Luanda — The approval at a plenary session of the National Assembly (Angolan Parliament) of the draft law on the creation of three new national parks in the provinces of Cabinda and Kuando Kubango is a relevant step set by the Ministry of Environment in 2011, as part of the expansion of the country’s preservation areas.

With the creation of the national parks of Mavinga with 46,076 square kilometres, Luengue-Luiana (22,610 square kilometres), both in southeastern Kuando Kubango province, and Maiombe, northern Cabinda province, over an area 1,930 square kilometres, Angola’s preservation area grew from 6,6 percent to 8,5.

These new national parks, with a rich biodiversity, are part of one of the world’s vastest trans-frontier areas, as said by the minister of Environment, Fátima Jardim, during a National Assembly address.

The Maiombe National Park will lead to a better protection, preservation and conservation of the biological diversity of the Maiombe Forest and ensure the observation of the international commitments assumed by Angola regarding environment, including the tripartite memorandum signed with the two neighbouring Congo Republics.

On their turn, the Luengue and Mavinga national parks will also help recover its important fauna and flora.

With the creation of these new preservation areas, the Executive, through the Ministry of Environment, started the accomplishment of its international commitments regarding the expansion of protected areas.

Before the draft on creation of these new areas, Angola had 13 preservation zones, among national parks, integral, partial and special natural reserves that had been created during the colonial rule.

They cover an area of 82,272 square kilometres, corresponding to 6,6 percent of the national territory, and were part of the 15 planned under the priority preservation areas.

Another important step toward the preservation of the environment in 2011 was the Presidential Decree 153/11, that set the rules on production, export, re-export and import of substances that impoverish the Ozone Layer.

A signatory of the Montreal Protocol since May 17, 2000 and of its four amendments (London, Copenhagen, Montreal and Beijing), Angola does not produce substances that destroy the Ozone Layer and meets its needs with imports.

The launch of the second phase of the capture of the Sable Giant Antelope at the National Cangandala Park and Luanda Reserve, in Malanje, was also one of the realisations of the sector, as part of the country’s fauna and flora preservation policy, especially those threatened with extinction.

The operation led to the capture of six female specimens and a male. Altogether, there are 19 antelopes. They are five males and 19 females within the limits of the Cangandala National Park.

On the other hand, the Angolan Ministry of Environment, together with “Condeports International” launched in 2011, in Mussulo Island (Luanda), the project for plantation of 100 million trees throughout the national territory, seven million of which in the launch zone alone.

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