Mangrove Restoration and Reforestation – Mozambique

45% of Mozambique's population lives in poverty and depends heavily on forests and natural resources.

Why reforest in Mozambique?

Mozambique boasts rich biodiversity and diverse landscapes, with forests crucial for its social, environmental, and economic health. However, over 30,000 sq. miles of forest, equalling over 8 million hectares, have been lost due to factors such as cyclones, floods, firewood and charcoal extraction, clearing for agriculture, and commercial logging.

45% of the population lives under the poverty line.

8 Million + hectares deforested an area the size of Portugal.

How did the project start?

In 2018, Eden initiated a reforestation project near Maputo, Mozambique with the goal of revitalizing the degraded forests along the rivers and coast in Southern Mozambique. It identified a vast coastal area that had lost its mangrove ecosystem as the starting point and established a seed source and a local workforce. The reforestation program began by planting over 280,000 mangrove trees in the first three months, all tended to by the local workforce.

Where in Mozambique?

Maputo Bay – Coastal

The coastal area around Maputo Bay at the southern tip of Mozambique boasts stunning scenery and is conveniently located near the bustling city of Maputo. Efforts are underway to restore the mangroves in this region, which not only add to the area's beauty but also provide stability against erosion and contribute to the overall health of the ocean and coral reefs. These reforestation efforts truly highlight the importance of preserving our natural resources for future generations to enjoy.

A heart-warming story from the team: “Deforested mangrove sites become an all-you-can-eat feast for crabs who eat decaying material. Our Mozambique reforestation project team began planting propagules to restore mangroves sites but soon noticed the crabs had been chewing on the propagules, killing the seeds before they could grow. Following the advice of our Brazil team, our Mozambique team stuck empty plastic water bottles in the ground, over the newly planted propagules, to protect against the crabs. By sharing ideas such as this one across borders, our teams are able to increase the likelihood of the trees’ survival significantly, re-using the bottles across new sites.” 

The progress of the project to date?

The project is executing the reforestation program at 62 sites in Mozambique, utilizing only the native tree species. Their efforts not only contribute to poverty alleviation but also protect coastal communities from environmental hazards, enhance fisheries, reduce atmospheric carbon, and increase biodiversity.

80 million+ trees produced, planted, and protected.

900+ employees empowered with fair wages.