Between 17 August and 5 September 2024, a hydrological restoration action was carried out in an area of approximately 38 hectares of mangrove in the community of Muanangome, Lunga Administrative Post, Mossuril District, Nampula Province. This effort is part of the Blue Future Project, led by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), with the Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) in charge of the technical coordination of the activity. Local implementation has the support of partners Associação de Ajuda de Desenvolvimento de Povo para Povo (ADPP) and Associação do Meio Ambiente (AMA), who have played a crucial role in mobilising and implementing the actions.
Register of community members who took part in the opening of canals in the Muanangome community.
The degradation of the mangrove, caused by human practices such as cutting firewood and retaining water to create salt pans or fish ponds, as well as natural disasters such as cyclones, has increased salinity and threatened the integrity of this vital ecosystem. The aim of this activity is to restore the hydrology of this area, guaranteeing an adequate flow of water in and out during the tides, avoiding excessive retention and thus contributing to the health of the mangrove. To meet this challenge, more than 200 members of the Muanangome, Quevulene and Motomonho communities were directly involved in opening 20 canals to restore the hydrological flow, which is essential for the mangrove's balance.
Collaboration with the Mossuril district government, through the active participation of technicians from the District Service for Economic Activities (SDAE), was also a central element of this action. The involvement of the SDAE not only ensured that the interventions were in line with local environmental management policies and government objectives, but also provided a training opportunity for the technicians who accompanied the entire process.
Marking profiles to open channels.
In addition, this action brought about a valuable exchange of knowledge with the partners of the Wilipihera Project led by Rare in collaboration with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) and other partners. Both ADRA and SDAE technicians were able to learn directly from the hydrological restoration activities, benefiting from methodologies that can be replicated or adapted for other mangrove recovery projects.