Caption: Officials from Mozambique’s National Environmental Inspection Agency gather in Maputo to develop the agency’s Code of Ethics, with support from UNODC © UNODC
Maputo (Mozambique), 27 June 2024 – Forests play a crucial role in the Earth’s ecosystem, safeguarding freshwater supplies and protecting against natural disasters. Home to most of the world’s terrestrial species and a source of sustenance, energy and livelihoods for billions globally, forests are also one of the most important solutions to mitigate climate change.
Despite their immense value, global forests are under relentless threat. In 2021 tropical forests alone lost an estimated 11.1 million hectares of tree cover, exacerbated by corrupt practices that enable illegal exploitation.
In Mozambique, exploitation and export of timber remains a major challenge, with illegal schemes amounting to losses estimated at around 200 million dollars annually, says Anselmina Liphola, Director of Mozambique’s National Environmental Inspection Agency (AQUA).
“We continue to witness the devastation of one of our most precious resources,” she warns. Other crimes currently faced by AQUA include illegal and artisanal mining activities, which contribute to air, river and lake pollution.
In response to these multilayered challenges, AQUA launched a Code of Ethics in June 2024. “UNODC has been a fundamental partner in the forest inspection process, collaborating in the development of this code,” says Liphola. The Code establishes clear guidelines for ethical conduct among AQUA officials towards increased integrity, transparency and accountability within the organization.
By fostering a “common organizational culture,” AQUA aims to more effectively combat crimes that affect the environment and wildlife crime through the prevention of situations susceptible to fraud and corruption. The Agency also envisions the Code as a blueprint for fostering trust and collaboration across communities and the private sector.
Addressing interconnected forms of crime such as corruption and organized crime – including those affecting the environment and wildlife – is a key intervention for UNODC. “We are proud partners of AQUA in its efforts to step up anti-corruption measures,” says Teresa Dybeck, lead officer in Mozambique of UNODC Crimes that Affect the Environment programme.
“It is our hope that this Code of Ethics will further support overall efforts to ‘root out’ corruption, strengthening the protection of Mozambique’s forests from illegal logging and, more broadly, protecting the country’s rich biodiversity from all forms of crime,” underscores Dybeck.
To support AQUA in its efforts to carry out awareness-raising, information and training activities based on the principles of the Code of Ethics, UNODC has so far trained 44 environmental inspection officials in the fields of ethics and integrity in 2024, while also sharing policymaking expertise in the process of developing AQUA’s forthcoming anti-corruption strategy.
Support to AQUA to strengthen its corruption prevention framework is provided jointly by the UNODC Global Programme against Crimes that Affect the Environment and the Global Programme against Corruption.
UNODC’s technical assistance to AQUA in the development of its Code of Ethics was made possible thanks to the generous funding of the European Union.
