BIO-Emergency Fund

BIO-Emergency Fund

Protecting natural resources in times of crisis

© BIOFUND
BIO-Emergency Fund

Protecting natural resources in times of crisis

© BIOFUND
BIO-Emergency Fund

Protecting natural resources in times of crisis

© David Gilroy
BIO-Emergency Fund

Protecting natural resources in times of crisis

© Fabien Quetier
BIO-Emergency Fund

Protecting natural resources in times of crisis

© Fabien Quetier

Updated at 09/03/2023

Establishment of the BIO-Emergency Fund and
Impact of COVID-19 on the conservation of biodiversity

The new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been causing major negative impacts across the world, affecting not only human lives, but also means of livelihood. Due to the mode of transmission and spread of the virus (rapid quantitative and spatial spread of the disease), together with the lack of a cure, several countries like Mozambique have felt obliged to take measures to slow down the spread of the virus through the declaration of lockdowns, with various social, economic, environmental and political effects, which make themselves felt at all levels, and particularly in the tourism sector.

According to the Confederation of Mozambican Business Associations (CTA), by the end of May 2020, more than 22,000 professionals in cultural and tourist establishments in Mozambique had lost their jobs due to the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and more than 800 rangers of the Conservation areas were at risk of losing their jobs which are dependent on revenue from tourism.

In this context, the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity – BIOFUND in June 2020, set up an immediate emergency support programme, called the ‘’’BIO-Emergency Fund’’ under the slogan ‘’Protecting Natural Resources in Times of Crisis’’ with the goal of channelling financial resources to the Conservation Areas in Mozambique and allowing the basic functioning of the rangers work and patrolling activities during the period in which there was no tourism revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as providing some alternative economic gains to local communities living around the Conservation Areas.

The BIO-Emergency Fund is one of the various funds/modalities of support of BIOFUND for the National System of Conservation Areas. Click here to learn more about other types of support of BIOFUND.

Modalities of Support

Phase 1

Support only for the private sector

50% of the wages of all rangers and support staff of all rangers and support staff

Period: July 2020 – September 2020

Phase 2

Start of the grants to the public sector

Public and private operators: 100% of the wages of all rangers usually paid from tourism revenue and support staff

Operational costs: food and fuel, payment for preventive material against COVID-19, uniforms for rangers, community support

Other activities: payment for community work (opening and maintenance of access roads)

Period: October 2020- December 2021

Amount Disbursed
for Conservation Areas

3.3 Million USD

Beneficiaries
of the BIO-Emergency Fund

Up to December 2021

Parque Nacional de Quirimbas
Parque Nacional de Gilé
Parque Nacional de Magoé
Parque Nacional do Arquipélago do Bazaruto
Parque Nacional de Zinave
Parque Nacional de Banhine
Parque Nacional do Limpopo
Reserva Especial de Niassa
Reserva Nacional de Pomene
Reserva Marinha Parcial da Ponta D’OURO
Reserva Especial de Maputo
Coutada Oficial nº 11
Sábiè Game Park
Muthemba Safaris
Safáris de Moçambique
L8
L9
Nicage
Luwire-Lugenda Wildlife Reserve
Mahimba Game Farm
Dombawera/Mashambanzou/Ngalamo Safaris
Chipanje Chetu
Tchuma Tchato

Impacts Achieved through the BIO-Emergency Fund

1066

RANGERS
AND SUPPORT
STAFF

Who remain in their jobs

3035

PATROLS
PER
MONTH

Are guaranteed

13,139,211

HECTARES

Of biodiversity protected

News

European Union disburses 750,000 Euros to strengthen the BIO-Emergency Fund

By bioadmin 21/10/2021

The European Union recently signed a financing agreement with the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) to strengthen the BIO-Emergency Fund, in order to increase the fund’s coverage. The Fund is intend to preserve the jobs of the rangers and other staff who are fundamental for supporting inspection in the Conservation Areas, to mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mágoè National Park has one more vehicle for the inspection of biodiversity

By bioadmin 10/09/2021

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.

Zambeze Delta Safaris sets up mechanisms to protect Biodiversity

By bioadmin 16/07/2021

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.

BIOFUND and its partners increase the funds of the BIO-Emergency Fund and extend its coverage from June to December 2021, guaranteeing the jobs of more than a thousand rangers of the Conservation Areas under public and private management.

By bioadmin 21/05/2021

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.

BIOFUND publishes report from the 1st Survey on the Impact of COVID-19 on the Conservation Areas under private management, in the framework of the BIO-Emergency Fund

By bioadmin 27/04/2021

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity - BIOFUND, in the framework of the BIO-Emergency Fund programme, in March 2021 held a survey among private sector beneficiaries with the purpose of assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the conservation of biodiversity and the management of the Conservation Areas. The survey was undertaken through an online questionnaire with open and multiple choice questions.

Emergency BIO-Fund: Evolution and its impacts on the protection of biodiversity in Mozambique

By bioadmin 10/02/2021

In just the 5 months since its creation, the Emergency BIO-Fund Programme has already contributed to the protection of 12,695,911 hectares of biodiversity in 24 of the country’s Conservation Areas, through support in paying the wages of over 958 Rangers. 11 of these are publicly managed areas, 11 are under private management and two are under community management.

Diocórcia Chaguala – Mother, wife and heroine of biodiversity

By bioadmin 01/02/2021

Diocórcia is one of the few women in the Limpopo National Park (PNL) who works in the inspection sector. She has been working there for 12 years. She always dreamed of working in the conservation area, and this dream came true in 2008, when she entered the PNL, as a ranger.

Muthemba Safaris Community in Gaza province, committed to the conservation of biodiversity

By bioadmin 18/01/2021

Through the opening of new schools, water boreholes for the communities, and the promotion of environmental education activities in the local schools, among other community development activities, Muthemba Safaris is making communities aware of the need to embrace the cause of the preservation of natural resources.

Gaby: the dog that makes a difference in inspection in Massingir Safaris

By bioadmin 13/01/2021

Slightly more than two years old, the dog Gaby has been a true guardian of nature and an indispensable piece in the monitoring activities of Massingir Safaris.

Mágoè National Park steps up protection of Biodiversity

By bioadmin 22/10/2020

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.

BIOFUND ensures that 11.9 million hectares of biodiversity are protected until June 2021 in the country’s Conservation Areas

By bioadmin 07/10/2020

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.

BIOFUND conducts the first monitoring visit to the Sabie Game Park (SGP) under the Emergency BIO-Fund

By bioadmin 17/09/2020

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 Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity strengthens and expands its operational support for the Conservation Areas during COVID-19

By bioadmin 14/09/2020

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 makes Three Million Dollars Available to Pay Rangers in the Protected Areas

By bioadmin 30/07/2020

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.

Biofund will make 200 Million Meticais Available for Conservation

By bioadmin 11/06/2020

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.