For a long time, the value of cattle hide was often overlooked, despite its potential to create additional income for households.
Today, this resource is being turned into leather goods such as ranger boots, belts and hats, creating new income opportunities for local families in buffer zone of Maputo National Park.
The ranger boots are a powerful example of how communities are finding new value in the livestock they already own.
The additional income helps livestock owners cover important costs such as animal healthcare, feed and herder wages, while supporting their families and communities.
As this additional income grows, families are better able to support their livelihoods while helping to care for the landscapes on which both people and wildlife depend.
Through Herding for Health, communities are improving how cattle graze and helping grazing lands recover to support the long-term health of the landscape.
Healthier grazing lands support wildlife, strengthen biodiversity and build resilience to future environmental pressures, while enabling cattle to provide greater value to farming families and creating new opportunities that benefit both people and nature.
This work is implemented through Mozambique’s National Administration for Conservation Areas (ANAC) and Herding for Health, a partnership between Conservation International and Peace Parks Foundation.
Watch the full episode to hear directly from community members and see how simple cattle hide reveals a much bigger story about conservation, livelihoods and opportunity.
