Mozambique is rich in natural resources, including biodiversity, and with pristine beaches, islands, coral reefs, scenic wild landscapes and wildlife. Out of a total land area of 784,000 km2, protected areas account for over 17% of the country. Recovering from a civil war that lasted nearly two decades, protected area infrastructure is still being repaired, and wildlife populations are making a slow comeback. However, with the end of conflict comes a new threat—rampant natural resource exploitation, including legal (e.g. mining) and illegal (e.g. poaching, illegal timber harvesting, and illegal settlement). WCS is working closely with the government of Mozambique to address these threats through both national-level policy and direct protected area management in the country’s most important protected area, Niassa National Reserve, which harbors the country’s largest population of elephants, as well as lion, wild dog, sable, and kudu.