Mozambique is set to embark on Africa's most ambitious mangrove restoration project, aiming to plant 200 million trees over the next 60 years, media reported.
The Gulf-based environmental company Blue Forest announced it had secured the necessary license after over two years of feasibility studies and is set to begin work in November, coinciding with the start of the rainy season.
The project, known as the MozBlue Project, will cover 155,000 hectares in the coastal region of Quelimane, Zambezia. This restoration area is equivalent to twice the size of Singapore and will help rejuvenate Mozambique’s coastline, which has been severely degraded by deforestation, cyclones, and flooding.
"We will start planting the first of the 200 million mangroves this November. These trees will not only restore the damaged coastline but will also create around 5,000 forestry jobs for local communities," Vahid Fotuhi, the founder and CEO of Blue Forest, emphasized the project’s environmental and socio-economic impact, as cited by media.
Over the course of the project's 60-year span, 20.4 million tonnes of CO2 are expected to be removed from the atmosphere, marking a significant contribution to global carbon reduction efforts.
Mozambique has one of the largest mangrove ecosystems in Africa, but much of it has been damaged by human activity and natural disasters. This restoration project represents a major step forward in preserving the country’s natural heritage while combating climate change.
Fotuhi also highlighted the global importance of such initiatives, noting that projects like MozBlue are critical for protecting both biodiversity and local livelihoods.