In addition to sport, the African Beach Soccer Championship taking place in the City of Vilanculos, Inhambane Province, from 21 to 28 October 2022, will feature several environmental awareness activities focused on the conservation of marine biodiversity, under the theme “Together for the Protection and Reproduction of the Dugong.”

Among the activities are an exhibition on marine biodiversity, talks on the importance of conserving marine ecosystems with a focus on the dugong, mangrove planting, and beach clean-ups. These actions aim to increase the knowledge and awareness of the players from the 7 African national teams participating in the event, the more than 2,000 football fans expected on-site, and the general public regarding the importance of human action in conserving marine ecosystems and biodiversity as a whole.

These environmental awareness activities are a partnership between the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), the Ministry of Land and Environment (MTA), the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park (PNAB), and other environmental management organisations.

Since 2017, BIOFUND has been supporting management activities, biodiversity monitoring, and environmental education in marine and coastal parks and reserves, particularly in PNAB and Cabo de São Sebastião, contributing to the preservation and increase of the dugong population in the country and worldwide.

The dugong is classified by the IUCN as a species vulnerable to extinction. PNAB holds the only viable dugong population in the western Indian Ocean.

Stay tuned to our pages and follow upcoming updates on these activities.