Healthy mangroves mean stronger coastlines, safer livelihoods and more resilient communities. On this World Mangrove Day, this story from Maputo National Park shows what becomes possible when communities, government and conservation partners work together to restore nature for the benefit of both people and wildlife.
In 2019, a severe storm damaged large stretches of mangroves along the Maputo River. As these natural barriers disappeared, fish stocks declined, and coastal communities became increasingly vulnerable to flooding and erosion. Today, that story is changing.
Along the coastline, communities are rebuilding mangrove ecosystems that strengthen livelihoods, protect coastlines from erosion and reduce vulnerability to future storms.
Mangroves are more than coastal forests. They are living infrastructure that protects communities, supports biodiversity and helps Mozambique adapt to a changing climate. Through long-term partnerships and community stewardship, Maputo National Park is demonstrating how ecosystem restoration can strengthen resilience for both people and nature.
This work is led by Maputo National Park, a Park administered through a partnership between Mozambique’s National Administration for Conservation Areas (ANAC) and Peace Parks Foundation, and is supported by TUI Care Foundation through the TUI Forest Mozambique project alongside the Prosper Azul project, co-funded by the European Union and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). Together, the partners are working to restore 150 hectares of mangroves.
Watch the full episode to hear directly from the people involved and see how restoration is shaping both ecosystems and livelihoods.
