выпадения атмосферных осадков, участившиеся климатические флуктуации, отсутствие таких аккумуляторов влаги, как ледники, все это приводит к крайне негативным последствиям. В 2002г циклон “Дельфин вызвал катастрофические наводнения на реках Мозамбика, нанес стране колоссальный ущерб, оценивающийся в сотни миллионов $ США. Страна богата полезными ископае­мыми, минеральными и термальными водами. Леса занимают 10,9 млн. га или 14% территории страны. Ежегодно около 20 млн.м³ древесины используется на топливо или уничтожается в результате подсечно-огневой системы земледелия. Наиболее активно вырубаются черное, красное и эбеновое дерево.

Мозамбик располагает богатыми почвенными ресурсами, представленными 7 основными типами: коричнево-красными латеритизированными, красно-бурыми сухих саванн, черно-серыми тропическими, аллювиальными, песчанистыми, торфянистыми и латеритовыми «кирасами». Первый тип распространен более чем на 36% территории страны.

На базе Национального парка им. Кригера (ЮАР), Национального парка Гонарежу (Зимбабве) и Национального парка Лимпопо (Мозамбик), создан крупнейший в мире заповедник – Лимпопо. Планируется также создание оптимальных условий для сохранения одной из последних на планете популяций дюгоня (Dugong dugong) на острове Базуруту.

Большое значение уделяется подготовке национальных кадров в области рациональ­ного использования природных ресурсов и устойчивого развития территорий, которая проводится в Университете им.Э.Мондлане.