Mozambique Reforestation Project - Sambanzo, Corone River

About

The Sambanzo site lies 65 kilometers northeast of the city of Beira at the mouth of the Corone River. Approximately 90% of the local population relies on subsistence fishing, a practice that is highly dependent on healthy mangrove forests. Deforestation in this region results from resource poverty, where mangroves are used to produce energy in the form of charcoal and as timber for the construction of new homes. Large-scale mangrove deforestation is directly linked to insufficient fisheries and food scarcity in the long term. The restoration of this mangrove forest has the potential to increase wild fisheries, through erosion control, habitat protection, and safeguarding coral reefs. Eden will hire local people to reforest their region by planting mangrove trees at Sambanzo while stimulating economic growth, breaking the cycle of poverty, and empowering the community.

First tree planted

December 27, 2022

Planting density

10000 trees per ha

Employees

10

Planting seasons

January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December.

Main challenge

Cyclones are an ever-present problem on the Mozambique coast.

Cause of degradation

The main cause of degradation at this site is the felling of trees for charcoal, building materials/lumber, removal of trees for fishing camps, and cyclones.

Long term protection

The long-term plan is to provide support to the local community to collect mangrove propagules and strategically plant 8.8 million trees in areas that have been heavily degraded or deforested.