The 7th International Congress on Environmental Education of Portuguese-Speaking Countries and Communities (CPLP) kicked off today, July 4, 2023, at the Joaquim Chissano Conference Center in Maputo, Mozambique. This gathering holds significant importance in the realm of environmental conservation and sustainability, standing as a milestone in efforts to preserve biodiversity and promote a more sustainable future. The event will run until Friday, July 7.

The event is set to draw leaders and experts in biodiversity conservation from various Portuguese-speaking countries. The exchange of knowledge and experiences, which forms the core of this gathering, has the potential to generate new initiatives and partnerships towards building a more sustainable future.

During the congress’ opening session, the President of Mozambique, Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, was in attendance. Accompanied by the Minister of Land and Environment, Ivete Maibaze, among other dignitaries, the President visited the biodiversity exhibition by the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), which showcases the diversity of flora and fauna species in Mozambique. On this occasion, Filipe Jacinto Nyusi expressed his appreciation for BIOFUND’s work in preserving the country’s biodiversity.

BIOFUND’s exhibition offers an interactive journey where visitors can see and hear the sounds of different terrestrial and marine fauna species, while also learning about Mozambique’s unique ecosystems and efforts for their protection and conservation. Through this initiative, BIOFUND aims to raise awareness about the importance of preservation, encouraging effective environmental conservation actions.

During the congress, BIOFUND will also present a paper on environmental education titled ‘Exhibition and Annual Biodiversity Fair in Mozambique – Knowing to Raise Awareness for its Conservation.’ This work aims to share experiences and knowledge about environmental education and biodiversity conservation.

Join us until July 7 at the 7th International Congress on Environmental Education of Portuguese-Speaking Countries and Communities, a crucial event for the sustainability of our planet. Follow the link for more information.

As part of the World Oceans Day celebrations, the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) and the Ministry of the Sea, Inland Waters, and Fisheries (MIMAIP) signed a partnership by endorsing a Memorandum of Understanding at the event held on Thursday, June 8, 2023, at the Maritime Museum.

This partnership aims to establish a robust framework for collaboration between MIMAIP and BIOFUND in implementing projects or programs related to the conservation of aquatic, marine, and coastal biodiversity in Mozambique. Priorities include promoting environmental education, conducting scientific research, training specialized professionals, identifying new aquatic, coastal, and marine Conservation Areas, and mobilizing financial resources as needed.

This year, World Oceans Day was celebrated under the theme “Ocean Planet: the tides are changing.” During the event, a public consultation on the Blue Economy Development Strategy was conducted, demonstrating a commitment to the sustainability of marine resources. An Aquaculture Exhibition was also launched with the slogan: “Learning to Live from and with the Sea.” The exhibition will be integrated into schools in the Province of Maputo during the month of June 2023.

In line with this year’s theme, WWF Mozambique shared a video titled “Our Planet” during the event, depicting the importance of oceans for marine life. Watch the video here!

The occasion was attended by approximately 80 people, including the National Director of Maritime and Fisheries Policies, Felismina Antia, the Executive Director of BIOFUND, Luís Bernardo Honwana, the Director of WWF Mozambique, Solani Mhango, and representatives from bilateral cooperation organizations.

Num evento realizado na sede do BCI, em Maputo, a Fundação para a Conservação da Biodiversidade (BIOFUND) em colaboração com o Banco Comercial de Investimentos (BCI) e outros parceiros, comemorou o encerramento do mês da Biodiversidade.

A celebração teve como foco a exibição completa (pela primeira vez) dos 6 episódios da série “A Natureza dos Homens e dos Animais”. Esta produção, realizada pela Ébano Multimédia em colaboração com a USAID/SPEED, BIOFUND e a Administração Nacional das Áreas de Conservação (ANAC), pretende consciencializar o público acerca da importância da biodiversidade e a dinâmica das interações entre o homem e a natureza (a fauna e a flora), através de um enredo muito realista, ilustrando desafios da vida real numa área de conservação, com perspicácia e humor, através de imagens e sons de grande beleza.

Licinio de Azevedo, realizador do seriado, partilhou algumas das experiencias dos vários meses de produção, cujas filmagens decorreram no Parque Nacional de Maputo (o parque fictício no seriado), onde a equipa conviveu com a comunidade local, e trabalhou com actores reais, tanto os fiscais, os furtivos como os membros das comunidades. Esta interação única, resultou num melhor entendimento mutuo dos desafios de cada uma das partes, permitindo melhor engajamento na sensibilização para a proteção da biodiversidade.

Luís Aguiar, administrador do BCI, referiu a longa parceria entre a BIOFUND e o BCI, desde 2017, no projecto cartão bio, um cartão de debito DAQUI que canaliza uma percentagem da anuidade e dos gastos do cartão, para um fundo de apoio a ações de biodiversidade, gerido pela BIOFUND. Este evento no auditório da sede do BCI, é parte dessa parceria, que mobiliza já mais de 40 000 usuários do cartão, em todo o pais.

Luís Honwana, Director Executivo da BIOFUND, louvou todos os envolvidos na produção da série, realçando que são iniciativas como esta que são de grande valia para a biodiversidade. O seriado, repleto de informações relevantes, visa sensibilizar o público sobre a importância da biodiversidade para o bem-estar humano e as consequências da gestão insustentável dos recursos naturais e da perda da biodiversidade.

Celmira da Silva, Directora da ANAC, durante o seu discurso, afirmou que a produção de séries do género deveria tornar-se um exercício contínuo. “Temos de exaltar o que tem sido feito em termos de ficção e acreditamos que não pararemos por aqui. Varias vozes pedem que continuemos com a produção de conteúdos do género”, afirmou.

Para além da apresentação do seriado, a BIOFUND também expos painéis com informação relevante sobre espécies e habitats marinhos e terrestres do país, parte integrante das suas ações regulares de consciencialização e educação ambiental.

Este tipo de evento é uma plataforma importante para a promoção da consciência ambiental, para a disseminação do conhecimento sobre a importância da biodiversidade.

Para ver todo o seriado clique aqui

Na manhã de quinta-feira, 04 de Maio 2023, a Escola Secundária de Sussundenga acolheu uma iniciativa promovida pela BIOFUND, através do Programa de Liderança para Conservação de Moçambique (PLCM) em parceria com o Parque Nacional de Chimanimani e Associação Gonazololo. O evento visou consciencializar os alunos sobre a importância da preservação do meio ambiente através da adopção de práticas sustentáveis, como a reciclagem e a recolha selectiva de resíduos sólidos.

A palestra, que contou com a presença de 350 alunos, teve como foco a transformação de materiais reciclados em artigos de arte e a geração de renda a partir destes produtos. Com a orientação da Organização Juvenil para o Desenvolvimento Comunitário – Gonazololo, os estudantes aprenderam a produzir carvão a partir de papel reciclado e sofás utilizando garrafas plásticas.

Para complementar as actividades práticas, os alunos beneficiaram de uma palestra sobre a gestão dos resíduos sólidos, facilitada pela equipa do Parque Nacional de Chimanimani. Lola Raposo, Directora da Associação Gonazololo, salientou que o objectivo da palestra é dotar os jovens de conhecimentos práticos em matéria de reciclagem e transformação do lixo em luxo, contribuindo para a preservação do meio ambiente.

Catarina Vasco e Edson Xadreque, alunos beneficiários da actividade, partilharam os conhecimentos adquiridos durante a palestra e deixaram uma mensagem aos demais jovens: “Durante a palestra, aprendemos a transformar papel em carvão e a produzir um sofá com garrafas recicladas. Queremos convidar os jovens como nós para adoptarem práticas como estas, para juntos conservarmos o meio ambiente e produzirmos artigos sustentáveis“.

Esta actividade integra-se no projecto “Sala de Conservação de Sussundenga”, uma iniciativa do PLCM, no âmbito do projecto MozBio2 (com fundos do IDA/Banco Mundial) em parceria com o Parque Nacional de Chimanimani, Portucel Moçambique, Associação Gonazololo entre outros parceiros, que busca promover a educação ambiental e a consciência ecológica entre os jovens, com vista a um futuro mais sustentável e harmonioso entre a humanidade e o meio ambiente.

The National Directorate of Environment (DINAB) in partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Foundation for Biodiversity Conservation (BIOFUND), through the COMBO+ Program, held between February 27 and 28, 2023 in Maputo city, a training to the platforms of civil society organizations (CSOs) on the application of the regulation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Process (Decree No. 54/2015 of December 31) and the Directive on Biodiversity Offsets in Mozambique (Ministerial Diploma No. 55/2022 of May 19).

The training aimed at strengthening the capacity of members from relevant civil society platforms on mitigating the impacts of development projects on biodiversity in Mozambique. The event was attended by 45 participants from across the country, belonging to different civil society platforms, namely: Platform on Natural Resources and Extractive Industry (PIE), Forum of Civil Society Organizations for the Marine and Coastal Area (FOSCAMC), Mozambican Civil Society Organizations Forum for Wildlife (FOFABRAVIA), National Forest Forum (FNF), Association of Journalists for Biodiversity Conservation (AJOCOM), among other relevant CSOs.

According to Decree 54/2015 of 31 December, the EIA process in Mozambique proposes the implementation of measures to avoid, minimize and restore the impacts of category A+ and A development projects.  In case of significant residual impacts on biodiversity, the project developers must implement biodiversity offset management plans (BOMPs) as a last resource to nullify the residual negative impacts of the project or even to achieve Net Gain (“NG”) of biodiversity, preferably in conservation areas or other areas important for biodiversity such as Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs).

Using an approach of theoretical-practical sessions and open discussion, the training covered topics on (i) the updated policy-legal framework relevant for the application of the Mitigation Hierarchy and Biodiversity Offsets in Mozambique and its evolution,(ii) the tools (e.g. Red Lists, KBAs, ecosystem map) and platforms (e.g. Biodiversity Portal- SIBMOZ and Environmental Licensing Management System – SGLA) relevant in identifying areas to avoid and to  offset, as well as, (iii) the role of CSOs and local Communities in the process of environmental impact assessment and implementation of biodiversity offsets in Mozambique.

This training is part of the multi-sectoral training program on the implementation of the mitigation hierarchy and biodiversity offsets in Mozambique targeted to technicians from government, private sector, academia, NGOs, CSOs and other key stakeholders.

For more information on the COMBO+ program click here and on the biodiversity offsets program click here.

The Mozambique Conservation Leadership Program (PLCM) launched this Monday, February 13, 2023, its 4th edition of pre-professional internships across the country! This year, there are 61 interns, trained in several multidisciplinary areas, who will be allocated to 22 internship centers, including 18 public and private Conservation Areas, as well as 4 conservation institutions at the central level.

The PLCM is a program implemented by the Foundation for Biodiversity Conservation (BIOFUND), in coordination with the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) and the National Employment Institute (INEP), which aims to develop the skills and knowledge of conservation professionals in Mozambique.

The opening ceremony of this new edition was attended by representatives of ANAC and INEP, as well as the World Bank and the Government of Sweden, funders of the program. During the event, the new interns benefited from virtual training on the iNaturalist platform for recording the occurrence of flora and fauna species, carried out by SAMBI – South Africa’s Biodiversity Institute.

“The integration of the PLCM interns is a response to the challenges that the conservation sector faces in Mozambique, such as the low human capacity to operate in the different projects that were designed to advance the sector“, said Luís Bernardo Honwana, Executive Director of BIOFUND, speaking at the opening ceremony.

The interns are eager to begin their internships and acquire valuable skills that can influence and attract other young people to conservation, as well as contribute to the development of the sector. “This will be my first experience in the conservation area, I hope to acquire new skills to help preserve the environment and motivate others to embrace the cause of biodiversity conservation“, said Jeremias Matavele, a graduate in Finance, based at the Marromeu National Reserve.

Since the beginning of its internship program in 2020, the PLCM has already benefited 168 young people, and 107 have already gained diverse leadership experiences in biodiversity conservation in Mozambique in the 3 previous editions.

The PLCM is a unique opportunity for young people who want to contribute to biodiversity conservation in Mozambique and help build a more sustainable and prosperous future for the country. Don’t miss the opportunity to lead biodiversity conservation in Mozambique and inspire other young people to do the same – stay tuned for the next edition of the PLCM. Find out more here!

We are really excited to announce the realization of the XI Members Assembly Meeting of the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity – BIOFUND, which took place in Maputo City on February 9, 2023. This session was attended by 28 people, including representatives of government, non-governmental and academic organizations related to the conservation sector.

At the meeting, the Minutes of the X Session of the General Assembly Meeting were approved, the activities carried out since the last session were presented and the Strategic Plan (SP) for 2023-2027 was approved. This SP highlights the following priorities: financing biodiversity conservation, mobilizing funds, advocacy and education, and making BIOFUND an efficient and sustainable foundation.

The SP is ambitious and envisions an annual disbursement of at least USD 15 million for biodiversity conservation by 2027. In addition to that, BIOFUND wants to contribute to increase the knowledge about biodiversity in Mozambique, to support the creation of protected areas in at least 3% of the national territory, and promote innovative initiatives for the management of conservation areas.

BIOFUND also aims to mobilize funds through biodiversity conservation projects, to achieve an endowment fund of USD 100 million and to establish innovative sources of finance. Furthermore, the foundation wants to support the improvement of the national legal framework on biodiversity conservation, contribute to build up the capacity of the personnel working in conservation and raise awareness among the population on the importance of biodiversity conservation.

We are excited about the prospects of this plan and look forward to working together to protect and preserve Mozambique’s biodiversity. Together, we can build a greener and more sustainable future for everyone!

“The young leader Baptista Julião Bisquete, 27 years old, born in Morrumbala, Zambezia, has a degree in Communication Sciences with skills in Journalism. Baptista is one of the beneficiaries of the 3rd edition of pre-professional internships of the Leadership Program for the Conservation of Mozambique (PLCM), implemented by the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) in coordination with the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC).

Baptista was assigned to the Tourism Sector in the Maputo National Park (PNAM) where he had the bright idea of ​​internally promoting the establishment of a Communication and Image Division. At first, some colleagues did not understand the importance of this component, but Baptista persisted and proved its relevance through the production of documentaries (videos and photos) illustrating the activities carried out in the park.

Today, his work is a fundamental mechanism for disseminating the results of actions carried out in the park and promoting its potential. For Baptista, PLCM was a gateway to the beginning of his professional career in the field of conservation. “The PLCM helped me to take the first steps in my professional life. Today, I consider myself a young conservation leader, as I work with all sectors of the institution and I use communication as a tool to ensure better protection of biodiversity“.

Click here to watch the video produced by Baptista Bisquete (also available on the PNAM facebook), which shows the day-to-day life of other young PLCM interns, making a difference in the activities of biodiversity conservation at PNAM.

PLCM is a leadership and personal and professional development platform for young people seeking a career in biodiversity conservation. Do you want to become a biodiversity conservation leader? Get further information about PLCM here.

Café de Manica is collaborating to protect Mozambique’s biodiversity. In January 2023, the company sent 2% of its annual revenue from the sale of coffee in 2022 to the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), with a view to strengthening its support for the conservation of biodiversity in the Chimanimani National Park.

This innovative mechanism is the result of a partnership with BIOFUND, signed in January 2022 to send financial support to the Chimanimani National Park, for the protection of natural resources in that important Conservation Area. With the annual amount coming from the sale of coffee, the Chimanimani National Park will reinforce the protection of the biodiversity of that Conservation Area considered a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), due to its exceptional level of plant endemism, importance for birds and for hosting unique species of plants, birds, butterflies, amphibians, reptiles and mammals.

This partnership enhances the work of BIOFUND and its partners within the framework of the Biodiversity Conservation and Community Development (CBDC) project in the Chimanimani Conservation Area, financed by the French Development Agency (AFD), the French Fund for the World Environment (FFEM) and Fauna and Flora International (FFI).

With the collaboration of companies such as Café de Manica, we are taking an important step in preserving biodiversity for future generations and also in raising awareness and making civil society responsible for these matters.

The National Directorate for the Environment (DINAB) in collaboration with the COMBO+ Program led by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in partnership with the Foundation for Biodiversity Conservation ( BIOFUND ), carried out between the 14th and 15th of December an intensive training for government technicians on Ministerial Diploma No. 55/2022, Module IV – Training on the design of a Biodiversity Offset Management Plan in accordance with Ministerial Diploma No. 55/2022 and a Visit to the Pilot Project for removal of eucalyptus trees in the Maputo National Park.

This module targeted government technicians from Environment sector and from the Technical Commission for Environmental Impact Assessment reaching 30 technicians from the Ministry of Land and Environment (MTA), Ministry of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources (MOPHRH), National Directorate for the Environment (DINAB), National Directorate of Forestry (DINAF), National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), Maputo National Park (PNAM), National Service for Economic Activities of Maputo City (SAECM), National Agency for Environmental Quality Control (AQUA), National Institute of the Navy (INAMAR) and trainers from WCS Mozambique and BIOFUND representing the COMBO+.

The 2-day training consisted of theoretical and practical sessions. The theoretical session took place on the 14th of December at the Radisson Blu Hotel , in Maputo City, where the structure of Biodiversity Offset Management Plan (BOMP) was presented and discussed in accordance with Diploma 55/2022; and the practical session was held on the 15th of December in the Maputo National Park, with a visit to the pilot project for the removal of eucalyptus trees . This initiative was aimed at technical learning about the legal, technical and financial procedures of future biodiversity offset projects in Mozambique. This project is funded by the World Bank/Project MozBio 2, UNDP/Project BIOSFAC, AFD/FFEM through the COMBO+ Programme.

The pilot project led by PNAM in collaboration with the COMBO+ Program has contributed to the definition of the strategy for the removal of invasive species in the Park, definition of action plans for the removal of invasive species, ecological assessment of key biodiversity, definition of metrics and technical training of professionals from the Maputo National Park. With regard to the training of conservation professionals, we highlight the case of Jeremias Madabula , a Graduated in Forestry Engineering from the Instituto Superior Politécnico de Gaza who was also a beneficiary of the 3rd edition of the Leadership Program for Conservation of Mozambique ( PLCM ), assigned to the conservation sector at PNAM and also a technician for the Eucalyptus Removal Project at PNAM.

To find out more about the training of government technicians and pilot projects to improve habitats in conservation areas click here.

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency have recently signed a partnership agreement to support Biodiversity Conservation and improve climate adaptability and resilience in Conservation Areas in Mozambique. This is the first long-term commitment from this important partner to BIOFUND, and is in line with the growth and diversification of funds that the Foundation is planning for the coming years.

With funding of USD 16 million, the project aims to support the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services in relevant lands and seascapes, support innovative financing mechanisms to enhance the value of biodiversity and sustainable livelihood alternatives in communities, and strengthen biodiversity conservation management, studies, capacity building and training. The actions aimed at conservation areas meet the priorities of the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC).

These activities will be implemented until 2027, in the Pomene National Reserve, Niassa Special Reserve, Maputo Environmental Protection Area, Malhazine Municipal Park, as well as in some hunting grounds and community conservation areas.

This project will allow the reinforcement and consolidation of the actions that BIOFUND has been developing, as well as supporting existing Conservation Areas as well as new Conservation Areas that may be created.

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) has been participating in the United Nations Conference on Biodiversity (COP15) since December 7th, in Montreal, Canada.
Considered the largest meeting of governments across the world, held once every 10 years, this is where several countries come together to discuss biodiversity and the role it plays in protecting our planet.

The event, organized by Canada and China, is attended by over 1800 people from various countries. Mozambique attended the conference through a delegation led by the Ministry of Land and Environment (MTA), that includes the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), Oceanographic Institute of Mozambique (INOM), Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education (MCTES), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MINEC), Institute of Agricultural Research of Mozambique (IIAM), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), United Nations Development Program (PNUD) and the National Federation of Agrarian Associations of Mozambique (FENAGRI).

The opening ceremony was marked by a speech by António Guterres, Secretary General of the UN, where he enhanced the mandatory need of halting the loss of biodiversity and restoring our natural ecosystems: “Without nature, we are nothing. Nature is our system of life support; however, humanity seems to be engaged on its destruction”. Urgent action and deep collaboration are needed. This is a unique opportunity for the global community to come together to reverse biodiversity loss and protect life on Earth.“

One of the main highlights of the agenda is the “Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)”, which sets the global goals to be achieved by 2030. Experts hope that the new GBF will set ambitious goals to respond to the current biodiversity crisis.

Through the new GBF, it is intended to reach 30% of protected areas across the planet by 2030, both in land and sea areas. Countries are also expected to commit to eliminating public financial subsidies for sectors and companies that damage the environment and reallocating these subsidies to actions that are positive for the nature.

The group of African countries present at COP15 put forward a proposal to create a new global fund for biodiversity, which can pass-through financial resources in amounts enough to respond to the new challenges of the conservation sector.

BIOFUND participated in the formulation of Mozambique’s position at COP15, and the attendance of some team members was made possible with financial support from UNDP/BIOSFAC Project.

From this conference, it is expected to reach a historic agreement to halt and reverse the loss of nature, at the same level as the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate. What will be adopted in Montreal will essentially be a global plan to save the planet’s declining biodiversity!

Click here to learn more about COP15

The National Orderer’s Office (GON) and the European Union in coordination with the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) and the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) held on December 12, 2022, in Maputo City, the 2nd Session of the National Supervision Committee (CNS) of PROMOVE Biodiversidade.

PROMOVE Biodiversidade is a program financed by the European Union and focused on 3 Conservation Areas in the provinces of Nampula and Zambézia, namely: Gilé National Park – PNAG; Environmental Protection Area of Ilhas ​​Primeiras e Segundas– APAIPS and its adjacent coastal areas and Mount Mabu – MABU. These areas were selected for their importance in terms of biodiversity, but also for their high population density, that is, where natural resources are under the pressure of local communities that see resources as an alternative source for their livelihood and income generation, putting their importance in maintaining the integrity of ecosystems and conserving biodiversity at risk.

In order to ensure proper implementation of the PROMOVE Biodiversidade Program, a National Supervision Committee (CNS) was established in 2021, a strategic body whose duty is to ensure coordination and collaboration between the different stakeholders of the Program at the level of Conservation Areas as well as at the national level.

The event was attended by representatives of the European Union, ANAC, BIOFUND, MNEC-GON, MTA, MIMAIP; FNDS, PNAG, APAIPS, the District Government of Lugela, FFS-IGF Foundation, RADEZA, REGECOM, the Provincial Secretariat for the Environment of Zambézia and Nampula, among other participants.

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity – BIOFUND – on 25 November inaugurated its permanent exhibition hall and its new offices.

Participating in this event were some members of BIOFUND, and its main partners and donors.

During the event, the guests had the opportunity to visit the exhibition and the new BIOFUND office, and also enjoy a moment of relaxation.

The first exhibition in this permanent hall, which should be on display for about six months, has, as its main focus, the presentation of the main institutional timelines and projects supported by BIOFUND during its first 10 years of existence. Later, the content of the exhibition hall will be regularly updated so as to present content relevant to the promotion of knowledge and awareness about the conservation of biodiversity.

The exhibitions are a component of communication and education, part of a series of actions in which BIOFUND is investing to promote a favourable environment for the conservation of biodiversity. Since 2015, more than 16,850 people have visited biodiversity exhibitions held by BIOFUND, where they have obtained information about biodiversity and about the actions that BIOFUND and its partners have been undertaking for its conservation.

The doors of the exhibition hall will be open for public visits as from 18 January 2023. Visits are expected from various interest groups, from primary and secondary school pupils, to institutions linked to the conservation of biodiversity.

Zélia da Laila, a young Mozambican woman, aged 26, born in Maputo province, graduated in Human Resources Management at Instituto Superior de Gestão e Empreendedorismo de Marracuene, was a beneficiary of the 3rd edition of the pre-professional internships of the Leadership Program for Conservation of Mozambique (PLCM), and she started her conservation experience in Chimanimani National Park (PNC).

“When I got the information that I would be allocated to the Chimanimani National Park, I wondered what I was going to do there, since I have a degree in Human Resources. I had no idea that my training area could be essential in a Conservation area”; said Zelia.

Zélia strengthened the Human Resources sector at CNP, by introducing a system to control the attendance and punctuality of the park’s officers, as well as introducing debates on different topics related to conservation and social issues during the team’s morning sessions, creating a new dynamic and engagement of technicians and employees.

One of her biggest challenges during her internship at CNP was communicating with the rangers, as most of them do not speak Portuguese. Zélia was challenged to learn a minimum of words in the local language (Citewe), as a way of ensuring communication with the rangers so that she could carry out her daily activities.

The interaction with the rangers and with a number of interns from technical and higher education institutions, from different places across the country and from different cultures, made Zélia a more humble and hardworking person, which helped her achieve various personal and institutional objectives.

After the first 6 months of internship at CNP, with good performance and dedication, Zélia was one of those chosen interns to extend her internship for another 6 month period, that was reassigned (due to the availability and convenience of the supervisor) to Limpopo National Park (LNP), where she is carrying on with the activities she developed at CNP and gathering new experiences in her training area and, above all, in Biodiversity Conservation.

“PLCM added cultural values ​​to my life, as it allowed me to interact with people from different places of the country, with different ways of thinking, being and acting in different situations. It also contributed to the improvement of my commitment to the activities assigned to me during the internship, and also to a better organization of my activities.”

“The PLCM is one of the few training and leadership programs that I know about, which gives young people the opportunity to undergo professional training in different conservation areas and institutions across the country. It awakened in me the will and desire to continue working in the conservation sector in Mozambique” – Says Zélia.”

The PLCM Pre-professional Internships program is implemented by the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), in coordination with the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), with funding from the World Bank (IDA), under the Mozbio2 project. This program promotes, motivates and benefits young professionals from various areas of knowledge, highlighting the relevance and interaction of each of their professional areas, for the improvement of management, administration, study and protection of biodiversity and the sustainable use of our natural resources.

If you wish to be part of this great conservation family, please, apply for the 4th edition of the PLCM pre-professional internship program by clicking here

The African Beach Soccer Championship, held from 21st to 28th October 2022, in the Tourist Town of Vilanculo, Inhambane province, gathered around 18,000 people including players, top individuals in the ​​Football field and others, supporters and general public, who, in addition to watching football, were part of an environmental awareness chain for the benefit of marine biodiversity, especially the Dugong.

By the way, how can sports influence environmental awareness and promote changes in attitudes for better conservation of biodiversity?

For the National Beach Soccer coach – Abineiro Ussaca, sports can play a key role in raising awareness of the society and in particular of the soccer supporters to contribute to a clean and healthy environment, especially for marine biodiversity.
“As sportsmen, we are a fundamental key to influence people in the protection of the environment, and we should be an example for the society. We have, for example, the duty to replace all the disposable containers that we use and deposit them in the right place, since all the solid waste left outdoors ends up in the sea, and when such waste goes into the sea, they cause irreparable damage to the species that live in that habitat.”

Inside Vilanculo arena, where the 2022 Beach Soccer CAN took place, the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), set up an exhibition of marine biodiversity, which during the championship was a mechanism for disseminating information on the relevance of the habitats for marine species and of both for the mankind. Still within the scope of environmental awareness in Vilanculo, BIOFUND, the Ministry of Land and Environment (MTA), the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), the Bazaruto Archipelago National

Park (PNAB) and Reciclagem e Serviços, worked together in a series of environmental education activities aimed at protecting the oceans and marine life. Highlights include cleaning the beaches, planting mangroves, lectures at primary and secondary schools in Vilanculo, and a special lecture aimed at players from the Mozambican Beach Soccer team. These actions had a significant impact on young students, athletes and the local public, and reached around 6000 people directly.

“We welcome the guidelines from BIOFUND and partners, as sportsmen and digital influencers. We are going to disseminate this message of environment conservation, we want to convey to other people how important it is to conserve biodiversity. We appreciate this initiative which has awakened our environmental awareness and responsibility. We will do our part!” Ângelo Tomas, Captain of the National Beach Soccer Team.

Football is a mass sport with great educational potential, capable of contributing to the training of citizens and influencing behaviour change. In this way, the African beach soccer championship was a vehicle for promoting the conservation and protection of marine biodiversity.

“These results were achieved because there was an engagement of multiple teams. Regardless of our differences, we all look to the same goals. The initiative was very well aligned and the team work was excellent!” Stressed Armado Nguenha – Administrator of the BANP.

It took place Between the 25th and 26th of October in the City of Nampula, in the Province of Nampula, the training of technicians from the Provincial Services and Directorates of the Environment and of the Technical Commission for Environmental Impact Assessment of Zambézia and the north of the country on the new Ministerial Diploma of Biodiversity Offsets in Mozambique (Diploma 55/2022).

Biodiversity offsets are required by the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation (Decree 54/2015) and recently regulated by the Biodiversity Offsets Directive ( Ministerial Diploma No. 55/2022 of 19 May) . The approval of this legal instrument places Mozambique on the list of pioneer countries in Africa in the creation and consolidation of the legal framework for environmental impact assessment, promotion of the mitigation hierarchy and biodiversity offsets, as measures to harmonize economic development in the country.

The training was attended by 48 participants, including government technicians representing the National Directorate for the Environment (DINAB), Provincial Services for the Environment (SPA), Provincial Services for Economic Activities (SPAE), Provincial Services for Infrastructure (SPI), Provincial Directorates of Industry and Commerce (DPIC), Provincial Directorate of Territorial Development and Environment (DPDTA), Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism (DPCT), Provincial Directorates of the National Agency for Environmental Quality Control (AQUA), BIOFUND and WCS .

This national training program for government technicians and CTA members began in 2021 with initial modules in October and November, later in March 2022, entering a second phase from September, with training on the 20 and 21 in Maputo City, 11 and 12 October in Beira City and, finally, between 25 and 26 October in Nampula City, thus covering technicians from the environment sector and the Technical Assessment Commission from across the country.

This initiative is led by the National Directorate for the Environment (DINAB) with the support of the COMBO+ Program (partnership between the Government of Mozambique, WCS and BIOFUND) and with funding from AFD/FFEM, World Bank/MozBio 2 Project and UNDP/ BIOSFAC Project.

For more information on the Biodiversity Offset Program click here aqui

It took place from the 11th to the 12th of October in the City of Beira, Sofala province, the training of technicians from the Provincial Services and Directorates of the Environment and from the Technical Commission for Environmental Impact Assessment on the new Ministerial Diploma for the implementation of Biodiversity Offsets in Mozambique ( DIPLOMA 55/2022 ), with the aim of raising awareness among the institutions of the Ministry of Land and Environment (MTA), Provincial Services for the Environment (SPA ), Provincial Directorates of Territorial Development ( DPDTA) and the National Agency for Environmental Quality Control (AQUA) and the Technical Commission of Assessment (CTA).

Biodiversity offsets are required by the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulation ( Decree 54/2022 ) and with the approval and dissemination of the Ministerial Diploma on the Implementation of Biodiversity Offsets ( Diploma 55/2022) , Mozambique has been a pioneer in the development of legal frameworks instruments for reconciling economic development with biodiversity conservation.

The training was attended by 40 participants, including technicians from the government of the provinces of Sofala, Manica and Tete, from the SPA, Provincial Services for Economic Activities (SPAE), Provincial Infrastructure Services (SPI), Provincial Directorates of the National Agency for the Environmental Quality Control (DPAQUA), Provincial Directorates of Industry and Commerce (DPIC), Provincial Directorates of Territorial Development and Environment (DPDTA) and Provincial Directorates of Culture and Tourism (DPCT) and trainers of the COMBO+ Program (DINAB, BIOFUND and WCS).

The regional training sessions started on the 20th and 21st of September, in the south region, covering the provinces of Maputo, Gaza and Inhambane and will take place until the 25th and 26th of October in the province of Nampula (covering the north region), with Technicians from the provinces of Niassa, Cabo Delgado and Nampula, respectively .

This training is being carried out by the National Directorate for the Environment (DINAB) in collaboration with the COMBO+ Program (partnership between the Government of Mozambique, WCS and BIOFUND), financed by AFD/FFEM, World Bank/MozBio 2 Project and UNDP/Project BIOSFAC.

For more information about the Biodiversity Offset Program click here

Regarding the “Sea World Day ” celebrated on 29 September, the French Embassy in Mozambique in coordination with the Ministry of Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries (MIMAIP), the Association of Undergraduate Students of Mozambique (AEFUM), the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) and other partners, held from 24th to 30th of September last, the 7th edition of the event “Our Sea” under the motto “The sea we want” in Maputo City.

Since 2014 this event have been providing an opportunity to discuss the future of our oceans, with a special focus on the Indian Ocean; discussing about opportunities to secure our oceans, maintenance of its wealth, energy and biodiversity. This event also focused on management of “Our Sea” and the potential financial mechanisms to ensure its sustainability.

In its 7th edition, the event “Our Sea” event brought together academics, the private sector and partners in the field to brainstorm on partnerships strengthening mechanisms towards the sustainability of the oceans in their various dimensions.

The highest point of this 7th edition was marked by the realization of a business incubation competition, called O ponto mais alto desta 7ª edição foi marcado pela realização de um Concurso de incubação de negócios, denominado “Empreendedorismo Azul” (Blue Entrepreneurship) where several young people presented innovative projects for the sustainability of the sea. BIOFUND played a key role participating in the selection jury of 18 competitors and election of 2 winners in two categories, namely: the Redes de Luxo project, in the entrepreneurial project category that aims to produce female items such as hats, bags and shoes, using fishing nets collected in the coastal zone of Macaneta beach, in Marracuene district, Maputo province. The project received a monetary award of two hundred thousand meticais (200 000 MZN). For the social project category, the Associação Moçambicana de Reciclagem (AMOR) [Mozambican Recycling Association] was the winner and received a monetary award of one hundred and sixty thousand meticais (160 000 MZN) to purchase plastic waste from fishermen at Costa do Sol in Maputo.

The award ceremony and the closing of “Our Sea” event took place on September 30, 2022 at the Museum of the Sea and was it was attended by the French Ambassador to Mozambique and Eswatini, David Izzo, the Deputy Minister of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries, Henriques Bongece, the Director of the National Museum of the, the representative of AEFUM, BIOFUND representatives and the participants of the “Blue Entrepreneurship” program.

For further information about the program, please, click here.

The National Directorate for Environment (DINAB) in collaboration with COMBO+ Program, implemented by the Government of Mozambique, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) with financial support from World Bank/MozBio2 Project, UNDP/BIOSFAC and AFD/FFEM conducted between 20th and 21st September, in Maputo City an intensive training on the new Ministerial Diploma for the implementation of Biodiversity Offsets in Mozambique (DIPLOMA 55/2022) for government technicians from the Environmental sector and members of the Technical Commission for Environmental Impact Assessment (CTA) from south region of Mozambique.

This regional training was attended by 43 participants from Maputo, Gaza and Inhambane provinces, representing the National Directorate for the Environment (DINAB), National Agency for Environmental Quality Control (AQUA), Provincial Services for the Environment (SPA) , Provincial Services for Economic Activities (SPAE), Provincial Services for Infrastructures (SPI), Provincial Directorates of Industry and Trade (DPIC), Provincial Directorates of Territorial Development and Environment (DPDTA) and Provincial Directorates of Culture and Tourism (DPCT).

This training raised awareness of these institutions regarding the relevance of the recently approved Ministerial Diploma for biodiversity offsets implementation in Mozambique, including details regarding the implementation and coordination mechanisms necessary for an effective implementation in Mozambique. Also in this training, opportunities for collaboration and synergies were identified at central and provincial levels.

The COMBO+ Program started the national training program on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and application of the Mitigation Hierarchy in Mozambique in 2017 and has already contributed to the training of over 1000 professionals from the government, civil society, the private sector, and academia.

With the approval of the Biodiversity Offsets Ministerial Diploma in Mozambique, a multistakeholders intensive training program will take place at national scale, ensuring dissemination of this important tool to harmonize economic development and biodiversity conservation in Mozambique.

For further information on the Biodiversity Offset Program, please, click here.

In 2020 I had the opportunity to be part of the 1^st edition of the internship program of the Leadership Program for the Conservation of Mozambique (PLCM), a program coordinated by the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity – BIOFUND. PLCM is part of MozBio2 one of more than 15 projects of the Foundation, which started in 2019 with funding from the World Bank. With this opportunity, I was part of BIOFUND’s M&E team, with whom we developed and implemented monitoring tools for over 30 Foundation’s Beneficiary Conservation Areas, and strengthened the technical capacity for a systematic monitoring of the activities financed.

I vividly remember the day of my first contact with the program to this date.
“What is your goal in this internship?”

This is the question that was asked to me and 11 other young people in March 2020, during the “group dynamics” on the day of induction to the program. We were confused and anxious. And I didn’t have the answer, but I knew that words like learn, contribute, share or networking should all be part of it.

It’s amazing how, in movies, people always know exactly what they want to be and choose precisely what to do. In fact, many of us have learned to answer these questions with time, exposure, and learning. I think I am still setting my answer and the recent opportunity to participate in the First Congress of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) on the Protected Areas of Africa (APAC), held in Kigali, Rwanda, played an important role in this process. And other than having an answer, it made me want to ask more questions.

As a conservationist, I was amazed with the place of the event – ​​Rwanda must be an example of conservation – the attitude of Rwandans towards the environment is amazing, it makes one think of the concept of Environmental Protection Areas and Biosphere Reserve, both for the rigorous cleanliness and the level of forestation in its capital, Kigali.

And the 30.4% of the national territory declared as a Protected Area does not match to everything that is actually done as there are numerous conservation and pro-environmental actions outside the Areas designated for this purpose.

As much as I could write, I prefer to limit myself to the two main lessons of my experience in APAC, Rwanda: first, and by the way, this was one of the main themes for reflection at the Congress, is Management Effectiveness (in Protected Areas), — those who visit this country must bear witness to its effectiveness and efficiency, but I think that those who are interested in environmental areas are even more impacted by the results that this small African country has achieved in “environmental awareness and education”. Yes, it is possible not to accumulate garbage outside the designated places! Yes, it is possible not to use plastic bags! Yes, it is possible not to deliberately throw trash out of car windows, and the list goes on. Perhaps we could rethink even more on the effectiveness of the campaigns we carry out for the environment, the regulations we submit to, the numbers, tables and graphs we report, we should ask ourselves: do we actually have Conservation Areas, or just simply polygons on maps and “parks in the CAs’ list of categories”?.

The second great lesson I learned from that is the Sense of Belonging. Being part of 2,400 participants from 80 countries, with a large active representation of young people, and being with Mozambicans who have actively contributed to the conservation of biodiversity in my country challenged me to think that we, the young people of Mozambique, also have a big role to play in this process. We can generate real impact and achieve the effectiveness we crave, but that involves assuming that we are part of the conservation community, and that we can. And accept that only we, the young people, will be the future responsible for the continuity of the actions that are being developed to keep biodiversity in the present.

Let’s face the reality: conservation has not been the most attractive area of ​​work for young people to pursue, comparing it, for example, with professions that our society still values ​​differently, such as medicine, law, engineering or education. But fortunately, in recent years, conservation issues have been gaining more and more media visibility and social weight. Although it does not ensure that those who follow it will have the promises of comfort or the conventional routine that one obtains in other professions, conservation has nevertheless attracted a whole new generation of young people, like me, to what, other than a profession, it is a Mission for which we are ready and do not expect rewards in the form of comforts or “amenities”.

My permanent anxiety is to be able to integrate my small contribution to conservation in a broader and even more important context, to find the answer to that question asked in 2020. Today I know that it is not necessary to be an expert in fauna, flora or ecosystems. I know that anyone of us can somehow be part of the change, and that we all can and must contribute to the conservation of biodiversity. If we, young people are the future, we need to take care of biodiversity and start today.

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity – BIOFUND, participated in the 12th General Assembly of the Consortium of African Funds for the Environment (CAFÉ), which took place from 12 to 16 September 2022, in Douala, Cameroon, under the theme “Mixed Financing: Strategies for and Contributions to Protected Areas in Africa”.

The event, which was attended by 20 African Environmental Funds and international partners, was organized by The Sangha Tri-National Trust Fund (FTNS) in collaboration with CAFE. This is an important annual event for environmental funds, where CAFÉ members meet to share experiences and training on various topics related to biodiversity conservation. In this edition, participants from 17 countries were trained in “Mixed Financing” matters.

During the opening ceremony on 14th of September, conducted by the Ministry of Forests and Wildlife of Cameroon, BIOFUND’s representative, Alexandra Jorge, highlighted that the 12th General Assembly of CAFÉ takes place in a year in which BIOFUND celebrates 10 years of its creation, highlighting the main results of the Foundation’s work during this period, with a focus on capitalizing around USD 60 million from the Endowment (Investment Funds) and raising the same amount in funds to be passed-through to beneficiaries in the Conservation Areas, of which BIOFUND has already disbursed, cumulatively, over USD 16 million for the conservation of biodiversity in Mozambique since 2016.

Alexandra Jorge also highlighted the importance of BIOFUND in the creation of innovative financing, and mentioned the added value of the Leadership Program for the Conservation of Mozambique (PLCM), Bio Card, BIO Fundo de Emergência and the Biodiversity Offset program, as well as the environmental awareness actions carried out by BIOFUND, by holding biodiversity exhibitions and fairs, within the scope of creating a favourable environment for conservation in Mozambique.

BIOFUND is a founding member of CAFÉ and has been part of its Executive Committee since 2021, elected during the last General Assembly held in Maputo, where BIOFUND was the host. Click here to see the various sessions of the 12th General Assembly of CAFÉ.

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity – BIOFUND, conducted a lecture to promote good environmental practices on September 9, 2022, in an event promoted by the Municipality of Maputo City that took place at Força do Povo Secondary School, in the Municipal District of KaMavota, Maputo province.

Through the lecture, several young people and teenagers were called to be aware of small actions that are good for the environment and biodiversity, such as good waste management, planting trees, avoiding water pollution and uncontrolled fires.

This activity, attended by around 2270 people, especially students from Força do Povo Secondary School  and other schools around KaMavota Municipal District, is part of the environmental education and awareness campaign that takes place within the scope of the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Foundation, under the theme “Let’s do more for biodiversity”, where through various actions, BIOFUND seeks to raise the general public’s awareness of good environmental practices and the conservation of biodiversity.

The BIOFUND lecture is part of the KaMavota Book Festival event, an initiative promoted by the Municipality of Maputo City, through the Culture and Tourism Municipal Council, aimed at stimulating students’ literary interest, promoting reading and bringing the books to the community.

Follow BIOFUND platforms and keep an eye on the different actions carried out within the scope of the campaign “let’s do more for biodiversity”!

The Wildilfe Conservation Society (WCS), the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), the Aid for the Development of People for People ADPP, ProAzul, the Institute of Oceanography of Mozambique (InOM), the Department of Biological Sciences of Eduardo Mondlane University (DCB-UEM) and the Environment Association (AMA) launched the project “Building a Blue Future for Ecosystems and People on the East African Coast” on 23 August, 2022 in Maputo City.

Abbreviated as “Futuro Azul”, the project is funded by Blue Action Fund (BAF) and other international donors, and its aim is the conservation of Mozambique’s marine and coastal biodiversity, with focus on reducing the impacts of climate change in the coastal areas of the country, specifically in Memba and Mossuril districts of Nampula province.

The project will be implemented during five years (2022 to 2027), and it is aimed at improving biodiversity and ecosystem services that contribute to reducing the vulnerability of local communities, increasing their resilience to the impacts of climate change, strengthening coastal protection and promoting livelihoods based on natural resources, especially fishing.

The official launching ceremony of the project was conducted by the Director of WCS Mozambique, Mr. Afonso Madope, who stressed in his speech that all partners should make this initiative an innovative project that really makes difference in the field and that it should be an example for the future of artisanal fishing sustainability, coastal resilience to climate change, coastal communities’ livelihoods and marine conservation in Mozambique.

The launch ceremony was preceded by an activity planning and start-up workshop, which took place on August 22, 2022, at ADPP Mozambique, with the participation of all project partners.

In this project, BIOFUND will be in charge of improving the knowledge, expertise and capacity of the relevant national agencies through the annual realization of a technical-scientific conference and exhibition on Ecosystem-based Marine Adaptation and Conservation, which will be integrated into the annual exhibition of biodiversity of BIOFUND.

António Simão is a 26-year-old young man, born in Mafambisse, Dondo district, Sofala Province, trained in Forestry and Wild Fauna by Instituto Agrário de Chimoio (IAC) (Agrarian Institute of Chimoio).

Since he was young, he dreamed about working for the protection of flora and fauna, and in 2021 he had the opportunity to join the 2nd edition of the pre-professional internship of the Leadership Program for the Conservation of Mozambique (PLCM), the program that made it possible to achieve the dream of working in the area of ​​biodiversity conservation.

António Simão works at Maputo National Park where he developed different conservation activities in a period of 6 months of internship. During the internship, António identified a problem within the communities, which is Conflict between humans and wildlife, he joined the Park’s chasing away team and led the group in identifying the main animal corridors that generate conflicts in the buffer zone of that Conservation Area. To minimize the problem, he started to implement techniques for the mitigation and prevention of conflict between humans and wildlife, together with the park wardenship team.

“I became a Conservation Leader through PLCM, the experiences I acquired in the pre-professional internship were very important for my professional integration. Now I am a Human and Wildlife Conflict Technician at Mozambique Wildlife Alliance (MWA), an organization that supports wildlife, communities and habitats in Mozambique,” ​​said António Simão.

PLCM is implemented by the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) in coordination with the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), with funding from the World Bank, within the scope of the Mozbio2 project, and it is essentially aimed at building a generation of conservation leaders in Mozambique, with the purpose of achieving, by 2024, the training of about 310 professionals from the National System of Conservation Areas, attract, motivate and qualify about 135 young people in conservation matters, and reach more than 7500 people in education and environmental awareness campaigns, as well as on how to arouse their interest in conservation matters.

The training of the private sector on the new Ministerial Diploma for the implementation of Biodiversity Offsets in Mozambique (Directive no. 55/2022) took place between 10th and 11th August in Maputo City.

The training was organized by the National Directorate for the Environment (DINAB) in coordination with the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS, through COMBO+ Program, and was aimed at strengthening the capacity and awareness of the private sector to operate the new Offsets Directive (Ministerial Diploma no. 55/2022 of May 19th) and the right implementation of Biodiversity Offsets in Mozambique.

The Ministerial Diploma 55/2022 sets principles, methodologies, requirements and procedures for the right implementation of Biodiversity Offsets in the country, allowing the Government of Mozambique to ensure that category A+ and A development projects of any type of activity subject to the environmental license, with significant residual negative impacts on biodiversity, implement biodiversity offset management plans to achieve at least No Net Loss (NNL) or Net Gain (NG) of biodiversity at sites outside the area of ​​direct influence, preferably in conservation areas or important areas for biodiversity, after the implementation of measures to Avoid, Minimize and Restore.

The two-day training conducted by COMBO+ Program team (DINAB, WCS and BIOFUND) had about 50 attendants and consisted of the detailed interpretation of the Offsets Diploma and the application of each article. Highlights included the scope of the Diploma, the biodiversity that has to be offset, potential offset sites, metrics to assess biodiversity gains, key role players, management and financing of offsets and the content of the Preliminary and Final Offset Management Plan. Also as part of the training, the content of the new Biodiversity Portal SIBMOZ was shared.

This capacity building is part of the national training program on the implementation of the hierarchy of mitigation and biodiversity offsets in Mozambique for government professionals, the private sector, academia, NGOs and other key stakeholders.
For further information on the Biodiversity Offset Program, click here.

The Monitoring Group of Biodiversity Conservation Initiatives in the Licuáti Forest Reserve and the Surrounding Area held its fourth meeting on August 8th in Maputo, aimed at presenting and discussing the results of the ecological and socio-economic characterization studies, and the proposal for a management plan for the conservation of the Licuáti region in the Matutuíne district, Maputo.

The meeting was attended by around 30 participants from different government institutions, conservation areas, the private sector, civil society organizations, academia and multilateral and bilateral partners engaged in biodiversity conservation in the Licuáti region and Mozambique.

This group was established in 2021 under the leadership of the National Directorate of Forests (DINAF) with the purpose of building a common vision for the sustainable management of biodiversity and community development in Matutuíne, as well as promoting the coordination and monitoring of pilot projects to improve habitats of the Licuáti Forest Reserve (RFL) and Maputo National Park (PNAM) promoted by the National Directorate for the Environment (DINAB), the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), National Directorate of Forests (DINAF) ) and the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC).

Licuáti ecological and socio-economic characterization studies have once again highlighted the ecological value of the Licuáti region, recently declared as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA). The Licuáti region is rich in habitats diversity that bear priority flora and fauna species for biodiversity conservation, including endemic and threatened species. However, the biodiversity of this area is threatened by anthropogenic activities that include the cutting of trees for charcoal production, uncontrolled fires and expansion of agricultural areas, which cause loss, conversion and fragmentation of natural habitats.

Coal production is the main economic activity with an impact on Licuáti natural habitats, and it is concentrated near the access roads and main population centres. The current tendency of resource exploitation in this region, associated with the lack of alternative livelihood and income sources will result in a continuous loss of biodiversity, which imposes an urgent need to implement measures to protect intact areas, restore degraded areas through the engagement of multiple actors and to propose financial alternatives to ensure the conservation of biodiversity and the livelihoods of the local communities.

The biodiversity offsets regulated by Diploma 55/2022 are a potential financial solution to support the conservation of biodiversity in Mozambique, including as a priority key areas and areas for biodiversity, such as the Licuáti Forest Reserve.

A management plan for the Licuáti region is under development as a way of reversing the current degradation of this rich region of the country.

Read the results of these studies here:

CARACTERIZAÇÃO ECOLÓGICA DA REGIÃO DE LICUÁTI EM MATUTUÍNE

CARACTERIZAÇÃO SOCIOECONÓMICA DAS COMUNIDADES E DA CADEIA DE VALOR DE CARVÃO NA REGIÃO DE LICUÁTI EM MATUTUÍNE

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) in partnership with Banco Comercial de Investimentos (BCI) offered a tour to the winner of the second phase of the Bio Card campaign, to Maputo National Park (PNAM) on 29th July, 2022.

This is the second visit offered as part of the campaign which is aimed at offering Bio Card users the unique opportunity to visit a Conservation Area. Dilson Muchanga from Maputo province, together with his wife, accompanied by BIOFUND, BCI and PNAM team had the privilege of enjoying a traditional safari through stunning landscapes with diverse species of fauna, with greater emphasis on one of the most emblematic species in the Park, the elephant.

In addition to sightseeing the Park’s rich biodiversity, during the tour the participants had the opportunity to enjoy different experiences on community management of natural resources, especially engaging children and teenagers, with emphasis to the initiatives of Escola Primária Completa de Salamanga, girls’ environmental clubs, planting fruit trees, etc.

Dilson and his wife said “We are excited with the beauty and quietness of this place, for the award we had and especially motivated to protect the environment even more because through this card we can contribute to the conservation of biodiversity.”

Alexandra Jorge, Director of Programs at BIOFUND, expressed her happiness with the engagement of the School and the students in the activities of PNAM programs and congratulated the PNAM team for the fantastic work they are doing, which will of course influence the sustainable use of resources for the new generation that is being trained.

For the BCI team visiting the PNAM for the first time, this contact with nature was very important to raise awareness of biodiversity conservation from here!

The Bio Card is the first biodegradable card in Mozambique with over 30,000 users, created in 2017 as a result of a partnership between BCI and BIOFUND, where within the scope of its social responsibility BCI sends a percentage of the annual fee for the use of the card to BIOFUND for biodiversity conservation projects. These funds have already supported the protection of rhinos, Raphia australis (a rare palm species in Bobole) and sea turtles in the Environmental Protection Area of ​​Ilhas Primeiras and Segundas (APAIPS).

BIOFUND participates this week in the Africa Protected Areas Congress – APAC (www.apacongress.africa) held in Kigali, Rwanda from 18-23 July, the opening ceremony was led by the Rt. Hon. Édouard Ngirente. This is the first-ever Pan-African Congress gathering of world leaders, citizens, private sector, academia donors and local communities focused on protected areas.

More than 2,000 participants from 52 African countries and beyond have come together at APAC to address challenges and drive action for Africa’s Protected and Conserved Areas.

The Congress raises a message of hope to do more for Africa. Discussions revolve around the key role of these areas in safeguarding the continent’s iconic wildlife, delivering vital ecosystem services, driving sustainable development and conserving Africa’s cultural heritage and traditions and also strengthening the participation of women and youth in the conservation agenda.

This Congress reiterates the need to change the current business model, to establish sustainable financing mechanisms across Africa to ensure the impact of biodiversity conservation, focusing on the role of Environmental Funds.

In its participation in 6 parallel sessions, the BIOFUND team disclosed the Foundation’s role in mobilizing sustainable funding to support biodiversity conservation in Mozambique, through its various programs, with emphasis on new innovative funding mechanisms such as the implementation of offsets biodiversity, the BIO card, partnerships with the private sector, among others.

This Congress has presented an excellent opportunity for exposing the Foundation’s work, networking and establishing multiple partnerships and collaboration at the African level in the various topics of great importance to BIOFUND.

The Delegation of Mozambique has the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Land and Environment (MTA), with emphasis on the ANAC and its National Director – Celmira da Silva, representatives of the Conservation Areas, the FNDS, and several NGOs in Mozambique such as WWF Mozambique, WCS, PPF, IUCN Mozambique, REGECOM and Rare, with whom there has been sharing of information and discussions on the various topics addressed, which require integrated actions and institutional collaboration.

Also participating in this Congress are 8 representatives of CAFÉ – Consortium of African Environmental Funds (https://cafeconsortium.org/), in which BIOFUND is a member, and they are also participating in this event in several sessions and interacting with each other. Also noteworthy at this Congress was the formal launch by former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn of a new Pan-African Environmental Fund called APACT (the Pan-African Conservation Trust – for nature, for people), with the main objective of raising and channeling important financial resources to support biodiversity conservation in many of Africa’s protected areas.

This is the first environmental centre led by the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), and was opened at the Sussundenga Secondary School, in Manica province, on July 11, 2022, by the Director of the District Education Services, in a ceremony that was attended by more than 100 people, with emphasis on local authorities, the school community and conservation partners.

This Biodiversity Centre was installed by BIOFUND through the Conservation Leadership Program in Mozambique (PLCM), in partnership with Chimanimani National Park, Portucel Moçambique e a Fundação Vodacom, and is aimed at raising awareness among children and young people in Sussundenga on the importance of taking care of the environment and biodiversity.

The Centre is composed of information panels and photographs on the biodiversity of Manica province, with emphasis on endemic plants, fauna, landscapes and historical and tourist places of Chimanimani National Park, and a computer lab composed of 20 computers, complete with a one-year internet connection. In addition to the Biodiversity Centre, a waste recycling point was set up at this school and a school garden was created that will involve and benefit the school students.

This initiative is part of the pilot phase of the project to create Conservation Centres and the development of Education Workshops that BIOFUND and its partners will implement in schools, around themes of Biodiversity, Mineral Resources, Water, Solid Waste Management and Food-Nutrition. This initiative is also the result of a dream of bringing extracts of local biodiversity content to classrooms that were originally developed with the support of partners for the annual Biodiversity Exhibitions implemented by BIOFUND in Maputo (2015), Gaza (2016), Quelimane (2017) and Inhambane (2018), with emphasis on the Manica Exhibition in 2019.

These materials were complemented for this biodiversity centre by the PLCM team, including several of its interns.

On behalf of the Administrator of Sussundenga, the District Director of Education, Chico Domingos Manuel Ferrão, in his opening speech stated that the installation of the Biodiversity Centre in that School represents an important milestone for the District and for the Province of Manica. “For the first time, we opened a biodiversity centre. This is a big gain for our district. With these centres, children have information on how to take care of the planet, so that the planet also takes care of us, we are going to capitalize on this gain, to allow other children to have access to information”, he stressed.

Likewise, the Director of Sussundenga Secondary School, Manuel Campira, expressed his thanks for choosing the institution he leads and committed himself to preserving the repository of various environmental education materials that will contribute to the teaching-learning process and to change the behaviour of the society about the environment.

For BIOFUND, the inauguration of the Sussundenga Biodiversity Centre coincides with the tenth anniversary of the foundation, celebrated in a campaign under the motto “let’s do more” for biodiversity. This new biodiversity centre is the first result of this celebration. “We are sure that with the efforts and creativity of all our partners we will take this project forward and many more conservation centres like this one will emerge, and we will do more for biodiversity, in different ways”, said Alexandra Jorge, Program Director at BIOFUND.

In addition to Chimanimani National Park and Portucel Moçambique, which were responsible for the rehabilitation of the classrooms, and which will continue to support the school with the implementation of environmental education activities, as well as Fundação Vodacom, which set up the computer lab, the creation of the Biodiversity Centre in Sussundenga was supported by a collaboration of young people from the Gonazololo Association who produced various products with recycled material, Escola Portuguesa de Moçambique which contributed with books on biodiversity for the school library and the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), which provided environmental education manuals.

The 10th General Assembly of the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity – BIOFUND took place on July 7, 2022, in Maputo, and was attended by about 50 people, including representatives of governmental and non-governmental institutions connected to the conservation sector.

At this session, the 2021 activity report was presented and approved, with the highlight being the 2022 funding, with more than USD 20M for 31 public and privately managed Conservation Areas across the country; the approval of 10 new members of the General Assembly; and the presentation and approval of BIOFUND’s new statutes, updated based on the new “foundations law” which transfers a series of legal responsibilities from the General Assembly to the Board of Directors.

The BIOFUND 10th anniversary campaign was also launched, which is aimed at disseminating the main results achieved during the first 10 years of existence, promote environmental responsibility through the dissemination environmental awareness messages and reinforce our commitment to conservation of biodiversity in Mozambique.

This celebration will include several actions that aim to praise the efforts of several partners of the conservation community in the scope of the implementation of several projects for the conservation of biodiversity in Mozambique.

A point to highlight in this session is the growth perspective of BIOFUND, which currently has a portfolio of 16 projects, which support 18 Conservation Areas in Mozambique. Next year, BIOFUND foresees a growth in the number of projects (about USD 100M for the next 5 years) to support 25 Conservation Areas, extending its support to more marine and coastal areas, capacity building, training and more comprehensive environmental education, as well as greater engagement of the private sector and community conservation areas.

Keep an eye for upcoming publications and learn more about BIOFUND’s 10 years!

The 2nd United Nations Ocean Conference was held in Lisbon, from June 27 to July 1, 2022, under the motto: “Save the Oceans, Protect the Future”. Its main objective was to discuss ocean related matters, with a main focus on the issue of sustainability, as a way of leveraging the blue economy to improve the quality of the largest ecosystem on the planet and thus contribute to the well-being of people.

The event co-organized by Portugal and Kenya, was attended by more than 7000 people from different countries around the world. Mozambique was present through the participation of several individuals, with emphasis on the Minister of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries (MIMAIP), Lídia Cardoso, the Minister of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources (MOPHRH), Carlos Mesquita, the CEO of the ProAzul, Simeão Lopes and the Director of Innovative Financing of the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), Sean Nazerali, among others.

BIOFUND attended different parallel sessions with emphasis on the sessions organized by the Mozambican delegation, led by the Minister of MIMAIP. This session acknowledged Mozambique’s leadership in the Sustainable Strengthening of Oceanic Economies.

One of the relevant topics for BIOFUND was the presentation of the Global Fund for Coral Reefs Project, for which BIOFUND will be the convening agent for Mozambique. This new fund is aimed at boosting private sector initiatives that have not only an economic return, but also a positive impact on the marine environment.

BIOFUND took the opportunity to exchange experiences with other countries on sustainable financing of crucial initiatives to preserve, maintain, and rehabilitate the oceans, as well as to discuss the various opportunities on blue economy, coral rehabilitation and aquaculture in Mozambique.

For Sean Nazerali, this event is a starting point for liaising with funders and innovators around the world, in order to improve and accelerate national actions, thus creating a greater impact on results in Mozambique.

Click here to learn more about the event!

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) and WWF Mozambique signed a grant agreement in early June 2022 for a new project to monitor sea turtles in the Primeiras and Segundas Archipelago Environmental Protection Area (APAIPS) through the use of satellite tags on the turtles.

This initiative aims to improve real-time knowledge of the migration routes of turtles that nest on the islands of APAIPS. The project is funded through the Bio Card program, a partnership between Commercial Investment Bank (BCI) and BIOFUND, where a percentage of the card’s annual fee and usage is channeled to support biodiversity conservation projects.

As part of the project, a communication plan is also planned to raise awareness among local communities at all levels, encouraging their involvement in sea turtle conservation. Through this partnership, BIOFUND seeks to increasingly support research and innovation related to biodiversity conservation, promoting environmental awareness actions on relevant topics.

According to studies conducted, little is known about sea turtles in Mozambique, except in specific areas where more consistent monitoring and research programs are in place, such as Inhaca Island, Ponta do Ouro, Ponta Santa Maria, Bazaruto Archipelago, and the islands of Vamizi and Rongui. In the Primeiras and Segundas Islands, some monitoring and tagging actions were carried out (using titanium tags applied to the flippers) between 2005 and 2010. Data from these monitoring efforts demonstrate the occurrence of green turtle nests in the Primeiras and Segundas Islands.

APAIPS is one of the largest marine areas in Africa, located in northern Mozambique, within the provinces of Nampula and Zambézia. Covering approximately 1,040,926 hectares and a 205 km terrestrial strip, the Primeiras and Segundas Archipelago forms a region of significant marine influence, with an extensive “reef chain” whose depth occasionally emerges at the surface, hosting high biodiversity richness.

For World Sea Turtle Day, celebrated on June 16, the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) participated in an event organized by the Consortium led by Centro Terra Viva-Terra (CTV), to celebrate the marine biodiversity of Primeiras e Segundas Archipelago (APAIPS), a conservation area supported by the PROMOVE Biodiversidade Program, funded by the European Union and implemented by BIOFUND and ANAC.

The celebration took place at the Radisson Blue Hotel in Maputo City and was attended by around 50 participants, with emphasis on the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), National Fisheries Administration, European Union, World Bank, WWF Mozambique, RARE, WCS and the Administrator of APAIPS.

This was an opportunity to discuss the main challenges in APAIPS biodiversity conservation, funding opportunities and the role of the local communities in the management of natural resources. In the opening remarks, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of CTV, Augusto Paulino, highlighted that APAIPS biodiversity is being celebrated on World Sea Turtle Day as it is an important area for the prevalence of several species of sea turtles that are protected by law in Mozambique. On the occasion, projects implemented in this area of ​​environmental protection were presented, with emphasis on the PROMOVE Biodiversidade Program by BIOFUND and the WWF Protect APAIPS Project.

Sea turtles play a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance of marine food chains. These marine reptiles spend their entire lives in the sea, except when the females go to beaches to lay their eggs. They are migratory and can cross oceans from one continent to another. A curious fact about turtles is that when they reach reproductive age, around 20 years old, they return to the same beach where they were born to lay their eggs. On average, each female lays about 130 eggs a year but for every thousand chicks born, only one or two chicks reach adulthood, while the rest will serve as food for a vast ecological chain.

In addition to the PROMOVE Biodiversidade Program at APAIPS, since 2017 BIOFUND has provided financial support to other Conservation Areas for the monitoring of sea turtles, such as the marine and coastal part of Maputo National Park, Santuário Bravio de Vilanculos in Cabo São Sebastião and the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park. BIOFUND also recently signed a grant with WWF to support the monitoring of sea turtles, where satellite tags will be placed to allow real-time monitoring and greater knowledge of the habits and routes of these species in common nesting sites. This new project uses funds raised through the bio debit card program, a partnership underway with BCI, which has mobilized more than 25,000 users of this card so far. Keep an eye on the BIOFUND website and follow the development of this news.

On the 23rd of May, in Maputo, the official ceremony of the second phase of COMBO+ Program and the official launch of the products of CONNECT project (SIBMOZ, SGLA and Ficha Padrão) took place. The event was attended by over 230 people in a hybrid way (in person and virtual), launched by the Deputy Minister of Land and Environment, Fernando de Sousa, with the presence of representatives of the French Embassy and USAID, among other project partners.

The second phase of COMBO+ Program, an initiative implemented by Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in partnership with BIOFUND and the National Environment Directorate (DINAB) aims at: i) finalizing and applying the institutional and legal frameworks for transparent and effective application of the mitigation hierarchy; ii) continuing to develop technical tools to support territorial planning in accordance with the mitigation hierarchy; iii) continuing training with all stakeholders (government, civil society, financial institutions and companies) for the application of the mitigation hierarchy as a regulatory obligation; and finally, iv) testing operational protocols through 4 pilot projects: Chimanimani, Licuáti, Maputo and Memba/Mossuril.

In his speech on the occasion, the Deputy Minister of Land and Environment highlighted that in the second phase of COMBO+ Program, the focus is on continuing to support the strengthening of sector institutions and the appropriate application of the mitigation hierarchy, namely in the use of the tools presented in the event, and in the additional ones that the Program may develop in this second phase. The Deputy Minister also highlighted that with the official launch of the products of CONNECT Project, including the new Mozambique Biodiversity Information System (SIBMOZ) (https://sibmoz.gov.mz/) Mozambique is a pioneer country worldwide, which since its National Biodiversity Strategy, has challenged itself to use Environmental Impact Assessment process tools to avoid “Biodiversity Net Loss”, designing new legal tools such as the Ministerial Diploma on Biodiversity Offsets, and the adoption of standard forms for all categories of development projects.

The success of the first phase of COMBO program has led WCS project donors (AFD and FFEM), and BIOFUND project donors (the World Bank /MozBio 2 and UNDP/BIOSFAC) to continue funding the initiative, investing in a second phase of the Program which started in July 2021 and will run thru 2025.

This phase ensures technical support to DINAB to operate the new Ministerial Diploma on Biodiversity Offsets, technical advice to the Biodiversity Offsets Department, multi-sectorial training, and the development of tools and tests on the ground through pilot projects to improve habitats.

Today, June 5, 2022, we celebrate the World Environment Day under the theme “Only One Earth”, with focus on “sustainable living in harmony with nature”. The date was decreed by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), and it has been celebrated every year since 1973.

The celebration is aimed at raising awareness of the general public on the importance of preserving natural resources and to draw attention to the need to create laws that ensure sustainable development without adversely affecting the environment.

Currently, human beings are largely responsible for the negative changes in the environment, such as the occurrence of natural disasters and the loss of biodiversity caused by water pollution, uncontrolled fires, deforestation, removal of mangroves, among other factors.

As a way of raising public awareness of the different actions that affect the environment, the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), through its different programs, especially the Leadership Program for the Conservation of Mozambique (PLCM), PROMOVE Biodiversidade and Biodiversity Offsets, develops environmental education activities nationwide and assists in the development of laws that harmonize the development and preservation of the environment.

““If everyone does their part, we can ensure a more promising future for future generations””

Keep an eye on our platforms and follow the various actions carried out by BIOFUND and its beneficiaries within the scope of environmental awareness initiatives.

In 2021, inclusion resulted in a success factor of the former intern of the Leadership Program for the Conservation of Mozambique – PLCM, Xangamira Sitoe, an agribusiness graduate who overcame her limitations and developed a small business.

The young woman who has special needs (cerebral palsy) helped the Marromeu Reserve and Landscape develop their business plans. During her internship, she was in charge of promoting community development activities in Marromeu, such as monitoring the activities of Small Emerging Commercial Entrepreneurs and Small and Medium Enterprises in the Gender Action Learning System (GALS) program, among other activities relevant to the landscape.

Xangamira is not only an example of resilience, but she is also evidence that women have an important role in transforming conservation in Mozambique. “PLCM gave me an opportunity to challenge my limitations and apply my skills for the development of biodiversity conservation associated with community development in the Marromeu Reserve. Currently, I am engaged in the management of a small business I created, to supply organic fertilizers for agricultural production. I feel that I am ready to lead conservation-related activities”. Said Xangamira

PLCM provides opportunities to young graduates from all over the country using a holistic approach to conservation, involving different areas of knowledge. Inclusion is an important aspect of the program, so the issue of gender becomes essential. Aware that the number of women in conservation is quite small, the program has committed to ensuring that 35% of the beneficiaries are women, and that they can lead conservation development.

This program is expected to train more young leaders who may bring innovation and positive changes to the conservation sector in Mozambique, and who can influence other young people to adopt environmental friendly attitudes.

The Rangers’ Support Fund, also known as the Dr Carlos Lopes Pereira Fund, was created in 2020 with the aim of recognizing, motivating and rewarding the bravery and dedication of the supervisory staff of Mozambique’s public and private Conservation Areas, through an annual award.

For the second edition in 2022, applications are open from May 23 to July 08, 2022, and must be submitted by the administrator or manager of the Conservation Area.

Click here for the application form and other information.

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) began, on 7 May 2022, an exhibition on the terrestrial and marine biodiversity of Mozambique, as part of the event celebrating Europe Week, organized by the European Union in the Maputo Fortress.

The event, headed by the EU, had as its main goal to display to the public cooperation projects and initiatives financed either by the European Union or by its member states in Mozambique, through traditional dances, poetry, games, exhibitions, music and activism around the themes of sustainable social and economic development.

The opening ceremony, attended by more than 700 participants, was marked by environmental education activities for adolescents from schools in Chamanculo neighbourhood. This activity was led by Lídia Mangane, a monitoring and assessment officer from the PROMOVE Biodiversidade (Promote Biodiversity) project with the aim of drawing attention to the preservation of marine resources.

The exhibition on terrestrial and marine Biodiversity expresses some of the five human senses, including sight, hearing and taste. On the first day, there were about 300 visitors of various ages. Prominent among them were the ambassadors and heads of cooperation of the EU, Italy and France (as well as many other figures), who were accompanied by the chairperson of the board of BIOFUND, Narciso Matos, and by the Director of Programmes, Alexandra Jorge.

The companies café de Manica and Café de Chimanimani, partners of BIOFUND, actively marked their presence by offering the visitors samples of the coffee produced in Mozambique and speaking about their role in support of conservation in Mozambique, through channelling a part of their revenue to activities to conserve Biodiversity in the Chimanimani National Park.
Several visitors left their comments about the event and particularly about the exhibition, stressing: In general, the experience of participating in the exhibition was very good. It allowed me to travel across all of Mozambique, while remaining in a small area. It was also possible to understand a little about the conservation work undertaken by BIOFUND, stressed one of the visitors.

Since 2015, BIOFUND has held activities to publicise the importance and relevance of our biodiversity, through biodiversity exhibitions, involving a young public, schools and institutions in various parts of the country. This exhibition is open to the public every day until the end of May.

Find out more about the various actions to publicise biodiversity aqui.

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity – BIOFUND – is presenting on 7 May 2022, in the Maputo fortress, an exhibition of the biodiversity of Mozambique, forming part of an event celebrating the week of Europe, organized by the European Union.

This is a sample of terrestrial and marine biodiversity, and of habitats and species that will be illustrated in wildlife informational panels, photographs, videos and audios. The objective of the exhibition is to spread information about the biodiversity of Mozambique, focusing on its importance and on the need for its conservation.

The Biodiversity Exhibition project arises in the context of the “consolidation of an environment favourable to conservation in Mozambique”, in which BIOFUND is attempting to approach, in a professional and innovative manner, themes that are relevant for conservation, disseminating knowledge and raising the awareness of society and particularly of young people. It also aims to establish dialogues and partnerships with private initiatives which could contribute to the transformation of the environment, to conservation and to the development of the country.

After holding 5 (five) annual editions of the biodiversity exhibition in 5 (five) of the country’s provinces, namely: Maputo in 2015, Gaza in 2016, Zambézia in 2017, Inhambane in 2018 and Manica in 2019, BIOFUND has adopted new ways of illustrating the rich biodiversity of Mozambique, integrated into events organized by partners.

In the Maputo fortress, the biodiversity exhibition will be open to the public as from 11h00 on 7 May, and will be available until 30 May 2022. We invite you to contemplate nature and to explore the beauty of our aquatic and terrestrial environment.