TRAINING FOR CONSERVATION AND BIODIVERSITY PROTECTION

Dr Bartolomeu Soto, Director-General of the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) in Mozambique and the CEO of the Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC), Theresa Sowry, recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), which will facilitate the effective implementation of the objectives and principles established in the Convention on Biological Diversity, the SADC Protocol on Wildlife Management and Law Enforcement and Mozambique’s policy on biodiversity conservation.

The two parties jointly recognise the need for the conservation and protection of biodiversity, compliance and law enforcement and the MoU is designed to underpin the urgency of finding viable ways and durable solutions towards establishing a cooperative approach to training within the sector.

‘Both ANAC and the SAWC share common ideas, responsibilities and goals and intend raising the level of cooperation to ensure the training of ANAC staff to benefit the conservation areas of Mozambique,’ said Dr Soto. ‘Both parties are convinced that this five-year, renewable memorandum will bring benefits to the sustainable management of natural resources, a reduction of human-animal conflict and will promote conservation objectives and activities,’ he added.

‘The college’s role will be to assist with the training of ANAC staff in natural resource management and to contribute to building institutional capacity in response to the challenges imposed on the sector,’ said Mrs Sowry.

The two parties shall establish cooperation for the training of staff in conservation areas, covering the following activities:

1. Strengthening of ANAC’s institutional capacity in natural resource management, community development, ecological management, tourism guides, sustainable use of wildlife and fiscal training.
2. Establishing an exchange of experience between the officials of both institutions.
3. Fundraising to guarantee scholarships for ANAC staff.
4. Creating of opportunities to carry out research on various aspects related to the management of natural resources.

Issued by: The Southern African Wildlife College