Mozambique, endowed with abundant natural resources and rich biodiversity, forms a critical foundation for the nation’s development. Approximately 80% of Mozambicans rely on biodiversity and ecosystem services to sustain their social, environmental, and economic well-being. The country boasts diverse ecological zones, from terrestrial to marine, all teeming with valuable biodiversity that holds significant local, regional, and global importance.

As a part of the Eastern Africa Ecological Region, Mozambique is home to Africa’s second-largest mangrove expanse and the only sustainable population of dugongs in the entire Indian Ocean. Additionally, its forests are populated with iconic wildlife species that contribute to the ecosystem and attract tourism, playing a pivotal role in the sustainable development of local communities.

	Score	Rank	Change
Total Score – NCI 2024	58.7	52	N/A
Land Management	69	20	N/A
Protected Areas (Terrestrial)	98	37	N/A
Ecological Representativeness of Terrestrial Protected Areas	100	1	N/A
Connectedness of Terrestrial Protected Areas	71	25	N/A
Protected Areas (Marine)	6	81	N/A
Pristine Habitat (Converted Land)	100	1	N/A
Sustainable Nitrogen Management (Soil Pollution)	34	108	N/A
Sustainable Pesticide Use	71	28	N/A
Threats to Biodiversity	66	66	N/A
Threatened Species (Terrestrial)	90	63	N/A
Threatened Species (Marine)	74	25	N/A
Threatened Species’ Coverage by Protected Areas	54	163	N/A
Species Coverage by Marine Protected Areas	82	106	N/A
Species with Declining Populations (Terrestrial)	43	32	N/A
Species with Declining Populations (Marine)	0	10	N/A
Depleted Fisheries	57	8	N/A
Fishery Pressure in the High Seas	100	86	N/A
Invasive Species Pressure	99	29	N/A
Capacity and Governance	64	80	N/A
Total Management Cost	77	155	N/A
Conservation Culturomics	66	18	N/A
Conservation Legislation	70	10	N/A
Ratification of CBD	100	1	N/A
Ratification of CITES	100	1	N/A
Political Stability and Absence of Violence	30	124	N/A
Control of Corruption	34	131	N/A
Government Effectiveness	36	126	N/A
Future Trends	36	124	N/A
Climate Change Mitigation	36	124	N/A

Four pillars elaborated:

Land Management

Mozambique has increased the area of its protected regions from approximately 11% to 16% of its national territory. This expansion includes the establishment of new national parks like Quirimbas, Limpopo, and Chimanimani National Park, as well as additional reserves that encompass coastal and marine areas. Efforts to restore Gorongosa National Park and the designation of new Ramsar sites have further contributed to these conservation achievements. Protective measures have also been implemented for areas such as the Marromeu complex, a new Ramsar site, and key biodiversity hotspots like the Maputaland and Chimanimani-Nyanga centers of endemism.

Threats to Biodiversity

Biodiversity in Mozambique faces numerous threats exacerbated by historical and current human activities. Population growth, development, and past political instability have led to significant habitat loss and fragmentation, severely impacting the distribution and numbers of large terrestrial mammals. During the civil war, wildlife populations declined drastically, but since 1992, efforts have been made to rehabilitate these populations, particularly within conservation areas. Key threats include hunting, uncontrolled fires, habitat destruction, and slash-and-burn agriculture.

Additionally, mangrove forests are declining due to deforestation for aquaculture and salt pan construction, while coral reefs suffer from bleaching and human activities like fishing and tourism. Seagrass beds are threatened by siltation, destructive harvesting methods, and trampling. Human-animal conflicts have also risen due to increased population pressure, leading to fatalities and injuries from encounters with wildlife such as crocodiles, lions, elephants, and hippos, as well as significant agricultural damage.

Capacity and Governance

Mozambique’s government has launched several initiatives to preserve its rich biodiversity amidst development pressures. The COMBO Program, initiated in 2016 and now in its second phase as of 2021, strives to balance economic development with environmental conservation, implementing measures like biodiversity offsets to mitigate the impacts of development projects. Additionally, the government supports biodiversity-based value chains to integrate conservation into economic sectors, a key part of its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP 2015 – 2035).

The MozBio Project, backed by the World Bank, enhances the protection of conservation areas by involving local communities in sustainable income-generating activities and environmental education. Another initiative, MOZWILD, focuses on protecting and restoring terrestrial ecosystems, managing forests sustainably, combating poaching and trafficking, and enforcing new biodiversity-focused regulations and legislation.

Future Trends

Mozambique’s future biodiversity conservation plans are comprehensive and include expanding protected areas, strengthening legal frameworks for environmental protection, and involving local communities through community-based natural resource management programs. The country aims to integrate climate change adaptation strategies to enhance ecosystem resilience, promote ecotourism for economic benefits and conservation incentives, and increase research and monitoring to track biodiversity trends.

Additionally, Mozambique plans to enhance transboundary conservation efforts and seek international cooperation and funding to support its conservation initiatives. These measures aim to sustainably preserve Mozambique’s rich natural heritage while supporting community livelihoods.

Biodiversity

Mozambique’s biodiversity is marked by its diverse ecosystems and unique endemic species, showcasing a rich blend of flora and fauna. The isolated Mount Mabu rainforest, discovered through satellite imagery, is notable for species like the Mabu pygmy chameleon and new species of butterflies and birds, while the revitalized Gorongosa National Park harbors distinct wildlife such as the Gorongosa woolly bat.

Mozambique also features stunning natural landscapes, from the pristine beaches stretching along its extensive coastline to the coral-rich Quirimbas Archipelago and the rugged wilderness of the Niassa Reserve, home to large populations of elephants, lions, and leopards. These areas underscore Mozambique’s rich natural heritage and its importance as a conservation stronghold in Africa.

In the table below are the number of known species in several main groups, how many of these species are Threatened with extinction, and how many of them are Endemic (unique to Mozambique only):

	Species (World rank)	Threatened	% Threatened	Endemic	% Endemic
Mammals	265 (#34)	17	6.4%	4	1.5%
Birds	676 (#43)	32	4.7%	2	0.3%
Reptiles	225 (#40)	13	5.8%	25	11.1%
Amphibians	93 (#38)	5	5.4%	6	6.5%
Fishes	1,785 (#18)	103	5.8%	31	1.8%
Plants	5,558 (#58)	145	2.6%	271	4.9%