Pride and a sense of mission accomplished characterised the young interns who took part, for the first time, in a mission to rescue an animal. It was not just any animal – we are talking about the king of the jungle, who fell into a trap laid by poachers.

Coincidence or not, this occurred on 10 August, World Lion Day, in one of the areas being restocked with lions, in game reserve 11.

The lion was injured in one of its paws, which made it impossible for it to move for about 3 (three) days. It was only located because it carried a control chip, placed in 2020, que facilitates following and protecting the lion. According to Willem Briers- Louw, the conservation manager in the game reserve, and supervisor of the PLCM interns, when they realised that the lion had been in the same place for days, they wasted no time and went to the place.

Removing the snare took about 40 minutes after the lion had been duly sedated. After the removal of the snare, the lion was medicated with serum, and the wound was disinfected, since it had almost lost one of its paws. And since it was impossible for him to move, the king of the jungle had the right to a “buffet service”, so that he could feed without the need to go hunting, while he was recovering.

For the three interns, Menáice Zunguze, Wiliamo Daniel and Mateus José, participating in this operation was an unprecedented experience. It was a true privilege to be able to assist the guardian of the jungle.

Remain attentive to our social media, and find out more about the various activities to conserve biodiversity.

Talento Luwenda stands out because of his leadership in the fight against poaching. He is a 28 year old young man, who is a ranger in the Tchuma Tchato programme in Safaris de Moçambique. He has been working as a ranger for 5 years.

According to his superiors, Talento always showed an interest in working for the conservation of biodiversity, and has brought excellent results from his work with the communities. Thanks to his determination and his leadership spirit, he has been head of the rangers since 2019.

The outstanding activity which contributed to his nomination as one of the Rangers of the Year 2021 by the Dr. Carlos Lopes Pereira Fund was his leadership in the fight against poaching which culminated in the detention of famous hunters of leopards and elephants. During these activities, Talento suffered serious injuries which put his life in danger. Despite these events, his determination remains unshaken.

His colleagues view Talento as a young leader who inspires others through his courage and commitment, since he does not hesitate to put his own life at risk in order to protect biodiversity.

Two interns from the Mozambique Conservation Leadership Programme PLCM) have been taking part in Environmental Education activities since 15 August in Gorongosa National Park.

The environmental education activities are being undertaken within the communities in the buffer zone of the Gorongosa National Park, and they include lectures, games, music and showing films on themes related to the conservation of biodiversity.

With these activities, PLCM interns Silvia Durão and Davane Manjate, stationed at the Directorate of Conservation and Community Development Services/Environmental Education in the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), are understanding in practice how to maintain an active and dynamic club, as well as how to manage natural resources in the park, and how to identify the challenges of team work.

Their stay extends to 13 September, and includes interaction with the Natural Resource Management Committees of the Gorongosa National Park and of the buffer zone.

35 year old António has been a ranger for 14 years, and he has worked in the Niassa Special Reserve (REN) for the past 8 years. His work at REN has been marked by leadership in the fight against poachers from Tanzania.

António was nominated for an award from the Dr. Carlos Lopes Pereira Fund, because of the various activities he led despite the challenges.  His greatest challenge was his active participation in an operation to pursue poachers who had come from Tanzania, Together with his colleagues he walked for 29 kms under difficult conditions. His bravery also contributed to obtaining good results in operations against logging within the Niassa Special Reserve and its buffer zone.

Recognition by the Rangers’ Support Fund is a great incentive to continue the inspection activities undertaken by António and others. “I feel very honoured by the award. The prize gives extra strength so that I and other colleagues remain committed to the protection of biodiversity”.

António is a source of inspiration for his colleagues. He is known as a motivated and courageous man, willing to undertake dangerous patrolling missions.

This is a capacity building exercise under objective 1 of the Mozambique Conservation Leadership Programme (PLCM), which seeks to strengthen the skills of the professionals of the National System of Conservation Areas (SNAC). It is taking place in the Southern Africa Wildlife College, in South Africa, and lasts for two (2) months.

Seven professionals from the SNAC are taking part, including one from the private sector and five from the public sector, namely: Talento Luwemba (ranger from Safaris de Moçambique), Gabriel Froi (ranger from the Limpopo National Park), Ussene Abdula (Tourism Officer from the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park), Rodolfo Cumbane (Ecologist at the Maputo Special Reserve), Isolda Chaúque and Shelzia Muchanga, who are both from the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC).

Armindo Araman, Director of Conservation Services at ANAC, stresses that the course will help promote environmental education based on tourism activities aimed at various sectors of the public. “It is necessary to have a team that is trained to interpret, not only biodiversity, but also the communities living around the Conservation Areas”, says Araman, encouraging the beneficiaries to dedicate themselves effectively to the course activities.

The costs of the course and the accommodation of the selected professionals are supported by BIOFUND through the PLCM with finance from the World Bank. After the end of the course, it is expected that the participants will be able to play a preponderant role in promoting cultural heritage, identifying nature-based tourist attraction potential, and leading their work teams on the ground.

For more information about the PLCM and its beneficiaries, click here

The new Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), Narciso Matos, in early August accompanied the activities of the interns of the Mozambique Conservation Leadership Programme (PLCM) in Luwire, in the Niassa Special Reserve.

The BIOFUND Chairperson, accompanied by the Programme Director, Alexandra Jorge, had a meeting to accompany the activities of the two interns of the PLCM Internship Programme, Zabiro Malua and Dadzie Tarua, recently trained in Sociology and Development Engineering respectively, as part of the visit he recently made to the Niassa Special Reserve.

The interns have been placed within the programme to mitigate the conflict between humans and wildlife, in which they have supported the community management team of Luwire – Lugenda Wildlife Reserve, in the work of raising the awareness of communities about how to minimise the risks of human/wildlife conflict, warning of the need for people to avoid travelling alone, and to remain alert to the signs of the presence of wild animals and how to avoid direct confrontations.

During the conversation, the interns stressed the challenges and experience acquired during the internship. “It’s a challenge to live in a Conservation Area without access to the mobile phone network, and to have to remain always alert to wild animals. However, it is a great learning experience to work in this reality with different rules and methods of work. Despite the challenges, we are motivated!”, said one of the interns.

The supervisors of the activities, Ildo António Augusto and Laura Perry, stated that the great challenge has been communicating in English with the interns, as well as the great responsibility of working with young people, since they cannot be left alone to obtain the capacity to work independently. On the other hand, the youths bring a new dynamic to the team, which is very healthy and much appreciated.

The commitment of BIOFUND (through the MozBio2 project, financed by the World Bank) to training the conservation leaders of the future has been noteworthy, and in this second edition of the internship programme, the PLCM now has a total of 57 beneficiary interns who are developing various skills within institutions linked to the conservation of biodiversity and in the public and private Conservation Areas throughout the country.

This meeting took place as part of the visit to the Niassa Special Reserve, on the occasion of the celebrations of World Ranger Day, which also served to accompany the biodiversity conservation activities undertaken by Luwire – Lugenda Wildlife Reserve, a private Conservation Area, benefitting from BIOFUND in paying wages to the rangers, through the BIO-Emergency Fund,  in the context of the Covid-19 crisis.

The Foundation for Biodiversity Conservation (BIOFUND), in the framework of Biodiversity Offset Program, implemented with the financial support of the World Bank/Project MozBio2 and UNDP/BIOSFAC in partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the National Directorate Environment (DINAB) and the National Directorate of Forests (DINAF), is implementing pilot projects to improve habitats of Maputo Special Reserve (REM) and in the Licuáti Forest Reserve (RFL), both recently declared as Key Biodiversity Areas ( KBAs) or Important Biodiversity Areas at global level. These projects aim to test the technical and financial feasibility of biodiversity offsets in Conservation Areas and in Forest Reserves in Mozambique.

In this context, the BIOFUND has been co-financing since July this year, research about Socio-Economic and Environmental Characterization of the Charcoal Value Chain in the Licuáti Forest Reserve and Surrounding Area, carried out by Filipa Zacarias, a Phd student from University of Lisbon. This study, scheduled to end in October 2021, will provide background information on the charcoal value chain in RFL, impacts of charcoal production on the income of families in Djabula community and the impact of this activity on community development and in biodiversity conservation in that region. This research will also contribute to the design of strategies for sustainable exploitation of forest resources and in biodiversity conservation in RFL as well as the design of a restoration plan.

Biodiversity offsets are the last step in the mitigation hierarchy and represent a contribution to harmonizing economic development and biodiversity conservation in Mozambique through the reduction of anthropogenic impacts, protection and restoration of biodiversity and its ecosystem services.

Martins Rodrigues is 54 years old, and has worked as a Ranger for 9 years. He works in the Maputo Special Reserve (REM), and he has become prominent in reducing poaching in the southern region of the REM.

Martins entered the inspection area in 2012. That was when he became passionate about nature and the need to protect natural resources. Due to his determination and commitment, Martins Rodrigues currently holds the post of head of inspection of the southern region of the Maputo Special Reserve.

According to Martins, the Dr. Carlos Lopes Pereira Fund has recognised the effort and commitment of the Rangers of the REM in fighting against poaching and reducing the smuggling of goods from South Africa into Mozambique and vice-versa. “This award is a great recognition that makes me believe that the work done is not in vain and that I am contributing to objectives of the conservation of biodiversity. I congratulate my colleagues, because the work was collective”.

During his inspection activities, Martins has faced various challenges, notably death threats from poachers. Despite these threats he remains firm and determined to continue his work, and advises all rangers to be true heroes of biodiversity, because inspection work requires strength and patience.

Watch out for coming publications, and know the stories of the other 3 Rangers granted awards by the Dr. Carlos Lopes Pereira Fund.

João is a Ranger at the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park. He is 37 years old and has been a ranger for 18 years. He became prominent in blocking the wave of illegal night fishing, through neutralising illegal fishermen and their boats.

His passion for the conservation of biodiversity arose as a child when he watched a sea turtle being taken from the net by fishermen. According to João, the turtle was in tears because it was being taken from its habitat. He found this scene very moving, and as from that moment he decided to protect the marine biodiversity which was at risk of disappearing.

João Massane had two outstanding moments which contributed to his nomination as Ranger of the Year 2021. The first happened in 2011 when he neutralised 6 illegal fishing boats and helped in the detention of 45 offenders. The other mark in João’s career came in December 2020 when he led a night patrol which culminated in the neutralisation of 3 illegal fishing boats and the detention of 18 offenders.

João is pleased at his nomination as one of the Rangers of the Year for 2021 by the Dr. Carlos Lopes Pereira Fund, and he is ready for new challenges. “This recognition is the result of a collective effort which has brought positive results. I feel honoured and I have gained new strength to protect the environment”.

In the context of the celebrations of World Ranger Day, João leaves a message for all forestry and wildlife rangers. “To be a ranger is to guarantee that the natural resources exist for future generations”.

Watch out for coming publications, and know the stories of the other 4 Rangers granted awards by the Dr. Carlos Lopes Pereira Fund.

World Elephant Day is celebrated on 12 August. The date was created with the main objective of preserving this animal, which, although it is the largest land mammal on the planet, is vulnerable because of attacks by poachers.

In this context, in the forest of the Niassa Special Reserve, President Filipe Nyusi recently named the new leader of a herd of elephants in that Conservation Area, by attaching a satellite monitoring collar.

This was an operation which initially was intended to change the collar on another elephant, known as “Mr President”, placed by Nyusi in 2018. But this proved imposable because that elephant was in dense forest and could not be located.

While “Mr President” was taking refuge in the forest, his brother was nearby, following all the movements. So President Nyusi, accompanied by the First Lady, Isaura Nyusi, put the satellite monitoring collar on the brother of “Mr President” whom he named “The Gentleman”, as the new leader of the herd. According to President Nyusi, “The Gentleman” took on the leadership of the group in the absence of his brother.

This act took place as part of the ceremony marking World Ranger Day at the head office of the Niassa Special Reserve (Mbatamila), in Mecula district, Niassa province, and is one of the efforts made to protect elephants in our beautiful Mozambique.  The ceremony was organized by the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) among other conservation partners.

This was the first award by the Dr Carlos Lopes Pereira Fund (formally set up in July 2020), at an event marking World Ranger Day, which is commemorated every year on 31 July. This year the ceremony was held in the Niassa Special Reserve, and was chaired by President Filipe Nyusi. The winners were chosen after a rigorous selection process held between 11 June and 5 July this year, when the administrators/managers of various Mozambican Conservation Areas submitted the candidacies of the Rangers who had stood out most over the previous year.

13 applications were received for the Ranger of the Year Award 2021. They were assessed by an independent jury, consisting of the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) and the Mozambican Association of Safari Operators (AMOS), who determined the five winning Rangers, based on the following criteria:

• Commitment and dedication – referring to an expression of enthusiasm and competence to work as a Ranger, carrying out all the daily duties in an exemplary manner.
• Impact and contribution – referring to the significant contribution to the protection of fauna and habitats, promoting conservation in the local communities or other work essential for conservation.
• Threats and challenges overcome – referring to skills in responding courageously to the difficulties and dangers faced at work: dealing effectively with the challenges of combatting damage to wildlife.
• Leadership and inspiration – referring to the capacity to comply with the expectations of their duty, demonstrating the ability to influence, motivate and lead the members of the team.

The five winning rangers of 2021 are from five Mozambican public and private conservation areas, namely: António Soze Fombe of the Niassa Special Reserve, João Bernardo Castigo Massane of the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, José Ernesto Amimo of Luwire – Lugenda Wildlife Reserve, a private operator that is part of the Niassa Special Reserve, Martins Rodrigues of the Maputo Special Reserve, and Talento Luwemba of Safaris de Moçambique, in Tchuma Tchato. Each winning ranger received a diploma of merit, and the sum of 25,000 meticais in money.

The Dr. Carlos Lopes Pereira Fund has ANAC and AMOS as its main partners, and its main donors are BIOFUND, TUSK and AVM Consultants.

For more information about the Dr. Carlos Lopes Pereira Fund, visit the BIOFUND website, through the link https://www.biofund.org.mz/projects/apoio-aos-fiscais/

This information was announced on 31 July 2021, during an event celebrating World Ranger Day, organised by the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), in the Niassa Special Reserve, after the Mozambican President, Filipe Nyusi, had visited the Biodiversity Exhibition developed by the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND).

The main purpose of the exhibition was to highlight the courage of the forestry and wildlife rangers, making the participants aware about their role in the protection of the rich biodiversity of our country, and reached about 100 people.

In this context, photographs and panels on biodiversity were exhibited, with relevant information on species of flora and fauna and habitats, which are predominant in the Niassa Special Reserve, as well as photographs of rangers during their activities, and handicrafts made by the local communities.

During the visit, the President was impressed with the work undertaken by BIOFUND around the promotion and conservation of biodiversity, and by the local community initiatives. “It’s gratifying to see private organisations such as BIOFUND committed to protecting the environment. Furthermore the communities are playing an important role in looking for local alternatives to generate income. The exhibition illustrates the excellent work being done to protect the natural resources and to develop the communities”, stressed Filipe Nyusi

BIOFUND has been holding the Biodiversity Exhibition since 2015 and it has already reached more than 15,000 people and 120 schools in five Mozambican provinces (Maputo, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica and Zambézia).

The Niassa Special Reserve, which hosted the event, is the largest Conservation Area in Mozambique, covering about 42,400 Km2, including its buffer zone. It is one of the largest Miombo Forest reserves in the world, which shelters very significant wildlife populations and an immeasurable variety of the country’s biological diversity. This area benefits from BIOFUND through the BIO-Emergency Fund, which supports the payment of wages to rangers (whose wages were previously paid through income from tourists) and in acquiring COVID 19 prevention material, during the period of the pandemic.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Eight staff members of the National Forestry Directorate have benefitted from building their capacity in designing and management of data bases, through the tools of Advanced Excel   This training took place from 20 to 23 July, and was led by interns of the Conservation Leadership Programme of Mozambique (PLCM). During the sessions, which took place at the headquarters of the National Forestry Directorate in Maputo, the staff had the possibility of perfecting their skills so as to improve their performance during their day-to-day activities.

The participants in the course were the Department Head of the Forestry Information System, the General Support Department Head (Department of Human Resources), staff of the Department of Norms and Control, and staff of the Department of Community Management.

During the training, several examples were presented aimed at the daily activities of the DINAF staff, focusing on the use of the tools for the design of data bases for the management of processes and verification of the compliance of activities, and tools for the design of data bases for the historical assessments of data.

According to the staff, this training was extremely important because they were having difficulties in the use of the Excel tool and it is hoped that this course could cover other staff who are working in other provincial directorates.

For the intern Matola Salimo, who holds a master’s degree in Management and Conservation of Biodiversity from the Eduardo Mondlane University, this course is part of the internship plan, and this sharing of knowledge is a great opportunity to improve, not only the skills of the DINAF staff, but is mainly a way of implementing specific activities in the work of the National Forestry Directorate.

This is an agreement signed between the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) and the Network for Environment and Sustainable Community Development in Zambézia (RADEZA), in the framework of the PROMOVE Biodiversidade programme, with financing from the European Union, to the sum of 792.000,00 (seven hundred and ninety two thousand) Euros, for the implementation of community development activities in the buffer zone of the Gilé National Park (PNAG) up to 2025.

With this intervention, it is expected to strengthen the organizational capacity of the Nokalano Association, the strategic partner for making operational the Mulela Community Game Reserve, set up under Decree no. 43/2013 of 23 August, promote environmental awareness raising activities among the communities, disseminate the practices of sustainable economic activities with the use of improved agricultural production systems, strengthen the participation of the local communities in decision making, and establish sustainable means of generating income, in order to reduce the pressure on the natural resources of the PNAG.

The main objective of the PROMOVE Biodiversidade programme is to protect biodiversity and contribute to improving the livelihoods of the rural communities through the sustainable management of natural resources. The programme also envisages strengthening the capacities of the institutions that deal with natural resource management, implementing sustainable initiatives and strategies that improve the management and administration capacity of the areas of intervention of the project, adopting sustainable livelihood practices for the local communities living in the interior and the buffer zones of the Conservation Areas, and encouraging the dissemination of applied research and participatory studies to influence natural resource management.

The programme is implemented by BIOFUND and ANAC, and its beneficiaries are the Gilé National Park, the First and Second Islands Environmental Protection Area and Mount Mabu. For more information about the PROMOVE Biodiversidade programme click here

The International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem was celebrated on 26 July, under the motto “Mangroves restored, Mozambique resilient”. The mangroves are unique, highly productive and complex forests that develop in zones of transition between the terrestrial and marine environment in tropical and sub-tropical areas.

The mangroves are extremely important for living beings and for nature, because they provide a series of ecosystem services, such as a nursery for the reproduction of various marine species, coastal protection against strong winds and sequestration of carbon, contributing to the mitigation of climate change.

Mozambique has the 13^th largest coverage of mangrove forests in the world and the 3rd largest in Africa with about 300,000 hectares and 9 separate species. However, despite their great importance, the mangrove forests of Mozambique are under great pressure because of natural and anthropogenic causes, mainly due to the impact of extreme climatic events, the exploitation of wood resources and urban growth in the coastal areas.

The Ministry of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries (MIMAIP) and its various partners, including the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the National Sustainable Development Fund (FNDS), and ProAzul, among others, joined on 26 July for the launch of the National Programme for the Restoration of the Mangrove Eco-system with the objective of publicizing the Mangrove Management Strategy (2020 – 2024), guiding management and restoration measures at national level, and increasing the awareness of of Mozambican society about the importance of the mangroves.

Through its programmes, BIOFUND has participated actively in the development of the National Mangrove Strategy. It promotes the creation of knowledge about the mangroves through the development of metrics to assess the condition of the mangroves, makes civil society aware of their ecological and socio-economic importance, and supports their protection in all the country’s marine conservation areas.

Watch the video of the Launch of the National Programme for the Restoration of the Mangrove Eco-system by clicking here.

On 15 July 2021, the “PROMOVE Biodiversidade” programme held the 1st meeting of its National Supervisory Committee, at a virtual event organized by the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) and the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC).

About 30 members and guests participated in the event, notably from the European Union, the Office of the National Authorising Officer (GON) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, a representative of the Ministry of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries (MIMAIP), Administrators of the beneficiary areas, Directors of the Provincial Environment Services of Zambézia and Nampula, programme implementing partners in the beneficiary areas, and representatives of five institutions of higher education in Nampula, Niassa and Zambézia provinces, notably the Vice-Chancellor of the Licungo University, Prof. Dr. Boaventura José Aleixo.

During the meeting, the general director of ANAC and Chairperson of the CNS, Mateus Mutemba, said that the programme will strengthen activities to conserve biodiversity in Mozambique. “PROMOVE Biodiversidade, a project resulting from an agreement signed in 2019 between the Mozambican government and the European Union, will contribute to implementing the strategy for the conservation of biodiversity in our country.”

The CNS of PROMOVE Biodiversidade is a multi-sector body, which will advise and accompany the implementers and beneficiaries in various activities undertaken in the framework of the programme and ensure alignment with national and international policies and strategies. This 1st meeting discussed and aligned the responsibilities of the committee, the activity plans, the budget and the stage of implementation of PROMOVE Biodiversidade.

The first meeting of the CNS of PROMOTE Biodiversity took place a month after the official launch of the programme in the Gilé National Park, under the slogan “We are all Biodiversity”.

PROMOVE Biodiversidade is a programme financed by the European Union and implemented by BIOFUND and ANAC, which seeks to promote the conservation of biodiversity and community development in two conservation areas and one area of high biodiversity, namely the Gilé National Park (PNAG), the First and Second Islands Environmental Protection Area (APAIPS) and Mount Mabu, in Zambézia and Nampula provinces.

Zambeze Delta Safaris – ZDS – in Official Game Reserve 11, in the framework of its management plan, has established, in a process of coordination with the communities, the zoning of Game Reserve 11, in order to separate the areas of settled population, in the northern zone of C11, from the hunting areas, and the areas of concentration of about 30,000 animals of 30 species and 250 varieties of birds.

With this action, it is intended to control the damage to the habitat so that the communities undertake their daily activities such as agriculture, fishing, honey production, access to fresh meat, leisure, health and education while the company ZDS ensures a high standard of conservation of the forests, savannas, rivers, lakes, swamps and animal species, keeping the landscape of Game Reserve 11 at a level of natural beauty, biodiversity and conservation of high international quality.

With these objectives, ZDS, in coordination with the community and with the support of its partners, clients and donors, is undertaking  free ploughing with a tractor of 68 hectares of land in a continual strip for the production of rice and maize, the free distribution of fertiliser, the free provision of grain milling services, facilitating access to fishing by the residents, a programme to encourage the production of honey, with the free delivery of 350 beehives, and training and technical assistance for the personal income of the community.

As an impact of this action, the communities of the buffer zone registered, as their harvest for the month of May/June 2021, average productivity of rice of five tonnes a hectare. One production block reached 6.3 tonnes a hectare in a rain-fed regime.

With this community support,  ZDS intends to create incentives and alternatives in the community, which discourage the practice of slash-and-burn itinerant agriculture, which is an agricultural technique involving the cutting and burning of trees and plants in forests to create fields for agricultural production. In turn, these fields often become impoverished and abandoned after a few years of use, causing the loss of natural habitats for many species of flora and fauna, which are the basis for biodiversity. This biodiversity is crucial for maintaining the ecological sustainability of the soils, water sources and nutrients. It is an important natural asset, which also lends great beauty to the natural landscape of Game Reserve 11.

ZDS is one of the oldest Conservation Areas (AC) of sustainable use in Mozambique. It is located in Marromeu district, in Sofala province, and is intended for game hunting and the protection of various species and ecosystems. This is one of the 13 privately managed ACs that are benefiting from the BIO-Emergency Fund. BIOFUND supports the game reserve in paying the wage costs of 20 rangers, in order to reduce the impact of the loss of tourism revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic and to keep a ranger force active in the field.

In June, the interns of the Leadership Programme for Conservation in Mozambique (PLCM), took part in a training course on the management of conflicts between people and wild life and on community development, organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), through the Kheta project.

The training took place in the Maputo Special Reserve (REM) and involved the participation of extensionists, representatives of WWF, the National Sustainable Development Fund, the Provincial Forestry and Wildlife Services, and members of the community living near the Conservation Areas.

The training course was given by Mike Lagrande, a representative of the Kheta project, and on the occasion, the Conservation Areas showed the techniques they use to manage the existing conflicts, focusing on the REM, which has used ropes dipped in creosote or burnt oil, bullets of chilli peppers, and spotlights to frighten off large animals. The spotlights can be used to drive away elephants, buffaloes and hippopotamus. The same is true of the ropes, mixed with chillies or burnt oil, since they give off a strong smell which ensures that the animals avoid these populated areas.

Lagrande recommended that, in the case of hippos, the paths they use when they go to their pastures should be identified, and kept open so that they return by the same route. The communities should put fences around their fields so that the hippos do not cross into them.

For António Simão and Odiela Massingue, PLCM interns stationed at the REM, this training has been of great importance because previously they only possessed theoretical knowledge about managing conflicts between people and wild life, while in practice it is necessary to find local solutions.

Banhine National Park (PNB), located in the northern part of Gaza province, celebrated its 48th anniversary on 26 June this year. To mark the date, interns of the Programme for Conservation Leadership in Mozambique (PLCM), in coordination with the Banhine National Park and the Tchai-Tchai Primary School, joined forces for various activities. These activities included holding a lecture on the theme “Biodiversity of the PNB and the importance of conservation for the welfare of the local communities”, planting cashew seedlings, cleaning and recycling solid waste, and distributing face masks offered by the Banhine National Park. On the occasion, the interns recited poems about the species that exist in the park and the challenges that the park faces. To hear the recital of the poems, click here

The ceremony was held in the Tchai-Tchai primary school, and was attended by the administrator of Chigubo district, representatives of the Ministry of Land and Environment, local leaders, district attorneys, judges from Chigubo, Mabalane and Mapai districts, rangers of the Banhine National Park, as well as pupils from the school.

For the interns, Paulo Manuel Chambisse, Marribia Joaquim and Sergio Licumba, this activity was of great importance since, through the lecture, it was possible to inform the pupils about the vast biodiversity that exists in the Banhine National Park.

Banhine National Park has been a beneficiary of BIOFUND since 2017, through the ASA and MozBio1 projects, receiving support for the payment of operational costs. Through the BIO-Emergency Fund it has received a boost for the payment of operational costs, community work and support in the acquisition of materials to combat COVID-19.

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) has renewed the membership of its management bodies. The members who ended their terms of office have, with dedication and professionalism, guided and supported the foundation since the first steps from its creation, establishment, consolidation and growth.

BIOFUND now has a new Chairperson of its Board of Directors. He is Narciso Matos who replaces Abdul Magid Osman, who occupied the post for about ten (10) years. Matos takes over the leadership of the BIOFUND Board of Directors at a time when the foundation is recording institutional growth and an increase in its financial capacity to mobilise resources for the conservation of biodiversity in the country.

The Board of Directors of BIOFUND now consists of Narciso Matos (as Chairperson), Jorge Ferrão (Deputy Chairperson), Adamo Valy (as Secretary and previously Chairperson of the Supervisory Board), Lourenço do Rosário (previously Chairperson of the Board of the General Assembly), Marcos Pereira (previously rapporteur of the Supervisory Board), Milagre Nuvunga (new member), Carlos Henriques (new member), Júlia Crause, representing KfW and Madyo Couto, representing the Ministry of Land and Environment.

The BIOFUND General Assembly also elected the new members of the Board of the General Assembly and of the Supervisory Board, namely: Fernando Sumbana (Chairperson of the Board of the General Assembly) and Roberto Zolho (Secretary of the Board of the General Assembly), who join Ângelo Levy (Deputy Chairperson of the Board of the General Assembly), who continues his term of office as representative of the Gorongosa Restoration Project; and Teresa Alves and Afonso Madope who join Miguel Langa who continues his term of office as representative of the MIMAIP.  For more information about the new members of the management bodies, click here

The election of new members took place at the 9th meeting of the General Assembly, held recently in virtual format.

BIOFUND extends a warm welcome to the new members of the management bodies, and wishes them much success in the coming years of joint work! On the occasion of bidding farewell to the outgoing members of the management bodies, the team of the BIOFUND Secretariat produced a video in tribute to Magid Osman, Anabela Rodrigues, Óscar Monteiro, Rui Monteiro and Luís Dínis. To watch the video, click here

Still Standing, the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), through the Biodiversity Offsets Programme, and the Wildlife Alliance, as part of the celebrations of World Environment Day, on 5 June, held a lecture in the Josina Machel Secondary School, in Maputo city, on the importance of mangroves and pangolins for the environment.

The Coordinator of the Biodiversity Offsets Programme, and a specialist on mangroves, Denise Nicolau, said that Mozambique possesses the 13th largest area of mangroves in the world. In Africa, it is considered the third largest area, with nine separate species.

“Mangroves are the habitat for the reproduction of various coastal and marine species, and their roots help to stabilise the soil, preventing erosion. They also form natural barriers against cyclones and strong winds. They help maintain the quality of the water by filtering pollutants. The mangroves provide various benefits for the environment and for living beings, and educating young people about the relevance of this ecosystem prepares our generation and future generations for the task of conserving the mangroves”, stressed Denise Nicolau.

The Wildlife Alliance team, through very didactic language, spoke of the importance of protecting pangolins, and stressed that pangolins play a crucial role in protecting forests from destruction by termites, helping to maintain the balance of the ecosystem, as well as helping fertilise the soil.

The lecture was aimed at girls aged between 14 and 17 years, who have shown that they are actively motivated to contribute towards the preservation of mangroves and pangolins.

The lecture was organised by Still Standing, a Mozambican platform founded in 2014, aimed at Education through Sport (basketball), culture, civic activities and the conservation of biodiversity.

World Sea Turtle Day is celebrated on 16 June, with the aim of stressing the importance of turtles and the need to protect them globally.

Sea turtles are migratory animals that spend most of their time at sea, crossing the oceans to feed and reproduce. They are animals that have a long life cycle and can live for up to 100 years. Currently there are seven species of sea turtle, and five of these are found in Mozambique, namely the green, hawksbill, loggerhead, leatherback and Olive Ridley turtles.

Human action is regarded as the main threat to the survival of sea turtles, particularly fishing, coastal development, the illegal trade in wildlife, the pollution of the oceans, and climate change.

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) through its programmes is contributing to the conservation of sea turtles and their habitats through the support given to all the Marine Conservation Areas in the country, in its inspection, research and monitoring programmes, namely: the  Maputo Environmental Protection Area; the Ponta do Ouro Partial Marine Reserve; the Vilanculos Wildlife Sanctuary; the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park; the First and Second Islands Environmental Protection Area; and the Quirimbas National Park.

Each of us should contribute towards protecting these animals that are so important for the environment.

The Commercial and Investment Bank (BCI) and the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) have just launched a campaign to encourage the use of the Bio card, the first means of payment in Mozambique, produced on the basis of biodegradable material (maize), which contributes to the conservation of biodiversity here.

Launched in 2017, in the framework of the partnership between the two institutions, this card also has the characteristic that it is not toxic, and it can be incinerated or deposited in landfills without damaging the environment.

During the campaign, which took off on 31 May, and which will last until 30 November this year, winners will be chosen, who will be rewarded with prizes, such as a guided visit to Conservation Areas, organized by BIOFUND, and assorted gifts.

Each time the Bio card is used, a percentage of the cost of the transaction is channelled to BIOFUND, a private Mozambican environmental fund, dedicated to the conservation of biodiversity in Mozambique, without any additional cost for the user. Since the launch of the Bio card, more than 10 million meticais have been raised. This money has been used for the protection of rhinoceros in Sábiè Game Park and to protect a very rare species of giant palm tree, Raphia australis, located in the Bobole Botanical Reserve, which is at risk of extinction.

As part of its policy of Social Responsibility, the BCI has supported several activities in defence of the environment, and has worked to implement projects seeking to respond effectively to the challenges facing Mozambique in the area of Biodiversity. It has also developed partnerships with Gorongosa National Park, as well as with public and private bodies and other institutions that are friends of the environment, by granting them, among others, support for organising initiatives in favour of biodiversity.

The Minister of Land and Environment, Ivete Maibaze, on 11 June 2021, launched, in the Gilé National Park, in Zambézia province, the biodiversity conservation programme, known as “PROMOVE Biodiversidade”.

This is a programme lasting for six years, financed by the European Union (EU), to a total sum of 13 million Euros. It is being implemented by the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), several community-based NGOs, the private sector, and bodies linked to research, among others.

The Programme will benefit three conservation areas located in Zambézia and Nampula provinces, namely the Gilé National Park, Mount Mabu and the First and Second Islands Environmental Protection Area (APAIPS).

The aim of the “PROMOVE Biodiversidade” programme is to protect biodiversity and improve the livelihoods of the communities living in the buffer zones of these areas, through the sustainable management of the natural resources. “PROMOVE Biodiversidade” will also contribute to strengthening the national capacity to implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Specifically, the programme envisages implementing sustainable initiatives and strategies that improve management and administration capacity in the areas of its intervention, adopt sustainable livelihood practices among the communities living in the interior and in the buffer zones of those conservation areas, and encourage participatory studies to influence natural resource management policies.

The programme will strengthen the mechanisms for the sustainable management of endangered species, through the establishment of specific normative frameworks and the development of the institutional technical capacity of the sectors that deal with natural resource management, to ensure the participation of the local communities and other stakeholders in the management of National Parks and Reserves, as well as improving the management of the partnerships and co-management of Mozambican Conservation Areas.

It is expected that, at the end of the “PROMOVE Biodiversidade” programme, the administration and management of the Gilé National Park will be strengthened, including activities with the local communities; that the initial conditions for management and administration in APAIPS are set up, and that Mount Mabu is officially designated as an area of environmental protection, with the active participation of the local communities.

It is also intended that, by the end of the implementation of this programme, the country will rise to the maximum category in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, through the updating, adequacy and effective implementation of the respective regulations.

The strengthening of the capacity of local communities to use natural resources sustainably, and the formalisation and consolidation of the models of co-management of the conservation areas are also among the results to be attained by the end of “PROMOTE Biodiversidade”.

Present at the event were the Ambassador of the European Union, the Secretary of State and the Governor of Zambézia province, representatives of the Council of State Representation and the Provincial Executive Council of Nampula, staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MINEC), and of the Ministry of Land and Environment, ANAC, BIOFUND, members of the district governments covered by the intervention of “PROMOVE Biodiversidade” in Zambézia and Nampula, representatives of the beneficiary communities, and civil society organisations involved in the implementation.

Also known as the Rangers Support Fund, it was created with the aim of recognizing, motivating and rewarding the bravery and dedication of the rangers of Mozambique’s public and private Conservation Areas, through an annual prize.

Applications are open from 11 June to 5 July 2021, and must be submitted by the Conservation Area administrator or manager.

Click here to access the application form and other information.

World Ocean Day is celebrated on 8 June with the aim of raising awareness about the vital importance of the oceans and the role they play in maintaining a healthy planet.

It’s a global celebration which brings together people and organisations from across the globe in a series of events, stressing how everybody can help protect the oceans, the integrity of which is seriously threatened by various human activities, including over-fishing and coastal and marine pollution.

Under the moto of the United Nations “The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods”, the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), in partnership with the Ministry of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries (MIMAIP), presented photographs and educational panels about the marine biodiversity of Mozambique in an exhibition held in an
Expanded Public Hearing in the framework of drawing up the Plan for Organising the Marine Space (POEM) in the Southern Sun Hotel in Maputo.

In order to protect the oceans and their resources, BIOFUND, through its various programmes, is supporting initiatives of environmental education on the importance of the oceans, and is supporting all the country’s marine conservation areas, contributing to the protection of various species of national and international significance, such as sea turtles, manta rays, dugongs, and whale sharks, among others. BIOFUND also supports the protection of the coastal and marine ecosystems which are important for the survival of the above-mentioned species, and for the economy of Mozambique

Today each of us is called upon to make a contribution so that the oceans continue to play their indispensable role for the planet. Do you want to know more about the importance of the oceans? Click here and watch the video produced by the BIOFUND team.

This is the consortium formed by WWF, R-CGRN and RADEZA, which will implement the PROMOVE Biodiversidade (“Promote Biodiversity”) project on Mount Mabu. The team, consisting of the BIOFUND Director of Programmes, the coordinator of PROMOVE Biodiversidade and representatives of the consortium, was received in audience on 17 May by His Excellency the governor of Zambézia, Pio Augusto Matos, accompanied by the representative of the Zambezia Provincial Directorate of Territorial Development and Environment. On the occasion, Pio Augusto Matos, expressed his satisfaction with the project, stressing the importance of working in close coordination with the local leaderships, promoting their empowerment and building their capacity, since they are  the vehicle that drives and facilitates community actions.

The team was also received on 19 May by the Lugela District Administrator, Maria Carlota Tomás de Melo, who stressed that, if the project is properly implemented, it will have a great impact on the protection and monitoring of the biodiversity of Mount Mabu and on the development of sustainable livelihoods for the local communities. Maria de Melo also stressed the need to coordinate the actions of the various “PROMOTE” projects, in order to stimulate the development of the region, mainly in the areas of infrastructures and agriculture.

The meetings were intended to present the consortium implementing the project for the conservation of biodiversity and community development on Mount Mabu, located in Lugela district in Zambézia province.

The “PROMOVE Biodiversidade” project seeks to contribute to improving the livelihoods of rural communities, through the sustainable management of natural resources, focusing on Mount Mabu, the Gilé National Park, and the Protected Area of the Archipelago of the First and Second Islands (APAIPS), in Zambézia and Nampula provinces. It is financed by the European Union.

To find out more about the “PROMOVE Biodiversidade” project, click here.

Under the motto “We are part of the solution for nature”, on 22 May Mozambique celebrated International Biodiversity Day.

Biodiversity is indispensable for the balance of natural ecosystems, and is of great importance for the life and survival of humanity. For example, the variety and balanced use of natural resources make possible the availability and quality of the water we drink, the air we breathe, the foodstuffs we produce, the stability and protection of mountain areas, and the protection of coastal zones, among others.

At a time when natural resources are coming under great pressure, due to socio-economic development, Mozambique is taking a leadership role and, using new procedures, it is identifying, mapping and launching for the first time in the country, Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs). The KBAs are places which, due to their special characteristics make a significant contribution to the persistence of biodiversity globally, in terrestrial, aquatic and subterranean environments (IUCN, 2016). As a result of this study, 29 KBAs have been identified and mapped. 25 of these are terrestrial and four are marine. They cover a total area of 139,947.05 km2. This activity took place under a partnership between the Ministry of Land and Environment, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and other partners, including the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND). It was financed by USAID through the SPEED+ Project. To find out more about the KBAs click here. You can also access the documents in the BIOFUND digital library, here.

Today we are all called upon to contribute to the conservation of biodiversity, since after all “we are part of the solution for nature”.

Small actions, such as planting a tree, or keeping the environment clean, among other practices, can help conserve biodiversity. Do your part and contribute to the conservation of biodiversity!

The Fund was set up in June 2020, by the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), with the aim of reducing the extreme impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the conservation areas in Mozambique (public and private areas), by guaranteeing the jobs of the rangers and of essential staff for supporting inspection, which were previously covered by income from tourism. The BIO-Emergency Fund was initially designed to cover a period of one year. However, due to the effects of COVID-19, which continue to have a negative effect on tourism and other sectors, BIOFUND has extended the period covered by the fund to the end of December 2021.

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

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

With the aim of seeing up close the activities that are being undertaken with the funds from the Bio card, a project resulting from a partnership between the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) and the Commercial and Investment Bank (BCI), teams from BIOFUND and the BCI  recently visited the Sábiè Game Park, the Conservation Area where the first pilot project financed with funds from this card has been implemented, for the conservation of white and black rhinoceros, which are species threatened with extinction in  Mozambique. This project, designed by MozParks Initiative INC., supported the placing of satellite tags in order to better follow and protect these species.

The BIOFUND team, consisting of the Director of Innovative Financing, an accountant, an administrative Assistant and a Monitoring and Assessment Officer, together with four BCI staff, had the opportunity to view a unique landscape and were also fortunate enough to see various animal species that are part of the Sábiè Game Park.

Sean Nazerali, the BIOFUND Director of Innovative Financing, stressed that, regardless of the area of work. BIOFUND makes a point of ensuring that all its workers have opportunities to contact the nature of the grass roots work of the institution, so that they understand the importance of conservation. Hence the fact that professionals who have no technical training in conservation formed part of this visit.

For the BCI team, who were visiting a Conservation Area for the first time, this contact with nature was doubtless very important for raising their awareness about the conservation of biodiversity and the intervention of BIOFUND in this  sector. It is striking to see the commitment of all these professionals to conserving biodiversity. I am pleased to now that the BCI is participating in this cause that is so useful to our ecosystem – added Esménia Nhane of the BCI.

It should be recalled that the funds from the Bio card are exclusively a contribution from the BCI, driven by the action of its clients who, in choosing to use the Bio card  are contributing so that a percentage of a value of the transactions made through this card are channelled to  BIOFUND for the implementation of projects which seek to conserve biodiversity, without any additional cost for the BCI’s clients.

For more details about the Bio Card, click here

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity – BIOFUND, in the framework of the BIO-Emergency Fund programme, in March 2021 held a survey among private sector beneficiaries  with the purpose of assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the conservation of biodiversity and the management of the Conservation Areas. The survey was undertaken through an online questionnaire with open and multiple choice questions.

According to the survey results, in 2020 hunting tourism and ecological tourism were the areas most affected by the pandemic, and inspection and patrolling operations were the least affected. This reduced impact on patrolling and inspection activities is due to the start of support from BIOFUND and its partners (through the BIO-Emergency Fund), which has guaranteed the payment of the wage and operational costs of the rangers and support staff in the Conservation Areas, as well as support for the local communities.

Although, since the outbreak of the pandemic, there has been progress in health terms, such as the appearance of vaccines, the future of the operations of the Conservation Areas is still uncertain. In a universe of  13 (thirteen) private sector areas benefitting from the BIO-Emergency Fund (including 1 community area), 60% say they do not have enough money to keep their areas functioning after the end of support from the Fund, envisaged for June 2021. In this context, BIOFUND is studying with its partners possible ways of extending this fund until December 2021.

For access to the report on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the private Conservation Areas benefiting from the BIO-Emergency Fund, click here.

Currently there are 25 beneficiaries from the BIO-Emergency Fund, of which 12 are Conservation Areas under private management, 11 are Conservation Areas under public management and two are Community Conservation Areas. They cover 63% of the protected area of the entire country.

To find out more about the BIO-Emergency Fund, click here.

Created in 2010, the Ratata Natural Resource Management Committee is in the buffer zone of Gilé National Park (PNAG), on the side of Impaca locality in Pebane district. It has been working in coordination with the park to find sustainable alternatives aimed at improving the livelihoods of over five neighborhoods  hosting around 7,000 families.

The committee has benefited from partner support to strengthen its role in community awareness on natural resource conservation, as well as to boost Ratata’s economic and productive activities. In 2020, Gilé National Park organized training on beekeeping, non-timber forest products,  and human-wildlife conflict management.

Other activities being developed by this committee with the communities include promoting savings and strengthening the value chain of agricultural products produced by the community. This is a legalized committee, with a bank account, and it creates means of generating income and ensuring sustainability through the collection of monthly fees and membership contributions.

This information was shared during a visit recently carried out by staff from the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) and officials from the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) to Gilé National Park, within the framework of the PROMOVE Biodiversidade program, which foresees covering three components: (a) Biodiversity Conservation; (b) Community Development; and (c) Studies and Research, based on priorities identified in coordination with PNAG Administration. The biodiversity conservation component is managed by the FFS-IGF Foundation through direct support to Gilé National Park.

Also, within the scope of PROMOVE Biodiversidade, PNAG plans to carry out training in conflict management and association building as a way of improving the functioning of the Ratata Natural Resource Management Committee and other similar committees in the region.

Tall trees, a variety of plant species, and the singing of birds enchant those who venture into the forest inside Gilé National Park, in Zambézia Province. But after an hour’s drive through this unique environment, a new horizon emerges, with a magical allure that sparks the desire to see where the mountain formations, first discovered (documented) in 1920, end. This is how the climb begins to the top of Monte Pope, which rises about 265 meters high.

Located within the vast area of Gilé National Park, which covers about 2,861 km²²and has a Buffer Zone (BZ) of 1,671 km², climbing Monte Pope is a challenge that takes around 45 minutes. The route can only be done on foot and in the company of a guide, since the rocky path also hides some secrets that only those who have already been there know.

It is possible to make a short stop halfway, but at this point, the desire to reach the top is so strong that pausing feels like postponing the joy offered by the splendid view at the top.

As part of Gilé National Park, its vegetation shelters a great wealth of flora, including many of the dominant species of the miombo woodland.

Along the climb, one can enjoy a landscape made up of a mosaic of forest and grasslands. The waters trickling between the rocks, combined with the sounds of small insects, create a captivating soundtrack leading to the top of the mountain. And speaking of the top of Monte Pope, once there, there is no doubt that Mother Nature is a perfect divine gift. It is a landscape that stays forever in the memory of those who reach it!

Stay tuned to our social media and learn more about Mozambique’s biodiversity.

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), in partnership with the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) and the National Forestry Directorate (DINAF), on 6 April held the induction of interns at central level, from the 2nd edition of internships of the Mozambique Conservation Leadership Programme (PLCM). The 16 young people, including five women, have been trained in multi-disciplinary areas such as Law (2), Advertising and Marketing (2), Forestry Engineering (6), Agricultural Engineering (1), Accounting and Auditing (1), Political Science (1), Computing Engineering and Technologies (1), Environmental Engineering (1) and Computer Applications (1). They will be placed in BIOFUND, ANAC, DINAF and the National Sustainable Development Fund (FNDS).

The event also brought together the beneficiaries from the first edition of the scholarship programme, in an exchange of experiences between the future young leaders of conservation.

During the opening of the event, Luís Honwana, the Executive Director of BIOFUND, said that, with the Mozambique Conservation Leadership Programme (PLCM), BIOFUND intends to give young people an opportunity to understand their role in the conservation of biodiversity, and particularly to raise awareness about the need to involve all sectors in the conservation of biodiversity.

Alima Issufo, the representative of DINAF, in addition to transmitting the expectations of the institution to the interns, shared the story of her own career. Just like the selected youths, she began as an intern, but has now been working in the Department of Forestry Management for more than 20 years.

During the event, the beneficiaries were able to hear about the institutions where they will work as interns, and to take part in group dynamics that will allow involvement and learning about biodiversity and the country’s Conservation Areas. There was also room for sharing experiences with former interns of the programme who are part of the teams of workers of BIOFUND and of ANAC.

“I am very happy to be part of the PLCM. Out of more than a thousand candidates, I was chosen! As a young person, I will do my best during the period of internship” – Iolanda da Conceição Carvino Chibamo, trained in forestry engineering, who will be an intern in DINAF.

“As a youth, I know that I can do a great deal for the conservation of biodiversity. I hope to use my potential to influence other young people with the experience that I shall acquire during this internship” – Betuel Virgílio, trained in Law, and who will be an intern at ANAC.

This is the second edition of pre-professional internships implemented by the PLCM. The first edition took place between February 2020 and February 2021, benefitting 19 young people at central level and in the Conservation Areas.

In order to raise awareness about “PROMOVE Biodiversidade”, the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) and the European Union, on 30 March 2021, presented the project “PROMOVE Biodiversidade” to the Council of Representation of the State Secretariat of Zambezia Province.

The meeting, chaired by the Secretary of State for Zambezia Province, Judith Mussácula Faria, was attended by representatives of the various bodies in the province, who were enthusiastic about the prospects for the start of the project “PROMOVE Biodiversidade”.

In her speech, Judith Mussácula Faria said the fact that the project “PROMOVE” covers a variety of components will allow greater benefits for the target areas. She added that community involvement is indispensable in identifying the best solutions for the conservation of biodiversity.

BIOFUND will manage about 10.2 million Euros while 2.2 million Euros will be managed by the Mozambican government through ANAC.

Cidália Mahumane, the Director of Planning, Cooperation and Studies of ANAC, said that, through Component 1 of the project “PROMOVE Biodiversidade”, it is expected to strengthen the governance framework of the institutions that handle natural resources, with special focus on the Administrative Authority of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) through the creation of mechanisms to involve academic and research institutions in the implementation of the CITES Convention.

For Alexandra Jorge, the BIOFUND Director of Programmes, this meeting has made it possible to create an involvement with the local government, so that the local authorities contribute towards attaining the results of the project, which will cover three target areas in Zambezia and Nampula provinces: the Gilé National Park, Mount Mabu and the Environmental Protection Area of the First and Second Islands (APAIPS), in the components of conservation of biodiversity, community development and research.

In the case of the Gilé National Park, there are many challenges for biodiversity, characterised by illegal extractive activities by the local population, as well as by outsiders, including uncontrolled bush fires which occur every year in the area and destroy much of the fauna and flora. Commercial logging and the exploitation of mineral products are also a major challenge in the buffer zone of the Gilé National Park.

According to the representative of the European Union and manager of “PROMOVE Biodiversidade”, Aude Guignard, this project is part of the PROMOVE programme, set up in 2018 through an agreement between the European Union and the Mozambican government. The overall PROMOVE programme has a total budget of 360 million Euros and covers PROMOVE-Nutrition, PROMOVE-Energy, PROMOVE-Roads, PROMOVE-Health, PROMOVE-Trade and PROMOVE-Biodiversity. PROMOVE-Biodiversity began in 2019 and has a budget of about 13 million Euros.

The overall goal of “PROMOVE Biodiversidade” is to contribute to sustainable economic growth, and to the reduction of poverty and vulnerability (against the impacts of climate change), through the sustainable use of natural resources, with an implementation period of five years.

The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), through the Mozambique Programme for Conservation Leadership (PLCM), will finance 15 scholarships for the 2021/2022 academic year.

This is a programme of scholarships for the level of master’s degree, which intends to encourage the training of young students in areas of interest for the Conservation sector, through covering the costs of training and scientific research in the Faculty of Agronomy and Forestry Engineering (FAEF) of the Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM), the Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Natural Resources (FEARN) of the Zambezi University (UNIZAMBEZE) and the Faculty of Natural Sciences (FCN) of the Lúrio University (UNILÚRIO). The PLCM has allocated five scholarships to each university.

The scholarships are for the Master’s courses in the Management and Conservation of Biodiversity, Rural Development, Territorial Planning and the Conservation of Biodiversity, Environmental Management and Water Resources, Applied Ecology and the Management of Organisations and Corporate Responsibility. The scholarships are for recently trained young people, aged between 23 and 27 (including four girls) from the provinces of Maputo, Gaza, Inhambane, Sofala, Zambézia, Manica, Nampula and Cabo Delgado. These young people were selected through rigorous criteria after applying via a public tender launched by the PLCM in November 2020.

The PLCM is a programme of BIOFUND financed by the Mozbio2 project (World Bank), which seeks, among other objectives, to motivate and attract young people to conservation. To this end, the PLCM has created three programmes:

1. Programme of Research Subventions;
2. Programme of Pre-professional Internships, and;
3. Scholarship programme.

To learn more about the opportunities and results of the PLCM, click here.

The Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) and the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the creation of synergies in support of activities to conserve biodiversity in Mozambique.

This Memorandum of Understanding envisages collaboration in the development of policies related with sustainable economic development and the conservation of biodiversity, the promotion of research oriented towards supporting the conservation of biodiversity, building the capacity of government staff, civil society and the private sector in practices of sustainable development and the conservation of biodiversity, and applying the mitigation hierarchy in development projects.

The UEM and BIOFUND will also collaborate in promoting technical training and the transfer of knowledge and technologies in the Areas of Conservation of biodiversity, community development and other similar areas deemed necessary and strategic for the development of the National System of Conservation Areas in Mozambique and in the mobilisation of human and financial resources and awarding scholarships on merit to the best students under the Mozambican Programme for Leadership in Conservation (PLCM).

The present Memorandum of Understanding covers a period of five years and may be renewed automatically for the same period. Currently the two institutions are developing a Plan of Activities in order to define targets and priorities in the short and medium term, which will make greater results possible.

Organised by the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), in partnership with the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), the workshop was held in a virtual format on 2 March 2021 and counted on the participation of all the interns of the Programme for Conservation Leadership of Mozambique (PLCM).

Under the theme “The Role and Involvement of Youth in the Conservation of Biodiversity in Mozambique”, the event sought to gather the experiences lived by young people during various conservation activities, as well as sharing lessons learnt and challenges faced to strengthen their careers.

The young interns and other professionals of the sector attending the event swapped experiences and reflected on themes about leadership and community involvement versus success in the conservation sector, as well as the role of young people and the challenges of gender in the conservation of biodiversity in Mozambique. The interns stressed the added value that the programme has brought to their professional careers and its contribution towards improving systems and processes in the internship centres where they have been placed, and in developing the conservation sector in general.

Célio Macheieie, trained in Marine Chemistry and a beneficiary of the programme, stressed that the internship programme awoke within him a greater interest for the conservation sector. “From my training I never thought of working in conservation but, after the PLCM internship, I felt motivated to develop my professional career in this sector”, said this intern.

One of the most striking moments of the ceremony was the election of the PCLM Young Leader of the Year 2020, through a vote of all the interns. The prize, which seeks to distinguish and recognize the young person who has stood out the most during the development of various activities in defence of the conservation of biodiversity was awarded to Natércia Parruque, an intern in the BIOFUND Communication Area. On this occasion, Natércia Parruque said that this recognition has awoken still further her interest in working for the conservation of biodiversity.

There were 19 young people trained in various areas of knowledge, who have been integrated into four Conservation Areas, namely the Banhine National Park, the Limpopo National Park, the Zinave National Park, and the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, and four conservation institutions in the country (BIOFUND, ANAC, WWF Mozambique and Centro Terra Viva), which have participated in this marathon during a period of 6 to 12 months, in this first edition of the PLCM internship programme. We would like to stress and thank the commitment of the supervisors and support terms in the various places where the internships were held, who were crucial for the success of this 1st edition of PLCM internships!

The PLCM is a programme within the MozBio 2 project (financed by the World Bank/MozBio/IDA during the 2019-2024 period). Its purpose is to raise the capacity of the professionals of the national system of conservation areas, to motivate and attract qualified young people to the conservation system and to attract the public, and young people in particular, to the network of the conservation community.

On 3 March 2021, World Wildlife Day is celebrated. The date was created by the United Nations in 2013, with the goal of celebrating world fauna and flora, and warning of the dangers of trafficking in species of wildlife

This year, the date is celebrated under the theme “Forests and livelihoods: Sustaining people and planet”, as a way of stressing the central role of forests, forest species, and the importance of the ecosystem services in maintaining the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people throughout the world, and particularly indigenous communities and places with historic, social and economic ties with forest areas and areas adjacent to forests.

This is another call to reflection about how we can contribute to the preservation of forest resources.  How we can understand the forest ecosystems and the closest wild life species and the threats they face, and know more about the local communities which live in or near the forests, the interdependence of their livelihoods with the forests, and how their knowledge and experiences can illuminate the efforts to conserve forest species throughout the world, which can indeed make a difference to the continuity of these species.

Mozambique is one of the countries fighting against poaching and against uncontrolled bush fires, phenomena which threaten the extinction of some wild life species, such as the rhinoceros and the pangolin. It is in this framework of threats to species of fauna and flora that the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), is strengthening the message that the future of wild life and its habitats depends on human behaviour!