Mozambique: More than 80% of H1 planned mangrove restoration accomplished

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Mozambique: More than 80% of H1 planned mangrove restoration accomplished

11:56 CAT | 13 Jun 2022

File photo: O País

The government has successfully restored more than 80% of the 5,000 hectares of mangrove planned by July under the implementation of the National Mangrove Ecosystem Restructuring Program started in 2021.

Mozambique is an ocean-fringed country annually affected by bad weather that endangers marine species as well as the human populations living in coastal areas. Mangroves are identified by the Ministry of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries (MIMAIP) as an important resource in addressing these problems.

Country-wide, more than 90 hectares of this ecosystem are devastated annually, a concern for the ministry, which has plans to restore 5,000 hectares by July of this year.

“As a country particularly vulnerable to the impacts of cyclical climate change weather features such as cyclones, floods and droughts, the current rate of mangrove ecosystem degradation is very worrying. That is why we have no other alternative but to act, and act now. Otherwise, we will mortgage our future,” explained the Minister of the Sea, Inland Waters and Fisheries, Lídia Cardoso, as quoted by ‘O País’.

Speaking on World Oceans Day, Minister Cardoso said that sea pollution, illegal fishing and the proliferation of garbage also compromised the health of marine ecosystems.

“We must recognize that our livelihood lies in a healthy ocean, in the sustainable exploitation of its resources and, above all, in our collective and integrated action in its defence,” Cardoso explained.

In order to achieve its objectives, MIMAIP has strategies to reduce solid waste in the oceans, especially plastic bags, National Director of Maritime and Fisheries Policies, Felismina Antia, added.

“It is necessary to discourage the export and sale of plastic bags. The aim is to ban them, and our action plan will contribute concrete measures. We have registered tons of this waste in every province, in addition to ‘ghost nets’ illegally used for fishing,” she clarified.

With a view to identifying the best strategies to improve the preservation of marine ecosystems, Mozambique will participate in the second United Nations Ocean Conference, due to take place in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, between 27 June and 1 July.

Source: Diário Económico