Eden Reforestation – Mozambique

Why reforest in Mozambique?

Mozambique is home to extensive biodiversity and varying landscapes with forests at the core of its social, environmental, and economic well-being. However, more than 8 million hectares of forest (over 30,000 square miles) have been destroyed. Cyclones, floods, cutting down trees for firewood and charcoal, clearing large areas for farmland, and commercial logging are the leading causes of deforestation in Mozambique.

With over 45% of Mozambique’s population living beneath the poverty line, communities rely heavily on natural resources and forests.

Indeed, +8 million hectares of forests that have been destroyed, actually help safeguard coastal communities from environmental disasters, and support the health of fisheries. These provide a steady source of income and are vital to address poverty alleviation in Mozambique.

Our reforestation projects rehabilitate the coastal area around Maputo Bay in the south of Mozambique. The projects simultaneously stabilise the soil against erosion and improve the health of coral reefs, which are essential to sustain healthy aquatic ecosystems. Forests that fringe the coastline require soil stabilisation mechanisms to prevent further degradation in the area.

Our local planting partner is devoted to restoring the loss of mangroves in Mozambique. Charcoal production and cooking fuel are two of the main reasons why the country has experienced a large-scale loss of forests and mangrove estuaries. To reverse this trend, locals are employed to restore the forest landscape on the coastline.

The resident community also receives sustainable employment benefits. We have empowered over 600 employees with fair wages, & that number continues to grow.

The projects focus on restoring mangrove estuaries by planting native species including white, grey and spurred mangroves. These trees revive the vitality of the ecosystem, providing habitats for flora and fauna along the coastline. Particularly fisheries benefit from the planting of mangroves as shrimp and fish make the estuaries their home. Mangroves improve the water quality, capture carbon and restore nutrient levels in soils on land and below water.

→ In recent decades Mozambique has experienced large-scale deforestation as a result of urban expansion and growing timber exports. Lack of alternatives that would use the forests in a sustainable manner results in owners selling forests to make a quick buck, but in return the entire ecosystem is degraded.

→ Forests near the coastline require soil stabilisation to prevent further degradation