The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity – BIOFUND, with immense sorrow and profound grief, announces the passing of Roberto Zolho, one of the founding members of this institution and Secretary of the Members’ Assembly Board since 2021. Roberto Zolho passed away due to illness, leaving us prematurely and unexpectedly. His departure represents an irreparable loss to the biodiversity conservation community in Mozambique and internationally, to which he dedicated a great part of his life with passion, vision, and commitment.

A man of integrity, generous spirit, and tireless defender of nature, Zolho leaves an inspiring legacy of dedication and love for the environmental cause, which will continue to resonate in the work of BIOFUND and among all those who walked alongside him.

With a career spanning more than 35 years, Roberto Zolho stood out as a profound connoisseur of Mozambican and African biodiversity, with specialisations in wildlife and protected area management. His professional life was marked by unwavering dedication to nature conservation, reflected in his exemplary work within governmental and non-governmental institutions, both national and international, as well as multilateral agencies, with significant contributions in Mozambique, Tanzania, South Africa, and Australia. Among the remarkable roles he performed are:

• Administrator of Gorongosa National Park (1996–2007), where he led ecosystem restoration, coordinated wildlife census programmes, and conducted the first species reintroduction operations;
• Head of the Provincial Forestry and Wildlife Services in Sofala, where he promoted forest management and strengthened community programmes;
• Coordinator of the Limpopo Heartland Programme at the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF);
• Coordinator of the Climate Change and Development Programme at IUCN Mozambique;
• Coordinator of the Selous–Niassa Transboundary Programme at WWF-Tanzania;
• Coordinator of the Programme for the Restoration of Degraded Lands and Forest Landscapes at the National Fund for Sustainable Development (FNDS), where he led national initiatives aligned with global commitments such as AFR100 and the Bonn Challenge;
• And more recently, Climate Adaptation Affairs Coordinator for the Millennium Challenge Corporation.

For his remarkable contribution to nature conservation, Roberto Zolho was awarded the Environmental Merit Medal in 2022 by the then President of the Republic, Filipe Jacinto Nyusi—a solemn and well-deserved distinction recognising his profound and lasting impact on the conservation sector in Mozambique.

In addition to his tireless fieldwork and exceptional leadership, Roberto Zolho was also the author of several key studies and publications on biodiversity, climate change, protected area planning and sustainable resource use. His technical and scientific thinking contributed decisively to the development and professionalisation of the nature conservation sector in the country.

For BIOFUND, Zolho was not only a member of the Founders’ Committee, but also a member of the Board of Directors for several years. He remained active even after leaving that body, serving as Secretary of the Members’ Assembly Board, having renewed his mandate on 3 July of this year. Roberto Zolho played an active and inspiring role, with a generous presence and a constant willingness to share his knowledge with humility, leaving an indelible mark on the history and the heart of the Foundation.

Roberto Zolho departs physically, but his legacy remains alive in the biodiversity he helped preserve, in the policies he helped shape, and in the countless professionals he trained and influenced through his example.

To his family, friends, and colleagues, BIOFUND conveys its deepest condolences and expresses its profound gratitude for everything this remarkable defender of nature has done for the future of our country’s biodiversity.

Rest in peace, Roberto Zolho. Your memory will remain alive among us as a beacon of hope, wisdom, and commitment to the conservation of our natural heritage.