The opening ceremony of the 5th Edition of the Pre-professional Internships of the Mozambique Conservation Leadership Programme (<a href=”https://www.biofund.org.mz/projects/programa-de-lideranca-para-a-conservacao-de-mocambique-plcm/”>PLCM</a>, held on 6 September 2023, in Maputo City, brought optimism and hope for the future of biodiversity conservation in Mozambique, with the launch of 45 young people in the sector.
The event, led by BIOFUND’s Executive Director, Luís Bernardo Honwana, was attended by representatives from the National Institute of Employment (<a href=”https://seje.gov.mz/inep/”>INEP</a>), the National Directorate of Forestry (<a href=”http://www.dinaf.gov.mz/”>DINAF</a>) and the <a href=”https://www.swedenabroad.se/pt/embaixada/mo%C3%A7ambique-maputo/”>Government of Sweden</a>. These strong partnerships underscore PLCM’s unwavering commitment to integrating young people into high-impact conservation strategies.
Of the 45 interns selected, 31 will be placed in various Conservation Areas across Mozambique, from Maputo National Park to Quirimbas National Park. The remaining 14 will have the opportunity to collaborate with key biodiversity conservation institutions, such as the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), the Foundation for Biodiversity Conservation (BIOFUND), the National Directorate of Forests (DINAF), Flora and Fauna International (FFI) and the National Agency for Geospatial Development (ADE). Together, these young people are destined to become the leaders of the next generation of conservationists. Yuran Massangaie, one of the interns with a degree in Agriculture, assigned to the Banhine National Park, shared his enthusiasm: “<em>This is a unique opportunity to apply my knowledge in agriculture in a way that benefits Mozambique’s biodiversity. I am looking forward to bringing practical innovations to the conservation field</em>.”
Coordinated by BIOFUND, in partnership with ANAC, with funding from the World Bank and the Government of Sweden, the PLCM plays a crucial role in strengthening the capacities and skills of professionals in the National System of Conservation Areas, attracting and motivating young talents with diverse backgrounds, emphasizing leadership skills for conservation, and raising awareness among civil society about the importance of biodiversity conservation, with a special focus on young people. Follow PLCM’s activities on <a href=”https://www.biofund.org.mz/projects/programa-de-lideranca-para-a-conservacao-de-mocambique-plcm/”>Website</a> and <a href=”https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057323264662″>Facebook</a>.
