Challenges and opportunities in the sustainable use of natural resources in the district of Massinga, Inhambane Province-Mozambique

Abstract

This article analyzes the challenges and opportunities of the use of Natural Resources in the District of Massinga, Province of Inhambane, highlighting the limestone, looking for the Sustainable Development Objectives. In terms of Materials and Methods, reference was made to relevant literature that addresses the management of natural resources in the Country (national laws) and other normative documents, such as the Constitution of the Republic of Mozambique. According to the District Development Plan for the District 2017-2026 (PDD), the District has many natural resources, and minerals stand out. Mineral resources, in this case concrete limestone, when well exploited constitute a source of community economy contributing to the development of the District and in particular to the community of Mambadine. The extraction of natural resources is part of human history. However, much has been discussed about how to reconcile the growing human need for resources, with the potential for them to be depleted. The study reveals that the Massinga District is not rich in natural resources, given its location in a recent sedimentary basin. There are, however, some resources to be capitalized, examples of limestone and gravel, as well as forestry that are used to a great extent for the construction of housing at District and Provincial levels. The economic exploitation of natural resources brings with it an increase in family income, in addition to producing environmental consequences that require integrated solutions in various fields of knowledge, that is, integrated environmental management.