With support from its international partners and, for the first time, local sponsorship, BIOFUND organised the event of its public launch. In the programme there stood out the opening ceremony, chaired by the Head of State, and the international forum “Conservation as a Pillar of Development”, with important speeches on the theme of conservation and on what role BIOFUND could play in the Mozambican context.

The public launch of BIOFUND took place on 10 June 2015, on the premises of the Eduardo Mondlane University in Maputo, with the presence of the Head of State, and various other figures, including members of the government, diplomats, activists, specialists (national and foreign) in matters linked to conservation. NGOs, academics and students. President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi stressed in his speech his own commitment and that of his Government in making the conservation and protection of biodiversity a priority in Mozambique and supporting BIOFUND. The event received a great deal of coverage in the Mozambican media and was publicised in the communications networks of international organisations linked to the conservation of biodiversity.

BIOFUND compiled audio-visual information kindly provided by several partners to make a documentary, entitled “Our Biodiversity” which was divulged at this event.

The launch programme continued on 11 June with a forum entitled “Conservation as a Pillar of Development”, which covered 4 themes:

1. Biodiversity and Development,
2. Biodiversity and Business,
3. The Role of Conservation Trust Funds, and
4. Paths for the Future.

A panel of specialists in each area presented each theme. The specialists were invited especially for this event – 14 international and 8 national speakers. This forum debated the contribution of conservation in general and of the conservation areas in particular to enhancing the well-being and livelihoods of communities, for the provision of essential environmental goods and services and for the robust and sustainable socio-economic development of the country. There was great participation in the debates by the public (consisting of specialists and academics from various areas related with biodiversity, as well as young university students and recent graduates).

View here the complete report of the event