STUNNING photographs highlighting the work of of a project to restore an African national park torn apart by a ruinous civil war feature in this month’s National Geographic Magazine.

Captured by renowned British photographer Charlie Hamilton James, imagery in the May issue highlights the inspiring work behind the Gorongosa Restoration Project, which aids the conservation of flora and fauna in one of Mozambique’s most beloved national parks.

Between 1977 and 1992, Gorongosa National Park, in Mozambique, was turned into a battlefield by the fighting.

Now, more than two decades after a cease-fire halted the war between the Mozambique government and the right-wing Resistência Nacional Moçambicana (RENAMO), the environment is slowly recovering.

The imagery in National Geographic Magazine’s May issue highlight the work and success of the project; a partnership launched by the government and US based Gregory C. Carr Foundation which works towards rehabilitating the national park by restoring it’s flora and fauna and empowering its local residents.

From an elephant grabbing an evening snack, to a pack of wild dogs, to the park’s ranger force, which includes 11 women, Charlie Hamilton James has captured these beautiful, authentic moments on camera.

The feature delves into the work of Dominique Gonçalves, a young Mozambican ecologist,who works tirelessly on protecting and growing elephants, closely monitoring the elephant population, their movements across the landscape and their health. Working with law enforcement and sustainable development colleagues, she hopes to build coexistence between communities and wildlife throughout the buffer-zone surrounding the park.

In addition to this, Gonçalves works closely with the National park’s Girls’ Club programmes; promoting education and health to prevent early marriage. The program takes place outside of school sessions, and focuses on literacy, health and reproduction and play in order to educate young women in a safe and stable environment. Volunteers give their time up to protect these young girls from the ‘jeopardies they face: forced early marriage, frequent pregnancies, bad health, and truncated education.’

American philanthropist Greg Carr, who is behind the restoration of Gorongosa National Park, explains “this is where human development and conservation merge. Rights for women and children, poverty alleviation - is what Africa needs to save its national parks.”

The Restoration Project does a lot for the local human population with the belief that ‘for elephants and hippos and lions to thrive within a park boundary, you need to ensure that the humans who live outside the boundary thrive too.’ The programme ultimately works towards the idea of Gorongosa as a ‘“human rights park”, serving nature and people, overseen by Mozambicans, shared with the world.’

The uplifting feature confirms that in the realm of conservation, where too many indicators herald gloom and despair, success on such a large scale is rare and very much welcomed.

The May issue, on sale from Wednesday, May 8, also includes features spectacular photography revealing the dangers of micro plastics in our oceans and the bravery of ‘smokejumpers’; an elite team of professionals that parachute into Alaska’s backcountry in a dangerous race to fight remote fires.

It also includes an in-depth look at the legacy of Leonardo Da Vinci, 500 years after his death and a gallery that unveils a traditional Spanish tradition in which young girls become symbols of Spring in stunning flower altars.