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Blue Forests Mozambique

Rito Salvador Mabunda & Denise Karina Nicolau, WWF Mozambique

By Blue Forests Project

September 17^th, 2015

Blue Forests Mozambique – a small-scale intervention in the Zambezi delta

At a regional level, the Zambezi delta has the largest continuous mangrove area of coastal east Africa. The high potential of carbon storage and sequestration of these coastal forests is revealing a good premise for REDD+ projects in Mozambique. Mangrove forests in the Zambezi delta are located in remote areas with extremely difficult access and low anthropogenic influence. These conditions contributed to the protection of the valuable mangrove forests from deforestation and degradation for over 20 years.

Recognizing the importance of mangroves supporting biodiversity, natural processes, local fisheries and environmental health and other ecosystem benefits, Mozambique is seeking and engaging with carbon projects initiatives in order to maintain these goods and services and to create alternative livelihood to local communities to contribute to the resilient coastal environment.

The Mozambique project site of the Blue Forests Project aims to improve local understanding of carbon storage and valuation of these ecosystem services and management of coastal and marine ecosystems to influence policies and contribute to the mitigation of climate change impacts in Mozambique.