This was the third meeting of the Monitoring Group of the Initiatives for the Conservation of Biodiversity in the Licuáti Forestry Reserve and the Surrounding Area, with the purpose to ensure a common vision for the sustainable management of biodiversity and community development in Matutuíne, as well as to coordinate and follow up pilot projects to improve habitats in the Licuáti Forestry Reserve (RFL) and the Maputo Special Reserve (REM).

The meeting took place in Maputo city (in a hybrid format) on 11 November 2021 and was promoted by the National Forestry Directorate (DINAF) in Coordination with the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the National Directorate of the Environment (DINAB) and the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC).

This multi-disciplinary group, consisting of representatives of various government institutions, the private sector, non-governmental and community organisations and academics involved in the conservation of biodiversity and community development in the Landscape of the Elephant Coast, was set up in May 2021 and meets every quarter. There were 39 participants at the last meeting.

During the meeting, an assessment was made of the situation of invasive plant species in the REM and the charcoal value chain in Djabula in the Licuáti region, which are part of the pilot projects for habitat improvement. In addition, lessons were drawn about the start of the Study of the ecological and socio-economic characterisation of the Licuáti Forestry Reserve as a way of creating data bases for future interventions to improve habitats in this landscape.

The Licuáti Forestry Reserve and the Maputo Special Reserve were recently declared as Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) at global level and are part of the landscape of the Elephant Coast in Matutuíne, which is a priority area for BIOFUND support.

For more information, access the link https://www.biofund.org.mz/en/projects/biodiversity-offsets-program/