BIOFUND reflects on the conservation of nature – Mozambique

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BIOFUND reflects on the conservation of nature – Mozambique

2:14 CAT | 06 Jun 2018

Photo: Supplied

Biofund, whose executive director is the Mozambican writer, Luís Bernardo Honwana, held a forum for reflection on biodiversity conservation in Maputo. The event had as its background the need to harmonise economic development and biodiversity conservation in Mozambique and sought to draw attention to the possible consequences of non-observance of international best practices in the country’s economic development.

The Rector of the Pedagogical University, Jorge Ferrão, was the moderator of the forum jointly organised by Biofund, Biofin and Combos, with the participation of government officials, partners, bilateral agencies, civil society organisations and the general public.

The initiative is part of a Biofund campaign under its Biodiversity Counterbalance program, which aims to disseminate concepts such as the Mitigation Hierarchy, No Net Loss and Biodiversity Counterbalances, exploring opportunities for its dissemination and regulation.

Complaints about the damage caused to the environment and biodiversity by some development projects incorrectly carried out by their promoters, the theme is very topical.

“Over the last decade, there has been a boom in the exploitation of natural resources in the country, with a simultaneous rapid increase in negative environmental and social impacts, indicating that there is an urgent need to find ways to reconcile Mozambique’s economic development with the conservation of biodiversity and the ecosystem services from which the majority of the population is directly dependent. This approach is based on the proper application of the mitigation hierarchy, which imposes on economic operators the obligation to avoid, minimise impacts or restore damage to biodiversity and ecosystem services, and in extreme cases the obligation to implement biodiversity compensation actions “Explains WCS / Combo’s Hugo Rainey.

Allied to the forum, an exhibition “No net loss of biodiversity” was evident at the site, Indy Village, which hosted the forum.

“The theme of the exhibition is on the concept” No net loss of biodiversity “or environmental compensation. The issue has to do with the negative impacts on the environment and biodiversity caused by economic development projects that are needed, but which, by causing negative environmental impacts, must be compensated by those who implement them. Projects such as mining, construction of infrastructures, oil and gas, timber industry etc “, explains Diogo Marecos, from Biofund.

The theme on biodiversity conservation was addressed in the forum, in parallel to the Sixth General Assembly of Biofund. The event was attended by government officials, bilateral agencies, civil society organisations and the private sector.

Source: Biofund / Press Release