The Technical-Scientific Unit (UTC) for Biodiversity Offset Support and the Biodiversity Offset Assessment and Monitoring Office (RAACB) trained in tools and platforms for identifying biodiversity to be avoided and/or targeted by Biodiversity Offsets in Mozambique, in accordance with the Directive on Biodiversity Offsets (Ministerial Diploma No. 55/2022, of 19 May). The event took place on 28 November 2024 in a hybrid format in Maputo, and was attended by 14 people.
The training was promoted by the COMBO+ Program, a partnership between the Ministry of Land and Environment (MTA), the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS-Mozambique) and the Foundation for Biodiversity Conservation (BIOFUND) and focused on the IUCN Red List of threatened species and ecosystems, the historical map of terrestrial vegetation, the Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), the Mozambique Biodiversity System (SIBMOZ).
The Technical-Scientific Unit (UTC) for Biodiversity Offset Support is a multisectoral group (with representatives from government, academia, civil society and the private sector) established in May 2024 with the aim of supporting the Environmental Impact Assessment Authority in decision-making, in a strategic and integrated manner, on the key aspects associated with the design, approval, implementation, evaluation and monitoring of Biodiversity Offset Management Plans (BOMPs).
Considering that there are already potential Biodiversity Offset Management Plans (BOMPs) to be implemented in Mozambique, it was essential to strengthen the capacity of the members of the newly created UTC regarding the tools and platforms currently available to support the identification of biodiversity to be avoided by development projects and to be considered for biodiversity offsets in Mozambique.
The COMBO+ program plans to provide support with other complementary trainings aimed at consolidating the UTC so that it can better perform its role.
The COMBO+ Program is currently funded by the Agence Française de Developpement (AFD) and the Fonds Français pour l'Environnement Mondial (FFEM), with co-financing from other donors, including NORAD. In Mozambique, COMBO+ is also funded by the MOZBIO 2 Project (World Bank), UNDP (BIOSFAC and BIOFIN) and the Government of Sweden through the Biodiversity Conservation Program.