The Royal KEW Gardens workshop hosted by Institute for Agrarian Investigation of Mozambique (IIMA), in the capital city Maputo, last 18 June, on the Darwin Initiative project "Monitoring and Managing Biodiversity Loss in South-east Africa's Montane Ecosystems" produced some conclusions and recommendations on the actions to be taken forward as to preserve montane biodiversity in Mozambique.

The summary produced by workshop moderator, Dr Lidia Brito, highlighted the following:

• We will establish a National Programme for the Conservation of Montane Ecosystems, Coastal Forests and other habitats.
• The establishment of technical partnerships based on transference of knowledge and capacity allows us to obtain internationally recognised results. It gives us a greater potential to influence national plans for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. It is necessary to identify and establish national and international partnerships when we develop biodiversity conservation programmes.
• When establishing initiatives for conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity, it is important to encourage and stimulate the implementation of trans-frontier programmes in order to mobilise and attract international support and investment.
• At national level we should rethink conservation policy so as to establish a legal basis that recognises areas for biodiversity conservation. The definition of a conservation area should consider biodiversity as a whole, and also recognise smaller areas. We need to look at plants, insects, birds, small vertebrates, habitats and other characteristics that make these areas not only interesting scientifically but also valued for the development of eco-tourism.
• It is important that local communities are actively involved in sustainable use practices and management if biodiversity conservation is to succeed. The importance of the media in communicating scientific knowledge for community development is recognised.
• The importance of the involvement of national herbaria, museums, botanic gardens and zoos, as well as other institutions, in the collection, documentation and distribution of information on natural resources and their utilisation is recognised. These institutions have an important role in the implementation and running of a National Database on Biodiversity, in the training of national scientists, and in improving their ability/skills to undertake studies in conservation and biodiversity.
• Tourism is important as an instrument of valuing these conservation areas for the development of local communities.