A training course is being held in the city of Beira from 18th to 20th June 2024 for technicians from the Environment Sector, namely the Provincial Environment Service (SPA), the Provincial Directorate for Territorial Development and the Environment (DPDTA) and the Provincial Delegation of the National Environmental Quality Control Agency (DPAQUA) from the central region of Mozambique (Sofala, Manica and Tete) on the importance of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) for land use planning, spatial planning and environmental impact assessment and use of the Environmental Licensing Management Platform (SGLA).
The National Directorate for the Environment (DINAB) in coordination with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is promoting this training, which aims to educate Provincial and district technicians on how KBAs should be avoided by projects (e.g. oil and gas development) that could potentially compromise key biodiversity and on the importance of integrating these sites into the ecological network of Mozambique's mainly coastal districts and training them in the use of the Environmental Licensing Management System (SGLA). In addition, it will enable a greater appreciation of the main components of decision-making in issuing environmental licences, monitoring land use practices and applying the law/regulations required to maintain the licenses. Finally, it facilitates the transparency of these public management processes.
The event has 27 participants and it covers the following topics (i) the definition of KBAs, their delineation and their role in biodiversity conservation, (ii) existing KBAs in the central region of Mozambique and their legal framework, (iii) other tools (e.g. Red Lists of species and ecosystems, ecosystem map) and platforms (e.g. Biodiversity Portal - SAB). Biodiversity Portal - SIBMOZ) for identifying areas to be avoided by development projects, as well as (iv) the role of the Provincial Environmental Directorates and Services in monitoring and protecting KBAs and (v) the use of the Environmental Licensing Management System (SGLA).
Th etraining is part of the project "Integrated Management of Marine and Coastal Resources in the Northern Mozambique Channel (NoCaMo)", which is funded by the French Environment Fund (FFEM) and implemented in coordination with the COMBO+ Programme.
Please find more information about KBA in Mozambique here.