The Maputo National Park, in southern Mozambique, will plant 525,000 tree seedlings to restore around 150 hectares of degraded mangrove forest. The project aims to strengthen coastal protection, conserve biodiversity, and support local communities.
“Mangroves are the unsung heroes of coastal conservation. They protect communities from storms, support fisheries, and store carbon at much higher rates than terrestrial forests. Restoring them is an investment in both nature and people,” said Miguel Gonçalves, director of Maputo National Park.
The restoration effort focuses on rehabilitating the 150 degraded hectares through the planting of seedlings. These coastal forests play vital roles: they protect shorelines from erosion, filter water, and provide nursery habitats for fish and other marine species.
The project is funded by the TUI Care Foundation, a foundation linked to the German tourism company TUI, and implemented in partnership with the Peace Parks Foundation, an organization that promotes the conservation of transboundary natural areas in Africa. The initiative also includes the creation of 20 learning centers in schools near the park to promote environmental education and awareness among younger generations.
Manuel Ferreira, Head of Program Management and External Communications at the TUI Care Foundation, emphasized that the initiative will help local children understand the value of their natural heritage and make them “stronger protectors of nature.” Education is seen as a key factor in ensuring long-term conservation.
The project also integrates sustainable tourism by supporting local entrepreneurs. Equipment such as kayaks and paddleboards will be provided so that community members can develop ecotourism businesses along the beaches of Santa Maria and Ponta do Ouro, creating jobs and generating local income.
Maputo National Park is part of the Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation and Resource Area, which encompasses four conservation zones shared between Mozambique, South Africa, and Eswatini. Since 2006, the park’s rehabilitation has allowed the reintroduction of 14 species, and it is now home to about 32,000 animals.
On July 13, UNESCO – the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, responsible for the protection of world heritage – inscribed the park on the World Heritage List, highlighting that it includes terrestrial, coastal, and marine ecosystems and is home to nearly 5,000 species.
Source: Lusa
