Biofund

It is with great sadness that the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) received the news of the tragic death of marine biologist and conservationist Lara Cristina Muaves, senior staff at the World Fund for Nature in Mozambique (WWF), on 14 October 2021, in Maputo.

Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) in partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) through the COMBO+ Project and the Ministry of Land and Environment (MTA) represented by the National Directorate of Environment (DINAB) with financial support from World Bank/MozBio2 Project and UNDP/BIOSFAC, conducted between the 12th and 13th of October 2021 the first module of the intensive training program for 25 technicians from various sectors of MTA on the application of the mitigation hierarchy in Mozambique.

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), became a member of the Executive Committee of the Consortium of African Funds for the Environment (CAFÉ), in the person of its Executive Director, Luís Bernardo Honwana.

From 6-8 October 2021, Mozambique hosted in Maputo, in hybrid format (part physical presence and part virtual) the 11th General Assembly of the Consortium of African Funds for the Environment (CAFÉ). Participating in the event were 32 countries from four continents - 16 countries from Africa, six from America, nine from Europe and one from Asia. The meeting was financed by German cooperation, through KfW, and by FFEM.

The 11th General Assembly of the Consortium of African Funds for the Environment (CAFÉ) takes place in Maputo city, from October 6th to 8th, 2021, at Radisson Blu Hotel at 10h00 am (Mozambique Time), in hybrid format (presential and remotely) with the objective of sharing knowledge and experience to discuss conservation funding mechanisms and opportunities in Africa.

Between 11 August and 8 September 2021, the Community Development Department of the Gile National Park held activities to assess the current stage of implementing beekeeping for the benefit of the local communities.

Under the BIO-Emergency Fund programme, the Mágoè National Park received, on 1 September 2021, on the premises of the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity – BIOFUND, a vehicle to assist in the activities to inspect biodiversity.

Interns of the Mozambique Conservation Leadership Programme (PLCM), allocated to the National Forestry Directorate (DINAF), have been undertaking, since 15 August 2021, the integrated Forestry Inventory of Forestry Compartments (CF) in Forestry Management Units (UMF) in Mocuba and Lugela districts, Zambézia province, during 4 weeks.

José Amino is a ranger from block L7 of the Niassa Special Reserve, Luwire – Lugenda Wildlife Reserve, and is outstanding for capturing poachers, and seizing a variety of traps used by the poachers.

Pride and a sense of mission accomplished characterised the young interns who took part, for the first time, in a mission to rescue an animal. It was not just any animal – we are talking about the king of the jungle, who fell into a trap laid by poachers.

Talento Luwenda stands out because of his leadership in the fight against poaching. He is a 28 year old young man, who is a ranger in the Tchuma Tchato programme in Safaris de Moçambique. He has been working as a ranger for 5 years.

Two interns from the Mozambique Conservation Leadership Programme PLCM) have been taking part in Environmental Education activities since 15 August in Gorongosa National Park.

35 year old António has been a ranger for 14 years, and he has worked in the Niassa Special Reserve (REN) for the past 8 years. His work at REN has been marked by leadership in the fight against poachers from Tanzania.

This is a capacity building exercise under objective 1 of the Mozambique Conservation Leadership Programme (PLCM), which seeks to strengthen the skills of the professionals of the National System of Conservation Areas (SNAC). It is taking place in the Southern Africa Wildlife College, in South Africa, and lasts for two (2) months.

The new Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), Narciso Matos, in early August accompanied the activities of the interns of the Mozambique Conservation Leadership Programme (PLCM) in Luwire, in the Niassa Special Reserve.

The Foundation for Biodiversity Conservation (BIOFUND), in the framework of Biodiversity Offset Program, implemented with the financial support of the World Bank/Project MozBio2 and UNDP/BIOSFAC in partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the National Directorate Environment (DINAB) and the National Directorate of Forests (DINAF), is implementing pilot projects to improve habitats of Maputo Special Reserve (REM) and in the Licuáti Forest Reserve (RFL), both recently declared as Key Biodiversity Areas ( KBAs) or Important Biodiversity Areas at global level. These projects aim to test the technical and financial feasibility of biodiversity offsets in Conservation Areas and in Forest Reserves in Mozambique.

Martins Rodrigues is 54 years old, and has worked as a Ranger for 9 years. He works in the Maputo Special Reserve (REM), and he has become prominent in reducing poaching in the southern region of the REM.

João is a Ranger at the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park. He is 37 years old and has been a ranger for 18 years. He became prominent in blocking the wave of illegal night fishing, through neutralising illegal fishermen and their boats.

World Elephant Day is celebrated on 12 August. The date was created with the main objective of preserving this animal, which, although it is the largest land mammal on the planet, is vulnerable because of attacks by poachers.

This was the first award by the Dr Carlos Lopes Pereira Fund (formally set up in July 2020), at an event marking World Ranger Day, which is commemorated every year on 31 July. This year the ceremony was held in the Niassa Special Reserve, and was chaired by President Filipe Nyusi. The winners were chosen after a rigorous selection process held between 11 June and 5 July this year, when the administrators/managers of various Mozambican Conservation Areas submitted the candidacies of the Rangers who had stood out most over the previous year.

This information was announced on 31 July 2021, during an event celebrating World Ranger Day, organised by the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), in the Niassa Special Reserve, after the Mozambican President, Filipe Nyusi, had visited the Biodiversity Exhibition developed by the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND).

The recognition was granted by Mozambican President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi at a ceremony held in the Niassa Special Reserve, on 31 July 2021, World Ranger Day,

Eight staff members of the National Forestry Directorate have benefitted from building their capacity in designing and management of data bases, through the tools of Advanced Excel This training took place from 20 to 23 July, and was led by interns of the Conservation Leadership Programme of Mozambique (PLCM). During the sessions, which took place at the headquarters of the National Forestry Directorate in Maputo, the staff had the possibility of perfecting their skills so as to improve their performance during their day-to-day activities.

This is an agreement signed between the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) and the Network for Environment and Sustainable Community Development in Zambézia (RADEZA), in the framework of the PROMOVE Biodiversidade programme, with financing from the European Union, to the sum of 792.000,00 (seven hundred and ninety two thousand) Euros, for the implementation of community development activities in the buffer zone of the Gilé National Park (PNAG) up to 2025.

The International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem was celebrated on 26 July, under the motto “Mangroves restored, Mozambique resilient”. The mangroves are unique, highly productive and complex forests that develop in zones of transition between the terrestrial and marine environment in tropical and sub-tropical areas.

On 15 July 2021, the “PROMOVE Biodiversidade” programme held the 1st meeting of its National Supervisory Committee, at a virtual event organized by the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) and the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC).

Zambeze Delta Safaris – ZDS – in Official Game Reserve 11, in the framework of its management plan, has established, in a process of coordination with the communities, the zoning of Game Reserve 11, in order to separate the areas of settled population, in the northern zone of C11, from the hunting areas, and the areas of concentration of about 30,000 animals of 30 species and 250 varieties of birds.

In June, the interns of the Leadership Programme for Conservation in Mozambique (PLCM), took part in a training course on the management of conflicts between people and wild life and on community development, organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), through the Kheta project.

Banhine National Park (PNB), located in the northern part of Gaza province, celebrated its 48th anniversary on 26 June this year. To mark the date, interns of the Programme for Conservation Leadership in Mozambique (PLCM)

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) has renewed the membership of its management bodies. The members who ended their terms of office have, with dedication and professionalism, guided and supported the foundation since the first steps from its creation, establishment, consolidation and growth.

Still Standing, the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), through the Biodiversity Offsets Programme, and the Wildlife Alliance, as part of the celebrations of World Environment Day, on 5 June, held a lecture in the Josina Machel Secondary School, in Maputo city, on the importance of mangroves and pangolins for the environment.

World Sea Turtle Day is celebrated on 16 June, with the aim of stressing the importance of turtles and the need to protect them globally.

The Commercial and Investment Bank (BCI) and the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) have just launched a campaign to encourage the use of the Bio card, the first means of payment in Mozambique, produced on the basis of biodegradable material (maize), which contributes to the conservation of biodiversity here.

The Minister of Land and Environment, Ivete Maibaze, on 11 June 2021, launched, in the Gilé National Park, in Zambézia province, the biodiversity conservation programme, known as “PROMOVE Biodiversidade”.

Also known as the Rangers Support Fund, it was created with the aim of recognizing, motivating and rewarding the bravery and dedication of the rangers of Mozambique's public and private Conservation Areas, through an annual prize.

World Ocean Day is celebrated on 8 June with the aim of raising awareness about the vital importance of the oceans and the role they play in maintaining a healthy planet.

This is the consortium formed by WWF, R-CGRN and RADEZA, which will implement the PROMOVE Biodiversidade (“Promote Biodiversity”) project on Mount Mabu.

Under the motto “We are part of the solution for nature”, on 22 May Mozambique celebrated International Biodiversity Day.

The Fund was set up in June 2020, by the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), with the aim of reducing the extreme impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the conservation areas in Mozambique (public and private areas), by guaranteeing the jobs of the rangers and of essential staff for supporting inspection, which were previously covered by income from tourism. The BIO-Emergency Fund was initially designed to cover a period of one year. However, due to the effects of COVID-19, which continue to have a negative effect on tourism and other sectors, BIOFUND has extended the period covered by the fund to the end of December 2021.

With the aim of seeing up close the activities that are being undertaken with the funds from the Bio card, a project resulting from a partnership between the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) and the Commercial and Investment Bank (BCI), teams from BIOFUND and the BCI recently visited the Sábiè Game Park, the Conservation Area where the first pilot project financed with funds from this card has been implemented, for the conservation of white and black rhinoceros, which are species threatened with extinction in Mozambique. This project, designed by MozParks Initiative INC., supported the placing of satellite tags in order to better follow and protect these species.