Lack of data hinders fight against environmental crimes in Angola, says environmentalist

Angola faces severe environmental challenges, and the govern has signed international commitments, such as the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment, to phase out hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) by 2030 and cut hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by 80% by 2045.

However, climate crises such as prolonged droughts affecting the country’s southern region, soil degradation, and floods caused by heavy rains continue to have significant social and economic impacts. It is estimated that more than 2.2 million people are affected by these phenomena.

It is against this backdrop that the voice of a new generation of Angolan environmentalists is gaining prominence. Among them is 29-year-old Érica Tavares. She studied Environmental Biology at the University of Nottingham in the UK and now works with environmental conservation and youth mobilization in Angola. She is a co-founder of the NGO EcoAngola and has been at the forefront of forest advocacy, environmental education and youth participation in sustainability debates.

In an interview with Mongabay Brazil, Tavares discusses her journey as an environmentalist and the issues that concern her most.

Mongabay: How would you describe the state of the environment in Angola in 2026? Is it better or worse than five years ago?

Érica Tavares: It’s always difficult to answer that question — which I am often asked — because one of our major challenges is the analysis of [nonexistent] data and information. To conduct a comparative analysis between now and five years ago, we would need to look at several data points regarding pollution, water reserves, biodiversity, and even social needs, which are also highly relevant when discussing the environment.
But if we look [beyond the lack of data] from the perspective of civil society, there has been an increase in activities, organizations and funding, which is a positive aspect.

However, the problems continue to escalate because we still have little to no oversight and little accountability for those who cause environmental damage or commit environmental crimes.

Strategies and plans still fall far short of what we need for addressing environmental challenges. So that kind of assessment is very difficult. As an optimist, I always try to hold onto some hope, especially given the work we do, which is really about trying to make a difference in the middle of all this.

Five years ago, you used to hear much less about this; there was less awareness and less interest. Today, there is more interest and more mobilization, but we need nationwide action — not just isolated initiatives — to bring about change and meet the needs at hand.

Mongabay: At what point did you realize you wanted to work on environmental advocacy and become a civil society voice in this field?

Érica Tavares: Some moments during my adolescence left a mark on me, such as when my own home was flooded, and I grew up with many questions I couldn’t answer by researching, talking to people or asking my parents.

Then, during college, I discovered my Environmental Biology program. As I began studying pollution, animal science and plant science, I started finding answers to everything I had wondered about during my childhood.
Why is one neighborhood poorer while another is wealthier? Why does it flood here when it rains, but not elsewhere? Why does one area burn while another doesn’t? What happens to the animals? Why do some places suffer from drought and famine while others do not?

It was through the process of seeking answers to these questions that I also found solutions and felt a desire to communicate and speak out about the environment. That’s how this environmentalist was born.

It was not like I said, “my goal is to be an environmentalist.” But in a way, I was always moving in that direction; life guided me here.

Mongabay: By representing Angola at the UN Climate Youth Conference in 2021 and leading the Green Week Environmental Hackathon in 2026, you engaged with young people from several regions and backgrounds across the country. What did these experiences reveal to you about how Angolan youth view environmental challenges? Has there been a significant shift in environmental awareness among young people in recent years?

Érica Tavares: These experiences actually revealed something truly important: differences in context and reality. At the Youth Conference in Italy in 2021, I was able to connect with several environmentalists from other countries, mostly Nordic ones from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, etc., and their messages, communication styles and priorities are very different from ours.

I’m not saying that the mission is different, because the environmental mission is one and collective, but the priorities were quite distinct. There is a difference between developed and developing countries. In a developed country, young people have access to the internet, they have access to computers, they can carry out an investigation, speak out safely or challenge public policies. They can also make a complaint and hold someone accountable or achieve change. Advocacy there is different.

A young person in Angola often does not have access to a phone, computer or internet connection. They are often ignored and risk their lives. When they speak out about something, they are the only ones doing it, and everyone questions and criticizes them. So the way young people react and act on environmental issues here is very different. And then there are also priorities. We have many challenges in Angola, such as hunger and poverty, access to education and gender gaps in access. And some of these challenges have already been overcome there. They also face new challenges; it doesn’t mean that everything is fine there, but priorities and stances are different, different conditions of access, and certainly with different results.

Mongabay: What is the environmental issue that concerns you most?

Érica Tavares: I think the main problem is pollution, especially that caused by waste, and particularly plastic waste.

We are indeed consuming more and more, and we are not managing to treat plastic waste adequately. Unfortunately, this waste has a major long-term impact.

Plastic takes long to break down; it enters the water, we breathe it, we eat it, and we all end up putting our health at risk, such as the fertility of men and women. Babies are born with microplastics. We already have plastic in our bodies, and I believe that humanity will take some years to realize the seriousness of this.

Then, there is another factor that makes this problem even more serious: lack of oversight. We lack oversight for producers, we lack accountability for consumers, and all of it together ends up increasing the magnitude of the challenge.

Mongabay: EcoAngola denounced cases of illegal deforestation in the provinces of Huambo and Benguela, allegedly carried out by foreign citizens, and local authorities didn’t say anything. Were these cases investigated? Were there any concrete consequences?

Érica Tavares: It’s hard for us to follow up on some cases we denounce because we don’t always get answers from the authorities. Or sometimes, when we do, it’s intended to keep the noise down, to keep things quiet.
We have also made an effort to create a mechanism that allows us to follow up on cases. But one of the biggest difficulties is that we are a non-governmental association and receive little support from the public. Although our agenda is of public interest, the truth is that civil society is still very disconnected from public policies and the support necessary for NGOs to have this power.

This makes everything very difficult. Furthermore, following up on cases involves costs: we have to verify information, investigate, and we often put ourselves at risk, especially when it comes to more sensitive topics. This ends up being a challenge. It doesn’t mean we don’t do it, but it is indeed a big challenge.

What we are trying to do is establish trust with the public, making them realize that they also have to act on this collective agenda.

Mongabay: What are the challenges involved in combating illegal deforestation in Angola?

Érica Tavares: We still don’t have a national forest monitoring system. For example, we could use satellites and other digital information tools to help us assess the situation and obtain data in real time so that authorities could respond more quickly.

There is also certain disconnection between the Forestry Development Institute and the National Police, which is supposed to respond to and monitor these cases. We should have a dedicated environmental police force to guarantee continuity and follow-up on procedures until someone is held accountable.

If we add these mechanisms, we will certainly have better conditions to stop deforestation.

Then there is another dimension of deforestation that happens not only for commercial purposes such as the extraction of high-quality timber used to manufacture furniture, for example. Trees are also cut for energy production. Many communities still don’t have access to electricity and rely on firewood for cooking and other basic needs. Therefore, there are social challenges here that also have a huge impact on deforestation, so we have to look at all of this and try to respond.

Mongabay: Angola has made international climate commitments at the COP and other forums. In practice, is the government managing to ensure that these commitments actually reach the most vulnerable communities?

Érica Tavares: I’d say I used to be much more critical, but today I try to look at the different perspectives. We know there are still many shortcomings. We continue to see very high levels of poverty, [lack of] access to opportunities, and hunger.

One area on which I have seen the government place greater emphasis is agriculture and livestock, not least because about 70% of our agriculture is based on family farming. I have observed several programs aimed at supporting this sector.

However, looking specifically at the climate aspect, it is only now that we are beginning to see some integration of climate issues into new plans and funding. There is still great need for awareness-raising, both on the part of the government and among the people who will benefit, or ought to benefit, from these policies. Many of these people are precisely the most vulnerable and the most affected by the consequences of climate change.

It is difficult to give a definitive answer regarding the impact in practice. Once again, we lack reports that would allow us to evaluate the data consistently. Much of what we say is based on the experience of those on the ground, largely through observation, and we draw conclusions from that. It is based on these observations that I answer this question.

Mongabay: Is environmental education still a priority?

Érica Tavares: It is an urgent need and priority. Looking at the political agenda, it shouldn’t be such a complex issue, especially since there is already some formal environmental education content in the national curriculum. However, that content is still far removed from what we actually need.

The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education should acknowledge this reality and update the content, taking into account the country’s current context, emerging initiatives, and the need to show that we must make a difference from a young age so that future generations act differently. Yet that’s not what we are doing.

We continue to educate Angolans — and everyone living in the country — based on a mindset that does not foster environmental responsibility. We talk about recycling when, often, there are no waste collection points; we teach people not to litter, yet many schools lack basic sanitation and fail to set an example.

Consequently, turning knowledge into practice becomes very difficult. We are still far from where we should to be, and we need public policies that genuinely support environmental education.

Mongabay: As a co-founder of the Young Scientific Community of Angola, what message would you like to share with young people?

Érica Tavares: Growing up in Angola is hard. But it will be even harder if we do nothing.

As young people, we must view our country with a sense of responsibility. We face many daily challenges: traffic, unemployment, lack of stability, and even difficulties accessing education. Young Angolans face numerous obstacles just to pursue their studies.

That is precisely why we bear an even greater responsibility: to help ensure that future generations have priorities that are different from the ones we have today.

There is a great deal of grassroots work to be done. The key message is that we have to find the right people to do it. Young people must help, invest in their education, and study. This must be a priority so that they can grow into productive, skilled adults with a clear sense of purpose and strong character.

That way, when it’s our turn to lead, we will be equipped to do things better and differently.

Banner image: Deforestation in Angola. Image by EcoAngola Image Bank.

Cite this article

David Tjyakala (2026). Lack of data hinders fight against environmental crimes in Angola, says environmentalist. Mongabay Conservation news. DOI: https://doi.org/10.66709/news-329430