Biodiversity & Traditional Knowledge Mapping

The Mazuene-Malamba landscape forms part of an area of high endemism in southern Mozambique and includes coastal Miombo forests (one of only two remaining areas where Miombo forest extends to the sea), extensive dune habitats, lagoons and estuaries. In Malamba, the most prominent botanical feature is the widespread presence of Miombo and high densities of orchids and endangered cycads.

The band of coastal forest and dunes spanning this coastal area is home to reptiles and birds, suni, duiker, bushpig, river otter and large populations of various elephant shrews, among others.

At MCC we work alongside traditional leaders and multiple partner organizations to gather, interpret and share information about the area's biodiversity. 

Established a partnership with Universidade Eduardo Mondlane and the lab of Dr. Alice Massingue to perform the 1st botanical and traditional knowledge survey.

Dr Massingue and her team inventoried the sanctuary area and interviewed elders, traditional healers and beekeepers from Malamba and Mazuene. In just 100ha, 169 plant species were identified, 14 of those endemic.

Established a partnership with the CCP, Ocean Revolution, UP and the Swedish Agricultural University in a participatory mapping process with the communities of Malamba and Mazuene and the local District to document and map important cultural resources, marine resources, reefs and conditions.

Established a partnership with the Maputo Natural History Museum and marine biology expert Professor Almeida.

In 2023 we partnered with the Malamba-Mazuene CCP to co-create and launch a Cetacean Observatory and Reef Recovery & Monitoring Program focused on Baixo Zambia and Baixo Africa.

In 2024-26, with the assistance of a state-of-the-art marine vessel - "Reef Protector" - the CCP will join a reef-wide survey alongside Mozambican and international marine experts. This will launch monitoring and documentation of fisheries and marine life led by the communities themselves.