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The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to saving wildlife and wild lands through science, international conservation, education, and the management of the world’s largest system of urban wildlife parks. For more than 125 years, WCS has been one of the world’s leading conservation organizations and currently works to conserve and sustainably manage more than 100 million hectares of wild landscapes and seascapes worldwide, supporting management of more than 600 protected areas in 65 countries globally.
WCS works in partnership with more than 205 indigenous groups, over 1500+ local communities. WCS established a program in Mozambique in 2012 and works with the Ministry of Land and Environment and the Ministry of Sea, Inland waters and Fisheries to support the Government on biodiversity conservation while supporting local communities on alternative livelihoods, improving resilience to climate change effects. WCS coordinates the Blue Future project.
With roots in scouting and a career spanning Africa and Europe, Hugo boasts 23 years as a dedicated zoologist and a Master’s in environmental Impact Assessment. Since 2019, he has been leading WCS’s Mozambique marine program. When he’s not crafting biodiversity strategies or in the field, he’s spending time with his family, engaging in sports, watching movies, series, or tending to his small vegetable garden.
Meet Carlos, WCS’s Project Maestro! Blends a management degree with a flair for communication, 15y ago he traded European event chaos for Mozambique’s social entrepreneurship scene. Passionate about creating value for communities, he now leads WCS’s Blue Future Project, aiming to balance development and conservation. A compulsive beach waste picker, if life gives him lemons, he will spice up his culinary adventures. Groovy tunes, hearty laughs, and family love complete Carlos’s recipe for success!
WCS Coral Reef Scientist Erwan delves into marine wonders with a Ph.D. in Marine Biology. Armed with underwater prowess, he investigates the reproductive ecology of corals, leading projects from Mozambique to South Africa. He is a mentor to colleagues and proficient speaker, Erwan’s experience and coral passion shake up the Futuro Azul project and make it easier to navigate.
Nazaré or Nelo to his closest friends, the Social and Environmental Safeguards and Monitoring & Evaluation Manager of the WCS Blue Future project, brings a unique mix of engineering and environmental knowledge, with a master’s degree in Hydrocarbon Processing and experience in social safeguards. Authentic processor with a special talent for transforming environmental data into conservation achievements worthy of applause. “Nelo” will more than likely be seen eating pumpkin and fruit, and he manages to make data analysis the coolest show in town!
She is a marine maven with a master’s in Conservation Biology. From Gorongosa to the Primeiras e Segundas Islands and now in the northern Nampula, she’s the biologist extraordinaire, MCing project events and herding fish and natural resources committees. Muaule turns local ecological knowledge and shark and rays data into fin-tastic insights for the project.
Born in Muiane, Gilé district, he is finalising his degree in Environmental Management and Development, with a specialisation in Ecotourism. Ever since he was a child, he fell in love with conserving the beautiful landscape of trees that he enjoyed along the paths he travelled with his grandmother to the machamba, near the city of Nampula. He has worked in the provinces of Zambézia and Nampula in natural resource management, planting and management of native and exotic forests, support in the delimitation of community lands and their formalisation, conservation agriculture, beekeeping, conservation and restoration of degraded mangrove areas, protection and management of marine and coastal resources, planning and savings and revolving credit. He loves spending time with nature, especially beaches and mountains.
Graduated in Biological Sciences from Lúrio University and Masters in Conservation Biology from the Gorongosa National Park BioEducation Consortium Program. She is passionate about nature. Her best moments are when she is with her family near the sea, feeling the breeze, or underwater, or watching birds, or traveling to see new places. She has an advance diving certification and has worked on projects aiming at conserving marine, coastal and terrestrial ecosystems in the North and Center of Mozambique where she worked as a diving assistant, research assistant, project assistant and project coordinator. For her, the best way to change people’s consciousness is to obtain knowledge. She considers herself an eternal learner.
Lufa, the “régulo” of the Island of Mozambique who is only 3.5km long, but his journey spans the entire North of Mozambique. From bag carrier to VIP driver, he did it all with a smile and some serious dance moves. With a body built for security, his secret weapon is a killer smile. Consider yourself lucky if he takes you on a joyful tour on the Blue Future Project area.
Cremilda, Grants Manager for the Futuro Azul project for about two years, is a Mozambican professional with a background in accounting. Her financial acumen and dedication play a vital role in steering the project towards success.
A versatile professional with a degree in Accounting and Auditing from the Catholic University of Mozambique, she has over 6 years’ experience working for private companies in the areas of mining, land, insurance, transport, logistics, administration and international NGOs in Mozambique in the areas of biodiversity conservation.
A lover of photography, beaches and travelling, she takes advantage of her free time to record unique moments in life, enjoying the excellent company of family and friends.
Francisco Cabo has a degree in Tourism from the Eduardo Mondlane University and a master’s degree in Transport from the University of Brasília. Prior to joining WCS, he worked as a Tourism Lecturer at Eduardo Mondlane University, focusing on Tourism and Communication Marketing, and was later Communications and Public Relations Manager of the Mozambique Civil Aviation Authority, between 2014 and 2018. In 2018 he joined WCS and since 2019 he is the Communications Manager, with the main mission of giving more visibility to WCS Mozambique’s programs. In this period it was also a focal point of WildAid in Mozambique.
Mário Jorge Carlos is a Sustainable Development Specialist with over two decades of experience in program management. With a strong strategic mindset and vision, Carlos has successfully led multi-dimensional, results-based programs from the design to implementation, in various sectors such as agriculture, fisheries and coastal restoration, renewable energy, and business development. Carlos is proficient in conducting internal audits and providing risk control measures through mitigation strategies. He works in close collaboration with donors, seeking to, proactively and constructively; meet their requirements and expectations, while managing complex grants, playing a vital role in bridging between finance, human resources, and procurement in grant management.
Agostinho Zacarias is a forestry, community management and extension specialist with 30 years of experience, including 15 years in community-based programs and 14 years in project management and coordination roles. Has a coordinator, he is responsible for overseeing the implementation and ensuring effective and efficient execution of the project. A special focus for Zacairas is to ensure the restoration of 150 hectares of mangroves with the active involvement of the local community. To this end, he establishes strong relationships with strategic partners and proposes innovative and sustainable solutions.
Sérgio Alberto Mathe is a professional dedicated to community development, with a focus on Agriculture and the Environment. He has over 10 years of experience in implementing ecological production techniques and conservation agriculture. Currently, Sérgio is the District Coordinator of Memba district and Monitoring and Evaluation Focal Point at the Blue Future Futuro project, where he works to promote eco-sustainable livelihoods and alternatives to fishing. His passion for environmental education drives the transfer of knowledge on the use of biodiversity and ecosystems for the adaptation and resilience of coastal communities to climate change.
Rudy Constantino has extensive experience in agricultural projects, environmental conservation, and empowering local communities. Currently he is a District Coordinator in the Blue Future project in Mossuril District. Rudy is committed to improving community livelihoods, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and protecting biodiversity. His passion for the environment and dedication to sustainable development makes him a valuable asset to initiatives aimed at improving quality of life and preserving the environment. Rudy’s expertise and strategic vision have been instrumental in the successful implementation of the Futuro Azul project, which has had a transformative impact on the local communities.
I am an ecologist biologist, a lecturer at UEM since 2008. Currently, I work with mangrove forest ecology and conservation, one of my great passions. In the future blue project, I hope to share the knowledge I have with others, but also learn a lot from those who are in the field and know the daily reality.
Atija holds a degree in Aquaculture Engineering. She serves as a grant program assistant at ProAzul. She supports the implementation of activities that promote the diversification of livelihoods for fishermen and aquaculturists, aiming to reduce pressure on marine resources. She is also the focal point of the “Blue Future” project, supporting local communities in developing alternative livelihoods.
Rui is the communication wizard, passionate about igniting sparks of social change and biodiversity protection! Armed with two decades of experience and an explosive mix of backgrounds in Communication, Advertising, and Public Relations, he drives vibrant campaigns that dance to the rhythm of conservation in Mozambique. More than a strategist, Rui is an architect of dreams shaping bright futures where communication is the key to unlocking sustainable behaviors and contagious smiles. With passion, innovation, and unwavering ethics, Rui is more than a professional; he is a true enthusiast for social change and biodiversity conservation!
Natércia is a responsible professional, holding a degree in Communication Sciences with a specialization in Advertising and Marketing. Her professional journey began in 2020, with her participation in the first edition of internships in the Leadership Program for Conservation in Mozambique (PLCM), where she interned for a year in the communication sector at BIOFUND.
At the end of the internship, Natércia was elected as the best intern of the first edition of the program. In 2021, she joined BIOFUND as a Junior Communication Officer, where she excelled in organizing the launch event of the PROMOVE Biodiversity Program. Natércia has experience in institutional communication, project communication, and event organization.
Currently, Natércia plays a key role in event organization, with a special focus on environmental awareness events. Due to her experience in event organization and management, in 2022, Natércia was integrated into the organizing team of the Marine Biodiversity Conference of the Blue Future Project.
