The Foundation for the Conservation of Biodiversity (BIOFUND), the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), and representatives from the Embassy of Sweden, within the framework of the Biodiversity Conservation Programme, carried out a monitoring visit to the Pomene National Reserve (PNR) from 6 to 10 May 2024. The visit focused on the construction of a warehouse and the rehabilitation of the Reserve Administrator’s residence, both funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA-Sweden), after being severely affected by Cyclone Freddy.

During the visit, the Reserve Administrator presented the ongoing activities, highlighting progress in community initiatives, advances in ecology and conservation, as well as existing challenges and future perspectives. The ongoing processes for the construction of both infrastructures were discussed. Possible synergies were also explored between projects funded by SIDA-Sweden in areas such as renewable energy — particularly solar — participatory natural resource management, and management and tourism infrastructure, aiming to improve the Reserve’s management and boost tourism.

Covering an area of 200 km², Pomene National Reserve, located in the Massinga District of Inhambane Province, is characterized by a great diversity of flora and fauna species.
Among the highlights are three primate species, including the Cercopithecus mitis (blue monkey or samango monkey), which is legally protected in Mozambique, and the cycad Encephalartos ferox, currently vulnerable due to habitat loss, illegal collection, and other human impacts. Along Pomene Bay lies an extensive mangrove forest, where species such as Avicennia marina (white mangrove), Ceriops tagal (yellow mangrove), Bruguiera gymnorhiza (large-leafed mangrove), Sonneratia alba (mangrove apple), and Rhizophora mucronata (red mangrove) are found the latter being the most dominant species.