Supporting the Policy Enabling Environment for Development
USAID SPEED

Promoting Awareness of Biodiversity and Conservation

Improving networks and communication among stakeholders, including the private sector and civil society organizations involved in biodiversity conservation, is vital to supporting better-informed and more effective conservation practices in Mozambique. USAID SPEED is working with our counterparts to use public-private dialogue, media campaigns, public debates, grants and awareness raising events to better explain strategic plans, policies, laws, and regulations related to biodiversity conservation and related matters to the greater Mozambican public. These initiatives will help to build a conservation constituency to improve biodiversity conservation and promote both natural resource management and economic security in Mozambique.  

SPEED+ will support ANAC to develop a communications strategy for the dissemination of Conservation Law 5/2017, and the promotion of its vital importance to Mozambique’s biodiversity resources, tourism industry, and environmental sustainability.  Dissemination will target the public and private sector through public forums, business breakfasts, media campaigns, and posters/brochures.  For example, SPEED+ will support the creation of a brochure compiling the Conservation Law, the Conservation Law General Regulation, and the hunting regulations as well as organizing workshops throughout the country. Information will also be placed on ANACs and SPEED+ websites.

MITADER is the key institution for coordinating all biodiversity and conservation activity in Mozambique, and is the national representative of all environmental conventions ratified by Mozambique. MITADER, through its national and provincial departments, and district offices, via the District Services on Planning and Infrastructures (SDPI), oversees overall biodiversity and conversation activities in Mozambique.  The National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), under MITADERs jurisdiction, oversees management of conservation areas in Mozambique, including promoting biodiversity conservation initiatives, promoting the sustainable use of protected areas, and establishing partnerships for their development.  In 2015, MITADER created its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) for 2015-2035. SPEED+ work with USAID and MITADER to build greater awareness of the NBSAB as well as specific issues contained in the NBSAP to identify concrete activities that help to build greater awareness of biodiversity and conservation efforts in Mozambique.  

Mozambique’s youth are a key constituency for protecting biodiversity for the future.  SPEED+, together with partners such as Biofund, will support the empowerment of young engage youth in biodiversity and conservation science.  One such activity is a special youth focused Conservation Science Conference, which would allow younger people to present their studies or research and empower them to take leadership roles in the discussion of conservation and biodiversity issues.