Catholic Bishop in Angola Calls for Respect of God’s Creation for Truly Sustainable Development

He said the Diocese of Lwena is implementing the initiative to help combat hunger and poverty, strengthen food security, promote the sustainable use of natural resources, and create income-generating opportunities for local communities.

According to the Catholic Bishop, the project demonstrates that economic development and environmental preservation must go hand in hand.

He added that initiatives of this nature provide “a concrete response to the social and environmental challenges affecting communities,” emphasizing that “development produces lasting results only when it simultaneously promotes human dignity, social inclusion, and the protection of creation.”

Bishop Lasarte reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to supporting initiatives that positively transform the lives of communities, particularly those grappling with poverty, food insecurity, and the effects of climate change.

“The establishment of the Kutumba Project represents an important boost toward the self-sustainability of families in Moxico Province,” the 64-year-old Catholic Church leader said, noting that the initiative will create new employment opportunities, increase agricultural production, and strengthen sustainable livelihoods.

He reiterated that the Church’s mission extends to encouraging initiatives that place the human person at the center of development, promoting “an economy that respects the environment and offers hope to present and future generations.”

Launched through a partnership between the Diocese of Lwena, multinational energy company ENI, C4 Solutions, and Acelera Agro, the Kutumba Project aims to reforest more than 40,000 hectares of degraded land, restore ecosystems, and advance sustainable development in Angola’s Moxico Province.

According to the project’s promoters, the initiative is expected to create approximately 700 jobs and engage around 20,000 farmers, linking ecosystem restoration with efforts to strengthen the local economy and enhance the resilience of rural communities.

Also speaking at the launch, Angola’s Secretary of State for Climate Action and Sustainable Development, Nascimento da Costa Soares, said the country continues to face significant challenges arising from climate change, including land degradation, declining agricultural productivity, biodiversity loss, and the increasing vulnerability of rural communities.

He said initiatives such as the Kutumba Project are particularly important because they adopt an integrated approach that combines ecosystem restoration, sustainable agricultural practices, strengthened food security, and improved livelihoods for local populations.