There are more than 35,000 residents living in over 50 villages in the Niassa National Reserve (NNR). The collaboration and cooperation of these communities with SGDRN, to manage the sustainability of natural resources within the NNR is integral to the continued balance between the conservation of biodiversity and community development.

Living within a conservation area, communities are subject to restrictions that are not applicable elsewhere outside the Reserve. These restrictions include ‘sensitive’ and ‘conservation’ areas; places of high biodiversity or tourism interest and areas where no settlements are allowed. Under the NNR zoning plan communities are aware of the range of activities appropriate for different areas. The zoning plan also importantly provides a suitable framework for structuring negotiations with local communities about areas and forms of resource use, inputs to management processes, and for determining how benefits can be shared with communities.

It is envisioned that resident communities will develop co-management arrangements with SGDRN, however, currently SGDRN is focused on developing the institutional and administrative capacity for communities to actively engage in the NNR management process.