The recognition was granted by Mozambican President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi at a ceremony held in the Niassa Special Reserve, on 31 July 2021, World Ranger Day,

Celebrated in 2021 under the slogan “I am with the rangers of the entire world”, the event was attended by the President of the Republic, the Minister of Land and Environment, the Governor and Secretary of State of Niassa, the General Director of the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), a representative of the Mozambican Association of Safari Operators (AMOS) and other figures from the conservation sector. Also participating in the event was the Minister of Devolution and of Arid and Semi-Arid Lands of the Republic of Kenya, representing the Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta.

At this event, among other highlights, 5 (five) rangers were distinguished from 5 of the country’s public and private conservation areas, namely António Soze Fombe from the Niassa Special Reserve, João Bernardo Castigo Massane from the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, José Ernesto Amimo de Luwire, of the Lugenda Wildlife Reserve, a private operator that is part of the Niassa Special Reserve, Martins Rodrigues of the Maputo Special Reserve, and Talento Luwemba of Safaris de Moçambique, in Tchuma Tchato. These awards were granted in the framework of the first edition of the Dr. Carlos Lopes Pereira Fund, a fund set up in 2020 by Dr. Carlos Lopes Pereira, Director of the Protection and Inspection Services in ANAC, as a result of the prize awarded to him by Tusk and managed by BIOFUND, which seeks to recognise and exalt the courage of the rangers of the public and private Conservation Areas.

On the occasion, the President of the Republic highlighted the role that rangers play in protecting the biodiversity of our country. “In the name of all Mozambicans, I congratulate all the rangers, and particularly the rangers honoured here. I would like them to serve as a model and source of inspiration for the other colleagues who are working to protect flora and fauna. This celebration seeks to applaud the role of the rangers on the front line, who have lost their lives in the defence of conservation. The celebration is not only for the rangers of the public Conservation Areas but also for those in the private areas who dedicate themselves to the protection of nature”, said President Nyusi.

Speaking after he received his award, Martins Rodrigues, of the Maputo Special Reserve, declared “I feel very honoured to represent the rangers of all the Conservation Areas, and of my Conservation Area in particular.  This award gives us more strength to continue working for the protection of natural resources.”

The event had other conservation activities, notable the Exhibition on Biodiversity organised by BIOFUND in the open air and the placing of a satellite monitoring collar on an elephant, nicknamed “The Gentlemen”, by the President of the Republic.

Pay attention to our page and learn more about the other activities undertaken in the Niassa Special Reserve, in the context of the celebrations of World Ranger Day.