The Maputo provincial government has announced that it has exceeded its mangrove reforestation target, reaching a total of 2430 hectares planted, compared to the 300 hectares initially planned. This achievement puts Maputo at the top of the country in terms of mangrove reforestation, according to the newspaper Noticias.
The figures were released by Kátia Comé, director of the Maputo provincial Governor’s Office, during the Mangal Conservation Day celebrations on Friday (26). Kátia Comé also highlighted the 57.3% growth in the fishing sector, with production of around 9,000 tonnes of fish products. To celebrate this success, 40 pieces of seafood preservation equipment were handed over to women traders in the Marracuene district.
In this context of environmental progress, Mozambique and Portugal began a joint mangrove reforestation and plastic collection programme on the country’s northern coast, which has seen significant progress in 2023.
The Coastal Biodiversity Protection Project (PROBICO) ensured the planting of 300,000 mangrove seedlings in ten communities in the district of Mogincual, Nampula province, and aimed to reduce the amount of plastic that reaches the sea. This initiative strengthened co-operation between the two countries and stood out for its positive impact on environmental conservation throughout the year.
Ivete Maibaze, Minister of Land and Environment, explained during the programme’s launch ceremony that this joint initiative between the governments of Mozambique and Portugal, with the support of Camões – Institute for Cooperation and Language and the Nampula Youth and Adult Education Association (ASEJANA), will contribute to the protection of coastal biodiversity.
According to the information, mangroves are vital for conserving land and preventing coastal erosion. Mozambique has implemented a National Mangrove Management Strategy and Action Plan for the 2020-24 period.
Under the theme ‘Avoid plastic pollution, be part of the solution’, this year’s World Environment Day celebrations emphasised the urgent need to combat pollution. The country produces around 4.2 million tonnes of solid waste a year, 30% of which comes from urban areas and is made up mainly of inorganic matter, including metal, plastic, paper, glass and electronic material.
