Under the name “Poaching Steals from All of Us”, the campaign has been undertaken by the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), in collaboration with WILDAID, a non-governmental organisation that works for the preservation of wild life, and other conservation partners, including the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity – BIOFUND.

The goal of the campaign is to raise the awareness of society about the need to preserve the diversity of fauna and flora. This campaign will be undertaken through television documentaries, small public service announcements, billboards, social media, and other awareness activities in remote areas, using local ambassadors such as politicians, musicians, sports people, religious leaders and rangers.

In an initial phase, the former President of the Republic, Joaquim Alberto Chissano, and the artists Stewart Sukuma, Lizha James and King Sweet Nassam took part as campaign ambassadors, using their voices and images as a resource to raise awareness for the fight against poaching.

Watch the campaign videos through the links below, and don’t forget to subscribe to our Youtube.

King Sweet: https://youtu.be/F-8lhemkUP0;

Stewart Sukuma: https://youtu.be/8fNRdy3ogWo;

Lisa James: https://youtu.be/SdixV_u_lgg;

Joaquim Alberto Chissano: https://youtu.be/iOIVkahiwy4

The interns, Atairis Massonganha, trained in Economics, and Talven Samuel Jackson, trained in Public Administration and Management, in November began their activities of a pre-professional internship in the World Wide Fund For Nature – WWF.

The internship lasts for 6 months and is taking place in the central offices of WWF. During this period, the youths will have the opportunity to apply the knowledge they acquired during training for the benefit of biodiversity.

Atairis Massonganha, hopes to end the internship with a different vision of the conservation of biodiversity and to acquire a professional attitude.

“I hope to come out of the internship endowed with relevant knowledge applicable in the conservation sector and in society in general. I shall also give my best in using my knowledge for the protection of nature”.

The integration of the interns into WWF is the result of the partnership between that organisation and the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity – BIOFUND in the context of implementing the internships of the Mozambique Programme for Leadership in Conservation – PLCM.

The PLCM seeks to motivate for the conservation of biodiversity not only traditional conservation professionals, but also professionals from other areas of knowledge, which are all relevant and necessary for conservation. In this context, over the next six months it is intended to integrate about 20 interns in various partner institutions nationally.

#FormandoFuturosLíderesdeConservaçãoemMoçambique

Hagnésio Chiponde is a young Mozambican trained in veterinary medicine at the Eduardo Mondlane University, and a beneficiary of the first edition of the internship programme of the PLCM, which took place in the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) and in the Maputo Special Reserve and the Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve from March to August 2020.

Hagnésio was always passionate about football and dreamed of playing professionally. However, his dedication and commitment to the protection of biodiversity spoke louder and today he works in the conservation sector.

He is an example of the positive impact that the PLCM has on the professional career of young people, since, after six months as an intern, he was hired by an organisation which works for the conservation of species and to mitigate the conflicts between people and wild life.

“I had the opportunity to begin my career in the Conservation Area with the PLCM and currently I am part of the team of veterinarians helping the National Administration of Conservation Areas in field operations for the conservation of wild life. It has been a captivating experience”.

For Hagnésio, the pre-professional internship has increased his will to work for the conservation of biodiversity and has rapidly opened up for him very interesting professional opportunities!

With financing from the European Union, the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity – BIOFUND, signed, in November 2020, the first subvention agreement under the “PROMOTE Biodiversity” programme, with the François Sommer Foundation/International Foundation for Wildlife Management  – FFS-IGF  – to the approximate value of 2.3 million Euros for direct support to the Gilé National Park, until, 2025.

Through the signing of this agreement, it is intended to add value to the long experience of technical and financial assistance carried out by FFS-IGF, in support of the management and administration of the Gilé National Park, with a focus on strengthening the capacity to inspect biodiversity, based on the Technical Agreement on the Management and Development of the Gilé National Park, signed in 2007 between the National Administration of Conservation areas ANAC and the FFS-IGF.

This project fits into the subvention contract between BIOFUND and the European Union, in the context of implementing the “PROMOTE Biodiversity” project, which intends to disburse 10.2 million Euros under the management of BIOFUND. The project seeks to cover 3 geographical areas in Zambezia and Nampula provinces – namely, Mount Mabu, the Gilé National Park, and the Protected Area of the First and Second Islands.

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity – BIOFUND in partnership with the Eduardo Mondlane University – UEM and Wildlife Conservation Society – WCS, held on November 12, 2020 from 9 – 11 am a Webinar for the presentation of the “Progress report on the study on metrics to assess the ecological condition of mangrove forests in Mozambique ”.

This study started in 2019 and is part of the efforts of the Biodiversity Offsets Program implemented by BIOFUND, WCS and the National Environment Directorate (DINAB) for the development of technical tools to assess the ecological condition of habitats and species and support the implementation of the mitigation hierarchy in Mozambique.

This Webinar is the second meeting held with the main stakeholders involved in mangrove management in Mozambique to discuss the development of metrics for assessing the ecological condition of mangrove forests. The event counted with 60 national and international participants including representatives from the government, the private sector, NGOs, academia, and multilateral and bilateral agencies.

The progress report was presented by the study leader, Dr. Célia Macamo, lecturer and researcher at the Eduardo Mondlane University, who during the presentation highlighted the importance of harmonizing the procedures to assess the ecological condition of mangrove forests in Mozambique in order to provide valuable tools to assess progress in conservation projects and support the effective implementation of the mitigation hierarchy in Mozambique.

To access the Webinar presentations click here

To access the Webinar recording click here

For more information about the program visit https://www.biofund.org.mz/projects/programa-de-contrabalancos-de-biodiversidade/

On 2 and 3 November 2020, the National Directorate of the Environment (DINAB), and its partners, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and BIOFUND, held a retreat on the Macaneta beach in Maputo to review the proposed Regulations on biodiversity offsets.

The main objective of the meeting was to analyse the fourth version of the draft Regulations on Biodiversity Offsets, and to draw up the final version of this document, which will later be submitted for approval by DINAB at the Technical Council of the Ministry of Land and environment (MTA).

The meeting also decided on the next steps to be taken and the calendar for approval of the Regulations on Biodiversity Offsets by the Council of Ministers.

The draft Regulations on Biodiversity Offsets arise in the context of establishing clear and feasible principles, methodologies, requirements and procedures that allow the correct implementation of biodiversity offsets, integrated into environmental assessment, in order to face the rapid economic development in the mining sector, which threatens the irreversible transformation of biodiversity and its ecosystem services.

Some 21 people took part in the two day meeting. They came from various Government institutions, including the sectors of the environment, the conservation areas, mining, fisheries, and partners of BIOFUND and WCS through the COMBO Project.

A Fundação para Conservação da Biodiversidade – BIOFUND, realizou de 9 a 15 de Outubro de 2020, sessões de monitoria virtual, com as Áreas de Conservação beneficiárias para conhecer o nível de execução do plano de actividades face à nova realidade imposta pela COVID-19 e proporcionar um espaço de partilha de experiências entre os beneficiários.

As sessões contaram com a participação da equipa da BIOFUND, ANAC, representantes da União Europeia, Peace Parks Foundation, Agência Francesa de Desenvolvimento, nossas parceiras, Administradores e Técnicos das Áreas de Conservação, na ocasião, a BIOFUND deu a conhecer sobre os seus novos programas assim como as oportunidades de financiamento.

Trata-se das Áreas de Conservação beneficiárias dos projectos: Abelha (AFD+BIOFUND); MozBio2 (Banco Mundial/IDA); ASA (BIOFUND) e Conservation International (BIOFUND). Desde 2016 até à data já foram canalizados mais de 6 Milhões de Dólares para as Áreas de Conservação.

Como resultado deste apoio, as Áreas de Conservação abriram novos postos de fiscalização e têm vindo a registar um aumento significativo no número de patrulhas realizadas, o que resulta em maior área fiscalizada, mais armadilhas desactivadas e mais avistamento de espécies de fauna.

No total, são actualmente 14 as Áreas de Conservação financiadas pela BIOFUND, nomeadamente: Parques Nacionais de Banhine, Quirimbas, Mágoè, Gilé, Chimanimani, Zinave, Limpopo, Arquipélago de Bazaruto, a Reserva Especial de Maputo, Reserva Marinha Parcial da Ponta de Ouro, as Reservas Nacionais de Pomene e Marromeu, a Zona de Protecção Total do Cabo de São Sebastião e a Área de Protecção Ambiental das Ilhas Primeiras e Segundas.

This fact was determined during the monitoring visit to the Magoe National Park (PNM) held recently by the BIOFUND team, in the context of approving the Park’s entry into the BIO-Emergency Fund. In this way, it will benefit from the payment of wages to its 68 existing rangers.

The PNM covers an area of 355,852,044 hectares. It consists of a semi-closed forest, where species of dry vegetation are dominant, notably Colophospermum mopane (mopane) and Adansonia digitata (baobab). It contains a variety of species of wild life, including buffaloes, elephants and crocodiles. The PNM has also been receiving support from BIOFUND since September 2019, for paying operational costs which guarantee that inspection activities are undertaken.

The Administrator of the Magoe National Park, Luís dos Santos Namanha, said that the BIOFUND financing will inaugurate a new era for the park’s activities. He added “the Mágoè National Park was created in 2013 and was operating without any financial partners. With the financing from BIOFUND, it was possible to expand the number of inspection posts from 5 to 9, which helped increase the wild life population, in terms both of species and of numbers. The new support from the BIO-Emergency Fund will revive the protection of the international migratory corridors for wild life between Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Zambia and vice-versa”.

This is one example of the more than 12 Conservation Areas, which are maintaining their inspection activities during the Covid-19 pandemic, thanks to the BIO-Emergency Fund.

The interns Maria Madalena Rangel, with a degree in Anthropology, and Dulce da Flora Simão, with a degree in Biological Sciences, had an initial induction into activities of the community sector and the priority actions to be undertaken, notably the community food security programme. This seeks to guarantee food for the households recently resettled from the interior of the park to the buffer zone and other localities in Mabote district.

During the first weeks of activities, the team accompanied the conservation agriculture project in the Maculuve community, where cassava cuttings were planted and irrigated.

One of the interns made her satisfaction clear, when she said how gratifying it is to be part of a programme which, on the one hand, undertakes activities to protect biodiversity, and, on the other, contributes to the development of the communities.

”Apart from irrigation, we made the households covered by the project aware of how to organise themselves so as to care regularly for the agricultural field, making sustainable use of the material provided by the Park”, said Maria Rangel, PLCM intern in the Zinave National Park.

The Zinave National Park is located in Mabote district, in Inhambane province, and covers an area of 400,000km². This Conservation Area has benefitted from BIOFUND support since 2018, through financing from Project Bee, for the protection of local biodiversity.

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity – BIOFUND, at the Second Extraordinary Meeting of its Board of Directors, held in September 2020, approved the extension for a further nine months of PHASE 1 of the BIO-Emergency Fund, thus guaranteeing additional subventions to support the Conservation Areas under public and private management, up until June 2021.

The BIO-Emergency Fund was set up in June of this year for an initial period of three months, with the aim of guaranteeing that the drastic decline of tourism in the country would not damage the protection of natural resources in the Conservation areas, particularly in those areas where tourist income finances their running costs. In the initial period, from July-September 2020, the programme benefitted 10 conservation areas. 287 rangers and other professionals of the sector remained in their jobs, 909 patrols were held per month, equivalent to 28,052 hours of work, and 1,897,300 hectares of biodiversity were protected.

The extension of this support envisages the payment of 100% of the wage costs of the Conservation Areas under private management in comparison to the current 50%. It will also support other running costs,as well as supporting communities living next to the Conservation Areas under public and private management. It also envisages support for new private sector operators.

As for the Conservation Areas managed by the public sector, BIOFUND will guarantee, up until June 2021, the wage costs of the Conservation Areas worst hit by the loss of tourist income, as well as support in means of transport, and materials to prevent Covid-19.

This support has only been possible thanks to the growth of the BIO-Emergency Fund which currently (3 months after it was established) contains US$ 4.3 million. Of this sum, US$ 3 million comes from BIOFUND, US$ 1 million from the Government of Sweden through the World Bank/MozBio2 and US$ 249.000 from USAID/SPEED+.

In August, the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park (PNAB) started training for sailors in codes of conduct for marine wildlife, with the main objective of involving local partners in the active conservation of marine ecosystems in the PNAB.

With the end scheduled for September, the training consisted of sharing general information about the PNAB and Codes of Conduct that guide sailors, as a way to protect various marine species, such as  dugongs, turtles, whalesand coral reefs, among others.

“This capacity building has allowed alignment in the communication between the communities and the park. We believe that, with the information provided here, the community will be more motivated and responsible for the protection and conservation of the park’s natural resources”said António Cuhanha, a sailor and a member of the local community.

This activity is part of the improvement in the relations between the PNABand the local communities, as a way of expanding knowledge of the Conservation Areas and the importance of protecting the ecosystems.

The PNAB consists of the islands of Bangué, Magaruque, Benguérra, Bazarutoand Santa Carolina. It covers an area of 1,430 km² and benefits from financial support from the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) for the payment of operational costswithin the scope of the Abelha project, since 2018. For more information about the training access here.

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity, BIOFUND, within the scope of the BIO-Fund Emergency Program, carried out on September 9, 2020 the first monitoring visit to the Sabié Game Park (SGP), taking all the necessary COVID-19 security measures.

The main objective of the visit was to train the SGP team on BIOFUND’s monitoring procedures as well as to collect information on patrolling, inspection, conservation and community involvement activities. The visit also served to integrate new members of the program team.

The SGP is located in the province of Maputo, in the district of Moamba, has an area of 30,000 ha and is characterized by a rich terrestrial biodiversity with emphasis on buffalo, giraffe, rhino and elephant.

As one of the eight privately managed Conservation Areas benefiting from the fund, the park has the support of BIOFUND to pay 50% of the wage costs of the 15 rangers, as a way to reduce the impact of the loss of tourism revenues during the COVID-19 pandemic and maintain an active ranger force in the field.

Today, 16 September, marks the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.

With the aim of preserving the ozone layer, which works as a natural shield for the planet against the ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun, the Montreal Protocol was established on 16 September 1987. This is an international agreement which has been signed by 191 countries.With the signing of the agreement, 16 September became the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.

The ozone layer is a thin envelope formed by the gas ozone (O₃) which surrounds the earth and protects living organisms from the radiation emitted by the sun. Without this layer, located 25 to 30 kms above the surface (stratosphere), the existence of life on our planet would not be possible.

The reduced thickness of the ozone layer is a serious problem for human beings. In the regions where this reduction is noted, there is a greater incidence of allergies and eye problems, such as cataracts and blindness, and skin problems such as cancer. Furthermore, the radiation also affects plants and other living beings. Small actions such as the recycling of materials, reduction in the use of plastics, and planting trees could help protect the ozone layer.

Do your part, and contribute to the preservation of our planet!

This is an inedited event, which will bring together a worldwide community of conservation finance professionals, including environmental funds, donors, impact investors, NGOs, the private sector and government authorities between the 6th and 8th of October.

The Network of Environmental Funds of Latin America and Caribbean (RedLAC) and the Consortium of African Funds for the Environment (CAFÉ) are regional networks that group 43 environmental funds from 30 countries in Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa, in addition to 3 regional funds.

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) is a founding member of CAFÉ (established in 2011) and will participate in this congress.

Ensure your participation in the event by registering through the link https://live.eventtia.com/en/redlac-cafe

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity, BIOFUND, has adopted several measures that allow it to operate fully, by implementing forms of distance working, and a rotating shift regime for its staff, in addition to holding virtual meetings.

BIOFUND is continuing to guarantee support for the operational costs of 15 Conservation Areas in 9 of the country’s provinces, and the budgets of the beneficiaries are being adjusted so as to ensure the measures of health protection necessary in each Conservation Area.

In August, some of the professional internships in Maputo city were extended for a further six months, under the Conservation Leadership in Mozambique Programme (PLCM). Also under this programme, we should mention the beginning, in September, of the professional internships in the Conservation Areas, previously suspended because of the pandemic situation.

A special stress should be laid on the creation of the BIO-Emergency Fund, launched on 15 June, with the duration of six months, as a way of minimising the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Conservation Areas of Mozambique. This fund consists in supporting the payment of the wages of rangers who depend on income from tourism. So far it has covered more than 190 rangers in 10 privately managed Conservation Areas.

The organisation believes that, with these measures, the impacts of Covid-19 will be minimised and the various biodiversity stakeholders in the Conservation Areas can continue to play their role in protecting Mother Nature.

After 5 years of editions of the Biodiversity Exhibition, the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) brought together partners, donors and volunteers in a debate about the previous editions, and the prospects for new approaches to the Biodiversity Exhibition

The meeting was held virtually, through the Zoom platform, and about 40 people took part.

For two hours, in addition to the lessons learnt, the participants exchanged ideas about the future of the exhibition, with a stress on restructuring it, so that it becomes a national and more interactive event. A further aspect raised in the meeting concerned the use of new publicity tools, as a way of making the exhibition more comprehensive.

To watch the recording of the meeting, click here

Do you have any innovative ideas about the Biodiversity Exhibition and would like to share them with BIOFUND? Send an email to info@biofund.org.mz

This is the second group of young graduates selected within the scope of the 1st Edition of the PLCM Internship Program that began their activities in the Conservation Areas on September 9, 2020, for period of six months – observing the entire protocol of hygiene and safety established for the prevention of COVID-19.

The activities will be carried out in five Conservation Areas, namely: Total Protection Area of Cabo São Sebastião, Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, Zinave National Park, Banhine National Park, and Limpopo National Park.

This program aims to motivate and attract young graduates to the national conservation system and to peak their interest in working in Biodiversity Conservation. Carolina Hunguana, PLCM Coordinator, said that “the program selected trainees with knowledge in biological, natural, human, social and other sciences as a way of showing that the Conservation sector is comprehensive and needs the contribution of different areas of knowledge. “

Cadaito Aly Baraca, graduated in Tourism from Eduardo Mondlane University, is an intern at Banhine National Park, he says that “It is with great enthusiasm that through PLCM, I gain the opportunity to apply efforts in favor of improving the living conditions of communities, through the promotion of cyber tourism and biodiversity conservation in Mozambique”.

It should be noted that the internships were initially scheduled to begin in March 2020, having been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Dr. Carlos Lopes Pereira Fund, which seeks to recognise and reward the courage and dedication of the rangers of the Conservation Areas in Mozambique,has just received a new contribution to its capital, to the value of two million meticais, from the company AVM Consultores, represented by Adamo Valy.

As previously announced, the Fund was set up on the basis of a complete donation of the monetary part of the Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa– 50,000 pounds sterling, which Tusk International granted in 2019 to Dr Carlos Lopes Pereira, the Director of the Protection and Inspection Services of the National Administration of the Conservation Areas (ANAC).

BIOFUND decided to add value to this selfless gesture by Dr. Carlos Lopes Pereira by contributing for its part a further 50,000 pounds – which allowed the Fund to count on an initial capital equivalent to 8.6 million meticais.

AVM has thus become the first national institution to join this initiative, responding to the appeal made publicly by its promoters at the launch of the Fund on 31 July, during the commemorations of World Ranger Day.

As from 2021, the Dr. Carlos Lopes Pereira Fund will award prizes to Rangers who have most distinguished themselves in the years. It will also grant support to close relatives of those Rangers who, in the exercise of their duties, lost their lives or were permanently disabled.

Created on August 12^th 2012, with the aim of protecting all elephant species and support for the conservation of the largest terrestrial mammal on the planet, World Elephant Day was designed by Canadian director Patricia Sims and the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation of Thailand, where the animal is a national symbol.

The largest terrestrial mammal on the planet, weighing up to seven tons, the elephant is highly sought after by poachers because of its ivory.

According to data released by the National Administration for Conservation Areas  (ANAC), since 2009, Mozambique has lost at least 10,000 elephants and in the Niassa Reserve alone, the largest protected area in the country, the total number of elephants has gone from 12,000 in 2011 to just 4 400 in 2014. It should be noted, however, that recent government and private actions in recent years have contributed to dramatically reduce this elephant loss. According to preliminary data from the National Elephant Census (2018), the country has a population of 10,800 individuals.

BIOFUND emphasizes that elephants are extremely important for ecosystems and since 2016 the institution has supported most of the Conservation Areas that host this mammal, namely the Maputo Special Reserve, the Chimanimani National Reserve and the Quirimbas National Parks, Gilé, Banhine, Mágòe, Limpopo and Zinave.

You too can contribute to increased knowledge about its importance and help search for sustainable solutions for the management and conservation of the elephant.

To learn some curiosities about the elephant, visit the BIOFUND and ANAC facebook pages.

Together for the conservation of biodiversity in Mozambique!

The launch of this prize took place on 1 August in Gorongosa National Park, at an event concerning World Ranger Day which is celebrated on 31 July every year.

The fund is due to the initiative of Dr. Carlos Lopes Pereira, Director of the Protection and Inspection Services of the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) who, after he was granted, in 2019, the “Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa”, awarded by Tusk International, donated the monetary part of this prize of 50,000 pounds sterling for the constitution of a fund to support Mozambican rangers. The management of this fund has been entrusted to BIOFUND which, for its part, has contributed a further 50,000 pounds. This means that the initial capital corresponds to the sum of 8.6 million meticais.

With the objective of recognising the bravery and dedication of the rangers of the Conservation Areas, prizes will be awarded to the rangers who have made the most outstanding contributions during the year. The fund will also support the closest relatives of the rangers who have lost their lives or who were disabled in the performance of their duties.

During the ceremony, the Foundation for theConservation of Biodiversity, represented by its Executive Director,Luís Bernardo Honwana, said that this fund,to be known as the Dr. Carlos Lopes Pereira Fund, will award not monetary prizes, but also diplomas of honour.

Currently,BIOFUND is working to publicise the fund, to establish synergies, and to raise more national and international contributions to guarantee the growth of the fund.

To find out more about the Dr. Carlos Lopes Pereira Fund, click here

It is a day to recognize across the globe the contribution of this group of professionals, who play a crucial role for conservation of biodiversity. The rangers work directly inside the conservation areas and their buffer zones to ensure the protection of wildlife, working day and night in often precarious conditions.

BIOFUND – The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity –channels most of its financial support to the Conservation Areas to improvements in the working condition for the rangers, depending on the specific needs of each Conservation Area beneficiary.

As part of the celebrations of World Ranger Day, an official ceremony will take place tomorrow August 1st, in the Gorongosa National Park. The event is led by the National Conservation Areas Administration (ANAC) and will be chaired by the Minister of Land and Environment (MTA), with the participation of BIOFUND among other conservation partners.

On the occasion, BIOFUND will premiere a documentary in homage to the rangers of the protected areas, honouring them all for World Ranger Day.

Watch the ranger’s video here!

In order to guarantee their jobs and cover the wage costs of the rangers and staff who are indispensable for supporting inspection of the conservation areas during the period of crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) announced on Wednesday a fund of three million dollars that will help pay the wages of about a thousand rangers in conservation areas, under public and private management, which have seen their income fall as a result of the lack of visitors since the Covid-19 pandemic exploded across the globe.

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on revenue in various sectors of activity, and tourism is one of the areas most affected, due to the restrictions on people entering and leaving the country, as well as on the domestic circulation of people, Thus there are enormous uncertainties for the operators of these sectors.

Named the “Emergency BIO-FUND”, with the motto “Protecting Natural Resources in Times of Crisis”, the direct support for the operators of conservation areas will be implemented in two phases. The first will provide direct support to the public sector to cover the wage costs of approximately 150 public sector rangers, and the second phase will cover 800 rangers in the private sector.

According to Luís Bernardo Honwana, the Executive Director of BIOFUND, “currently the sector faces the great problem of maintaining the entire structure of guarding our natural assets when it does not have the income that derives from tourism”. Honwana thus considers that this constitutes a situation of crisis, and “as a solution, BIOFUND has decided to set up this fund so that it can support the operators of the conservation areas so that they can continue with their work of inspection”.

For his part, Jorge Ferrão, of the BIOFUND Board of Directors, stressed that “the first phase of this emergency fund should last for six months, and will be followed by a second phase that will be more comprehensive in terms of its duration and the support to be provided, depending on the evolution of the pandemic in the country”.

Although this action is temporary, particularly for this period of crisis caused by the pandemic, the private operators regard the BIOFUND initiative with great satisfaction, since many of the communities living alongside the conservation areas depend directly on the revenue coming from those areas.

“All the conservation areas under private sector management have thousands of people in resident communities whose first opportunity of employment comes from the operator beside them, and afterwards comes the wild life which belongs to the State and to all of us”, argues Pacheco Faria, of the Mozambican Association of Safari Operators.

“After the initial studies and surveys, we decided to support ANAC and operators representing at least nine conservation areas under private management and all the public conservation areas.

After the initial period, will come the phase which could last longer depending on the evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has been shaking the country since March this year. The fund operated by BIOFUND, in partnership with the national Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) and he Mozambican Association of Safari Operators (AMOS) could benefit 19 national parks and reserves, 20 official hunting areas and a variety of other categories of hunting areas, existing in 14 important ecological regions of the country.

The French Development Agency (AFD) and the French Fund for the Global Environment (FFEM), in partnership with the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity – BIOFUND, are launching a new project to improve the balance between the conservation of biodiversity and ruraldevelopment in the Chimanimani National Reserve.

This is a project, with a duration of four years, which seeks to guarantee the conservation of biodiversity and to ensure the sustainable development of the communities in the Chimanimani National Reserve. The project is the result of a new subvention to the value of 4.2 million euros, financed by AFD and FFEM in partnership with BIOFUND.

In the component of conservation of biodiversity, the projectwill support reduction in deforestation through guaranteeing the community land rights of the populations living in the 12 villages of the buffer zone, and strengthening the involvement of the local population in managing the natural resources.

On the other hand, the project seeks to promote the inclusion of women in the community representation bodies through issuing land titles (DUATs) to households headed by women, alone and together with their spouses, and to raise the awareness of women and of the community to the land rights of women.

In the same context, an ecological restoration pilot area will be set upand a mechanism for the ranking of compensation for the impacts on biodiversity of that Conservation Area will be tested, with the support of BIOFUND.

For further information, see the Press Release link

Today, 26 July, the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystems, is celebrated worldwide. In Mozambique the celebration is marked by the call for everyone to contribute to the conservation of mangroves.

Mangrove forests are a coastal ecosystem in transition between the terrestrial and marine environment that has specific adaptations to respond to the extreme conditions of salinity, winds, and tidal cycle to which they are continuously exposed.

Mangroves are one of the most productive ecosystems on the planet. They are habitats for several marine species and it is estimated that ¾ of the species of commercial fishing importance depend on mangroves for their development.

Mangroves are responsible for providing fundamental environmental resources and services, ensuring the environmental integrity of the coastal strip, providing food, protecting local communities from extreme weather events, storing large amounts of carbon in the soil, and contributing to the mitigation of climate change impacts.

Mozambique has about 300,000 ha of mangrove forests, the third largest mangrove forest cover in Africa and the largest coverage on the continent’s eastern coast. In the country, mangrove forests occur in clusters along the entire coastline, being more abundant in the central and northern regions.

Despite their importance, mangroves in Mozambique are vulnerable to a number of threats from human activity. Mozambique recently took an important step in managing this key resource, approving the National Mangrove Management Strategy, the first legal instrument guiding the management and sustainable use of mangroves.

BIOFUND recognizes that mangroves are unique and vulnerable ecosystems and since 2018, have been supporting all the country’s conservation areas with mangrove forests. BIOFUND joins the International Mangroves Day celebrations to increase awareness of their importance and seek sustainable solutions for their management and conservation.

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) on 14 July 2020 held the 3rd meeting of the Steering Committee of the Mozambique Leadership for Conservation Programme – PLCM.

The main objective of the event was to present the main activities undertaken by the PLCM during the first six months of 2020, and the prospects for activities for the second half of the year, considering the challenges imposed by COVID-19 which has affected significantly the activities envisaged for the year.

During the meeting, the members of the Steering Committee approved the resumption of some activities that had been paralysed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Of particular note was approval of the resumption of internships and research in the Conservation Areas, which will begin soon, considered on a case by case basis, and respecting all the hygiene and safety measures established by the health authorities in the fight against COVID-19.

It should be mentioned that the Steering Committee of the PLCM is a body that seeks to guarantee that various programme actions should be accompanied, as well as providing strategic guidance that guarantees legitimacy and quality of the programme results. The body consists of 12 members who represent the institutions of the National System of Conservation Area (SNAC), the Government, academic and professional training institutions, National and International NGOs, and the private sector.

This body meets twice a year, at the end of each six month period. Due to the global health situation, imposed by the COVID 19 pandemic,the meeting took place in a virtual manner, through the Zoom communication platform.

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity – BIOFUND, promoted a contest called “Films for Awareness” celebrated on the 8th of June, under the motto “Innovation for Sustainability of the Oceans: Clean Sea, Protected Ecosystem”. The contest was led by the first group of interns of the Leadership Program for the Conservation of Mozambique – PLCM

For the contest, children aged between 13 and 17 were challenged to make a short movie from home about the importance of the oceans.

The contest had a total of 26 participants who underwent two evaluations, a preliminary evaluation made by an internal jury, where the top 6 were picked to go to a public evaluation, carried out through counting likes on the PLCM’s FACEBOOK page, with this vote determining the 3 winners of the contest. Overall, more than 1500 people participated in this process!

First place was awarded to 13-year-old Fiona Romeu Chaúque, a 9^th Class student residing in the Province of Gaza, specifically in Chokwé District. Happy to be the winner, Fiona Chaúque commented: “It is rewarding to participate in contests like these, which aim to transform our minds regarding our care for the oceans“.

Second place was awarded to 14-year-old Délia Chaúque, a 10^th class student, residing in Gaza Province, Chokwé District. Delia Chaúque also could not hide her satisfaction, saying that she feels very happy and honored to be one of the winners of this important contest for the conservation of the oceans.

And Third place went to Shelton Feliciano, 16 years old, a 10^th Class student, residing in the City of Maputo. For Shelton Feliciano, the participation in the contest was an opportunity to show the importance of biodiversity conservation for nature and for the society that inhabits it.

Through this initiative, the participants showed what they know about the importance of the oceans and helped raise awareness of the public to choose a responsible posture, avoiding some improper practices that harm the oceans.

The contest was created with the aim of involving young people as agents of awareness in raising awareness about the importance of the oceans in our daily lives and the need for their conservation.

Congratulations to all for a beautiful job!

Watch the video of the winners of the contest here!

The pre-launch of the Mozambique Conservation Leadership Program (PLCM) was held from 4 to 11 June 2020 in partnership with ANAC, the Gorongosa National Park and WWF. The main objective of this initiative was to attract young people from different parts of the country to the Biodiversity Conservation Sector in Mozambique.

More than 400 participants took part in the event, mostly young people who came from all provinces in the country, as well as professionals from various organisations of the Conservation Sector.

The first session was marked by a vigorous debate on the challenges facing conservation professionals, led by panellists Berta Guambe, from the Gorongosa National Park, Paulo Barros, from the National Administration of Conservation Areas – ANAC, and Lara Muaves, of WWF Mozambique. The debate was moderated by Denise Nicolau of BIOFUND. The panellists had the opportunity to share their personal experiences, stressing their humility, perseverance, audacity, and passion for conservation.

“To be a conservationist is to exceed your expectations, it is to be persevering and humble“. Stressed Lara Muaves, one of the panellists. They also shared the various opportunities that their organisations have undertaken with the special involvement of young people.

The second session, at which the panellists were the PLCM beneficiaries in the various activities of internship, research subventions and volunteering, centred on the sharing of experiences and on the motivation of the beneficiaries in contributing to the conservation of biodiversity.

Because of the COVID 19 pandemic, the event was held through the digital platforms Zoom Webinar and Facebook Live of PLCM. As a result of the success of the event, BIOFUND will continue to bank on further similar sessions of debate and sharing of experiences, contributing towards greater involvement of young people in conservation.

Watch the recording of the event through the Facebook link.

Today, June 16, is World Sea Turtle Day. This day is especially dedicated to highlight the importance of these wonderful animals.

Known as sentinels of the seas, turtles play a fundamental role in the marine ecosystems. As a “keystone species”, their grazing and feeding on a diverse range of other species, from jellyfish (leatherbacks) to sponges (hawksbills) to seagrasses (green turtles), they shape the environment around them and help maintain healthy coral reefs and other marine ecosystems, which in turn produce a multitude of benefits to humans as well.

As part of its contribution to the conservation of biodiversity, the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity – BIOFUND, contributes to the preservation of Sea Turtles by supporting the monitoring of these animals in all the marine Conservation Areas in the country, such as in the Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve, Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, São Sebastião Sanctuary and Quirimbas National Park.

The Board of Directors of BIOFUND approved at its last meeting an emergency plan of up to three million dollars to help mitigate the economic impacts of COVID-19 in the conservation sector.

This support is intended to help maintain the jobs of up to 950 of the 1,600  rangers in the National System of Conservation Areas, so as to guarantee the preservation of the country’s biodiversity during a phase in which the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are seriously affecting the conservation sector.

In our country, the sectors most affected by the extreme measures which had to be adopted to hold back the spread of infections by the new coronavirus are tourism and the hotel and restaurant industry. According to recent data, more than 22,000 people working in leisure and tourism in Mozambique have lost their jobs.

However, reducing frontline staff cannot be an option in the National System of Conservation Areas, where protecting the natural assets has to be permanent. Without the presence of the rangers, the slaughter of endangered wildlife species and the illegal logging of precious hardwoods might rise to even higher levels than those we experienced in the recent past.

In the public sector it is unlikely that this dismantling of the protection of Conservation Areas will occur since the majority of rangers, guards and agents who work there are state employees or work with contracts that cannot be summarily terminated – regardless of the crisis situation.

The same cannot be said of the private sector where the lack of any revenues may well lead to the reduction of staff or the temporary suspension of their contracts.

Currently, the private sector manages 67% of the area formally protected in the country, covering approximately 14 million hectares. More than half of the country’s rangers are employed by the private sector. Paradoxically, this sector is not generally considered in the measures to mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19, because the companies responsible for their management, as for-profit entities, are not a priority in the distribution of emergency funds, despite the significant importance of the areas they managefor the national biodiversity conservation targets.

The emergency plan that BIOFUND has just adopted has two phases:

• An initial phase, for immediate application, under which a non-reimbursable support fund is made available to private conservation operators, to cover the payment of three to six months’ wages to the rangers. An additional amount will also be made available to cover the wages of the relatively few rangers in the publicly managed areas currently paid out of ANAC revenues, which have also evaporated due to the crisis.
• A second phase, with the granting of reimbursable and non-reimbursable support for the payment of wages and other forms of support to the conservation areas, as in Phase One – as well as support for the communities in the immediate surroundings which, because of the COVID-19 crisis, have lost some of their habitual revenue.

The total value of this Emergency Fund could reach 3 million dollars in the next 6 to 18 months.

With the support it channels to protected areas under State management, BIOFUND was already providing benefits to about 5 million hectares of the national territory. With the new fund, it will now be supporting about 19 million hectares.

Contacts

Av. Tomás Nduda, n° 1038

Maputo – Moçambique

Tel: +258 21 499 958

E-mail: info@biofund.org.mz

Website: biofund.org.mz

The virtual exhibition is part of the event to celebrate World Oceans Day, celebrated today, June 8, 2020, under the motto “Innovation and Sustainability of the Ocean: Clean Sea, Protected Ecosystem”.

The marine ecosystem in Mozambique is under pressure due to human activities which directly affect the oceans. The photographic exhibition, with themes related to marine ecosystems, is focused on drawing attention to the important role of the oceans in the lives of human beings and to highlight human practices which harm the oceans.

In coastal ecosystems, mangroves are responsible for much of the marine and coastal productivity (fish, mollusks, crustaceans, etc.). They are also critical for the stability of the coastal zone, contributing to the protection of the coast against erosion, and for the quality of sea water, where mangroves function as filters.

In Mozambique, mangroves are one of the most abundant vegetation formations, covering about 300 thousand hectares, most prominently in the provinces of Nampula, Zambézia and Sofala.

The event has been organized by the Ministry of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries – MIMAIP in partnership with the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity – BIOFUND, WWF Mozambique, USAID / SPEED +, Academics and members of local communities. In addition to the virtual exhibition, the organizers have prepared a Tele-school session and will also announce of the winners of the “Filmar para Sensibilizar” contest promoted by BIOFUND, in which young Mozambicans made short videos about the importance of the Oceans.

World Environment Day is celebrated on the 5th of June of each year with the aim of raising awareness in the general population to implement practices that help to preserve the environment.

In this scope of celebration, young people with diverse academic backgrounds, currently doing internships with the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity – BIOFUND, the National Administration of Conservation Areas – ANAC and with Centro Terra Viva – CTV, through the Leadership Program for the Conservation of Mozambique – PLCM, met to promote awareness activities for the protection and preservation of the Environment.

These young people show that it is possible to contribute to the preservation of the Environment through small gestures such as planting trees, reducing water consumption, among other actions.

World Environment Day was declared on June 5, 1972, during the Stockholm Conference, with the main objective of raising the awareness of countries and the population in general to observe sustainable ways of dealing with environmental issues and to establish guiding principles of environmental policy across the planet.

World Oceans Day is celebrated every year on June 8th. The purpose of the day is to inform the public about the impact of the human actions on the oceans, and developing a worldwide movement for managing sustainable oceans.

Under the motto “Innovation and Sustainability of the Ocean: Clean Seas, Protected Ecosystems” , the Ministry of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries – MIMAIP in partnership with the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity – BIOFUND , WWF Mozambique, USAID / SPEED + , Academics and members of local communities , amongst others, are organizing the celebration of this event in Mozambique, which will comprise a series of events that will take place from June 4^th-8^th.

There will be 5 days marked by various activities such as exhibitions, debates, lessons, contests and videos on the importance of marine biodiversity on the planet and the need for its protection. This event will be broadcast on national television, distance-learning platforms and social networks (see the program  here).

In the context of Covid-19, in accordance with the rules of social distancing, the event will be broadcast through digital platforms, especially national television and radio (TVM , STV and RM) as well as via  social networks , representing an opportunity for  reflection on the crucial role  we all play  in the conservation of the oceans.

Within the scope of the event, the  “Filmar para Sensibilizar” (Filming for Awareness) contest  is taking place for young people aged 13 – 17 on the importance of the Oceans, organized by BIOFUND. Public voting on the videos can be made on the Facebook page of the Mozambique Conservation Leadership Program – PLCM.

We would also like to highlight the  online event  “Virtual Ocean Dialogues” https://www.weforum.org/events/virtual-ocean-dialogues-2020 to be held June 1^st-5^th with more than 40 different sessions, including several debates on Marine Protected Areas, which is open to all interested parties .

For more details about the event check out the media platforms BIOFUND and MIMAIP .

Today, the 22nd of May, is the International Day of Biodiversity, the date established by the United Nations (UN), on 22 May 1992, celebrated with the aim of raising awareness among the world’s population about the importance of Conserving our Biological Diversity.

The date was established in honor of the day the final text of the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) was approved, entitled: “Nairobi Final Act by the Nairobi Conference for the Adoption of the Agreed Text of the Convention on Biological Diversity”.

Every year, a number of environmental awareness activities are carried out to draw attention to the various human activities that harm the biological basis of nature. In 2020, the date is celebrated at a time when the world and our country in particular are going through a critical moment because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a zoonotic disease that has already decimated thousands of human lives worldwide.

In the context of this pandemic, it is important to reflect on all the actions that endanger not only our safety, but also of all other species that make up the Biological Diversity of our planet.

This activity aims to expose young interns to the challenges inherent to the Conservation Areas, as well as to contribute to the resolution of different problems, in particular, Human – Wildlife conflict.

During the first round of the PLCM Internship Program, HagnésioChiponde, a young  graduate in veterinary medicine fromUniversidade Eduardo Mondlane, was assignedto the National Administration of Conservation Areas, in the Department of Protection and Inspection, and joined the inspection team of the Maputo Special Reserve for a period of timeto participate in the management of Human – Elephant conflict.

Hagnésio had the opportunity to participate in activities related to the development and implementation of a program to drive away elephants from the community areas and back into the reserve, such as mapping the routes elephants use, fencing some areas and researching the effectiveness of some of the techniques that the reserve intends to adopt to scare off the animals. In this context, the young intern assists in the tasks of tracking and immobilizing animals such as elephants and buffalo for placing collars, collecting samples and patrolling the reserve, contributing to the fight against poaching.

Hagnésio Chiponde, emphasized that he is gaining an extraordinary experience in conservation, saying: “It has been an interesting experience! In this internship I acquired excellent knowledge, but the most import thing is working in an area that not only allows me contact with wildlife, butis also helping the community”.

The PLCM is implemented by BIOFUND, integrated within the Mozbio2 project. The programaims to strengthen the capacity and skills of professionals in the National System of Conservation Areas (SNAC) and to shape the profile of future conservation leaders in Mozambique.

Around 100,000 pounds will be allocated to the creation of a mechanism to reward and create an emergency fund, from 2020, that will benefit the professionals that oversee the Conservation Areas of Mozambique

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) will invest the initial fund and will contribute £50,000 to the initiative, which is the result of an initial donation made by Dr. Carlos Lopes Pereira, in the same amount, with the aim of making a note of the commitment of this class of professionals.

This fund will have other additional support and will be invested locally. Thus, the return on the investment of the total will be used to launch two categories of awards that aim to highlight the best professionals.

The first category, associated with a monetary value of 60,000MT, consists of the award of the exemplary ranger through a lifetime recognition award to individuals who stand out for their dedication and exceptional commitment to their work, having contributed for many years to surveillance and conservation protection activities in Mozambique.

The second prize, associated with a monetary value of 15 000 MT, will be for the ranger of the year, in recognition of the dedication and bravery of the inspectors who risk their daily lives for the protection of the species of fauna, flora and habitats of the Conservation Areas in Mozambique. The prize will be awarded annually to rangers who excel in their work and personal attitude, scrutinized by a technical evaluation committee composed by BIOFUND and ANAC.

In the same context, the Rangers Support and Recognition Fund will also provide resources, totalizing 20 000MT, to give Emergency Assistance for family members of the rangers who have lost their lives or become disable in the course of carrying out their duties

The Fund is sponsored by Dr. Carlos Lopes Pereira who, in recognition of his passion and dedication in leading conservation, was awarded the “Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa” in 2019 including a monetary component of 50 thousand pounds.

The aim of this strategy is to maintain or enhance biodiversity, the values and function of the mangrove ecosystem in order to meet the needs of environmental protection in estuaries and coastal areas.

This document was designed to combat and reverse the situation of degradation and destruction of the mangrove ecosystem in the country, and it is also intended that this instrument adds value to the efforts that have been developed to drive and guide the regulation of rights, duties and obligations regarding the sustainable use of the mangrove ecosystem in Mozambique.

The strategic lines of this document also aim to contribute to minimize the effects of global warming by contributing to the increase of carbon sequestration and storage in the atmosphere and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the ODS’s 13 and 14.

BIOFUND’s collaboration is part of a series of efforts that the institution has undertaken with a view to encouraging the creation of a favourable framework for the protection of mangroves in Mozambique. It should be remembered that Mozambique is the 13th country with the largest mangrove coverage in the world. Some studies indicate that the country has about 396.080 ha, with occurrence of this species in the coastal area of the provinces of Cabo Delgado, Nampula, Zambézia, Sofala, Inhambane, Gaza (Limpopo River estuary) and Maputo.

In this context, in recent years, the Foundation has made a major contribution to the protection of mangroves in conservation areas, the creation of legal regulatory instruments, the promotion of scientific research for the inclusion of mangroves in biodiversity counterbalancing schemes and payments for ecosystem services, and the holding of environmental awareness-raising events on their ecological and socio-economic relevance to the country.

BIOFUND is proud to have participated in the process of elaboration of this instrument, together with the Ministry of the Sea, Inland Water and Fisheries and all parties involved and reiterates its commitment to the conservation of mangroves and their biodiversity in Mozambique.

Para mais informações visite o site:

https://www.biofund.org.mz/projects/programa-de-contrabalancos-de-biodiversidade/

https://www.biofund.org.mz/biblioteca_virtual/

Ten PLCM trainees have been integrated into its sites since 2nd March 2020. This is the first group, with three integrated in BIOFUND, five in the National Administration of Conservation Areas-ANAC and two in the Centro Terra Viva-CTV.

“It is important that humans conserve and use natural resources sustainably so that future generations have the same privileges. It is with this in mind that I decided to compete for the Leadership for Conservation Program, in order to acquire skills and methods to protect ecosystems, especially wild animals, and contribute to a good environment for coexistence between man and these animals,” said with enthusiasm the young Hagnesio Chiponde, graduated in Veterinary – PLCM trainee at ANAC.

We recall that one of the objectives of the Leadership Program for Conservation of Mozambique (PLCM) is to motivate and attract young people to Conservation in Mozambique.

In this context, the trainees were integrated in different professional areas, in the multidisciplinary perspective of the program, including areas such as: conservation of biodiversity; trade in endangered and endangered species; monitoring and evaluation; communication; veterinary; sport hunting; among others.

40% of the members of this first group are women, highlighting the fact that the program also seeks to stimulate greater gender equity in the conservation sector, in a context where the number of women professionals in this area is still quite small.

PLCM hopes that the success of the pre-professional internship program will be a strong contribution to the learning of skills and knowledge necessary for the beginning of a career in conservation.

Meanwhile, due to the current OVID-19 pandemic, in consultation with its partners, BIOFUND has taken the decision to suspend all activities not yet initiated in the Mozambique Conservation Leadership Program, especially those that would take place in the Conservation Areas, scheduled until April 30th (professional internships, research grants, scholarships and participation or organization of environmental awareness events). As warned in the announcement circulated on 23 March, the continuity of activities already initiated will be analysed on a case-by-case basis and in coordination with their supervisors.

COVID – 19 (Coronavirus) – in the context of measures to prevent the spread of this pandemic that plagues the world, and with some cases already confirmed in Mozambique, BIOFUND, in alignment with its socially responsible posture, and with the aim of avoiding a potential spread of Coronavirus, decided to proceed with the following measures:

1. To continue the different administrative and financial activities, as far as possible, and
   using the different technological resources at its disposal;
2. To create the conditions for the different programmes to be able to monitor their
   employees from their homes.
3. Correspondence may be sent by scan via the emails below, the reply will be sent by the
   same route.

BIOFUND hereby reiterates its commitment to its beneficiaries, stating that the funding activities and the implementation of its procedures are still in force, having only adapted electronic and remote access procedures.

BIOFUND will re-evaluate the need to adopt new measures in accordance with government directives.

We would like to recommend to all our partners, employees and beneficiaries the utmost caution and sanitary care in relation to the mitigation of the propagation of COVID-19.

BIOFUND contacts in case of need are:

sabande@biofund.org.mz * Tel.: 846960484
sbande@biofund.org.mz * Te.: 846155213

Took place on Wednesday, March 04 at Hotel Meliã, in Maputo City the launch of the campaign with the title “Poaching Steals from Us All“.

It is a campaign designed by the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) and the non-governmental organization WILDAID, in order to raise awareness in society for the prevention and combating of poaching. As ambassadors, the campaign includes Joaquim Chissano, former President of the Republic, the musicians Stewart Sukuma, Lizha James and King Sweet. The Foundation for Biodiversity Conservation (BIOFUND) and other non-governmental organisations, which take care of biodiversity conservation, have joined the initiative.

In the opening session of the launch of the campaign, the Minister of Land and Environment highlighted the importance of biodiversity conservation by pointing out that, used in a sustainable way, species of fauna and flora can contribute significantly to the economic and social development of the country. Former President Joaquim Chissano, reinforced this thought by stating that “…to conserve the fauna is to conserve our own environment”.

The campaign is launched as part of the World Wildlife Day Celebration, which takes place on 3^rd of  March each year, a date decreed by the United Nations (UN), with the aim of celebrating the multiplicity of species on a planetary level, as well as warning of the danger that threatens the world’s fauna and flora

BIOFUND’s participation is also related to the PROMOVE Biodiversity project, focusing on Zambezia and Nampula provinces, in partnership with the European Union (EU), which includes strengthening the management capacity of some Conservation Areas, with emphasis on improving monitoring and patrol capacity.