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.

With this extension, more Conservation Areas (ACs) under public and private management, including community areas, will benefit from 100% payment of the wages of the rangers, and of essential support staff in the AC’s as well as the payment of costs directly linked to activities of inspection and patrolling, including preventive material against COVID-19.

Currently, the BIO-Emergency Fund has 26 beneficiaries. Of these, 13 are Conservation Areas under private management, 11 are Conservation Areas under public management, and 2 are Community Conservation Areas. The Fund is guaranteeing the jobs of more than 1,000 rangers, and has already disbursed 103.896,002 (one hundred and three million, eight hundred and ninety six thousand, six hundred and two) Meticais from June 2020 to April 2021. With this support for the Conservation Areas, more than 13,139,211 hectares of biodiversity are being protected, equivalent to 63% of the total protected area in the national territory.