AllAfrica has launched an eight-part podcast series, Wild Basil, featuring remarkable women who contributed to peace and development through their innovative work on biodiversity and conservation and addresses the competition for scarce resources in Southern African, including Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Angola, Botswana and South Africa. Above all, their work contributes to conflict prevention and resolution in their communities and their countries. [AllAfrica's elevation of the voices of African peacebuilders is supported by funding from the philanthropic Carnegie Corporation of New York.] 

Episode 1 introduces AnaBela Rodriques, a Mozambican economist who accepted the challenge of managing and developing the newly created nature reservation in the remote province of Niassa soon after independence. With virtually no staff and an impossible budget, she built from scratch a public/private partnership with a large staff that ensured a feasible budget. 

In her own words, you will hear the depth of her commitment, passion, and brilliance that contributed to placing Niassa firmly on the map of global conservation.

[30min 43secs]

Produced by MUVA and directed by Luize Guimeraes Scherer Navarra and Michael Quenen, with support from Stephanie Urdang and others.