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Mozambique: MozParks is planting Marula trees this month
7:15 CAT | 27 Apr 2022
Photo uk.inaturalist.org/ Marula Tree
This month MozParks is celebrating the start of the rejuvenation and reforestation programme of the greenbelt around Beluluane Industrial Park (BIP) and wants to mark the occasion by planting several fruit bearing indigenous trees. One of these trees is the Marula (Sclerocarya birrea).
This prevalent tree of the lowveld of Southern Africa is known for its fruit that has been used in many formats throughout history. The fruit is rich in vitamin C and traditionally is used for stomach ailments, fever, and the bark is even used in the treatment of Malaria. Nowadays, jams and preserves, along with brews and liquors, are produced on an industrial scale and are exceedingly popular.
Marracuene in Maputo province celebrates this magnificent tree with a marula festival in February each year, where women from local communities showcase their own brew that has been prepared in secrecy for several weeks.
With these rich traditions in mind, MozParks, the biggest developer and operator of Industrial parks in Mozambique, is encouraging business ecosystems and circular economies where large companies purchase goods and services from smaller companies located in the same area thus also encouraging small-size entrepreneurship. It would be a rich Mozambican story to encourage a Marula brand of products in its parks.
A new long- term partnership between MozParks and Eden Reforestation Projects in Mozambique, will start with the rejuvenation of the 260 hectare green belt around Beluluane Industrial Park in Boane. This project is focused on rejuvenating the mangrove forests and planting trees such as the Marula that are indigenous to the area, play a role in local history and tradition, and potentially could be developed into an agroforestry success story.
Plant a tree and leave a legacy
Source: MozParks / Media Release
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