Yesterday, in Maputo City, the Planning Seminar for the National Census of Elephants and Large Mammals took place. The hybrid event brought together 86 participants, 51 of whom attended in person and 35 virtually. The National Elephant Census will be conducted from 20 September to 30 October of this year, covering the entire national territory, and will be carried out by the Center for Agricultural Studies and Natural Resource Management (CEAGRE) in partnership with BassAir Aviation. The initiative is led by the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), in collaboration with the Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), and funded by the Government of Sweden. It also benefits from the support of several institutions, most notably the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

During the opening session, ANAC’s Deputy Director-General, Severiano Khoy, highlighted the importance of this exercise in assessing the current status of elephant and large mammal populations in the country. He further stressed that “Mozambique has been working to consolidate innovative mechanisms for biodiversity conservation, and this census is a unique opportunity to obtain robust data that will guide policies and effective measures to conserve and promote the sustainable use of wildlife.”

Representing BIOFUND, Samiro Magane, Coordinator of the Biodiversity Conservation Program, thanked partners for their involvement and emphasized the importance of the support received:

“BIOFUND’s experience demonstrates that, with predictable and structured funding, it is possible to create stronger foundations for biodiversity conservation. Donor support has been fundamental in enabling large-scale initiatives such as the inventory of natural resources and the training of staff from the National System of Conservation Areas for biodiversity management and protection.”

The methodology presented foresees coverage of 90 to 95% of the areas normally used by elephants, totaling 171,763 km², with the main objectives being:

• Estimating the abundance and distribution of elephant populations and carcasses;
• Calculating carcass ratios as an indicator of mortality;
• Documenting, spatially, the areas of species occurrence.

According to CEAGRE, the census will provide essential data for elephant population management, including abundance estimates, spatial distribution, and carcass-based mortality indices. Additionally, it will generate valuable information on other wildlife species sharing the same habitats, contributing to analyses of ecological interactions, spatial use patterns, and integrated conservation strategies.

The Planning Seminar was marked by technical discussions on methodology and operational safety, highlighting the importance of ensuring scientifically robust results recognized by the IUCN African Elephant Specialist Group (AFESG/IUCN–SSC).

Through this exercise, BIOFUND reaffirms its commitment to biodiversity conservation, mitigation of human–wildlife conflict, and the fight against poaching, ensuring updated and reliable information for the sustainable management of natural resources.