Mozambique’s Biodiversity Conservation Foundation (Biofund) has approved a budget of $16 million (15 million euros) to support “biodiversity protection” activities in the country by 2023, it was announced on Tuesday.
With the amount, Biofund will support the “operation of public and private sector conservation areas and some community areas”, said the entity in a statement sent to the media on Tuesday.
In 2023, the Foundation for Biodiversity Conservation plans to support, among other things, the translocation of about 200 large animals to the Gilé National Park and the installation of a research center on Mount Mabu in northern Mozambique.
According to the note, the institution also wants to “intensify environmental awareness actions” by holding exhibitions on biodiversity and other environmental education activities.
“In 2023 Biofund intends to do even more for biodiversity,” he said, noting that actions will be implemented that aim to “contribute to the protection and sustainable use of natural resources in terrestrial and marine areas” in Mozambique.
Biofund, a Mozambican private fund, has the mission to promote sustainable financing of biodiversity conservation, focusing on the national network of conservation areas.
Mozambique is home to about 5,500 plant species and 4,271 terrestrial wildlife species, as well as 220 mammal species and 690 bird species, according to the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC).
At least seven Mozambican parks, an equal number of reserves, and four jointly managed transboundary areas are under ANAC’s responsibility.
Mozambique is the seventh country in sub-Saharan Africa with the highest number of endangered species, according to 2021 data advanced by the Ministry of Land and Environment.