BIOFUND and COMBO are undertaking a baseline study in the conservation areas of Inhambane province to assess the capacity of implementing pilot areas of “concepts of aggregate offsets”.

Under the present collaboration, a pilot study is under way in the Pomene National Reserve (RNP) in  Inhambane Province in partnership with the Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM), represented by the  Faculty of Agronomy and Forestry Engineering to evaluate the ecological condition of the mangrove and miombo forests and the establishment of a reference level for biodiversity offset initiatives in that region, as well as assessment of the ecosystem services provided by  the mangrove and miombo forests and their relationship with the communities dependent on these resources.

A multi-disciplinary team is involved in holding this study, containing an approximate total of 35 researchers, including specialists in mangroves, in miombo forests, and in terrestrial and marine fauna, sociologists, teachers and students from the classes of the UEM Master’s Courses on the Management and Conservation of Biodiversity and on Agricultural Development and Rural Economy, and staff representing the RNP.

This collaboration fits in with the interest of the three organisations in cooperating for the conservation of biodiversity, culminating with the production of baseline studies on the state of conservation and metrics of biodiversity for key habitats in the Pomene Reserve; the use and management of resources; building the capacity of various stakeholders including members of the Government, students and communities about the importance of natural resources and the future perspectives for biodiversity offset projects so as to reconcile economic development with the preservation of natural resources for future generations.

This activity falls under the Civic Partnership for Good Governance Programme (PCBG), of Counterpart International (CPI), financed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by BIOFUND as the project: Biodiversity Offsets: Harmonising Development and Conservation.