The mangroves of Mozambique: pathways to conservation through integrated management

Macamo, Célia

Title: The mangroves of Mozambique: pathways to conservation through integrated management
Creator: Macamo, Célia
Creator: Bandeira, Salomão
Subject: Mangrove ecology -- Mozambique
Subject: Mangrove conservation -- Mozambique
Date Issued: 2018
Date: 2018
Type: Thesis
Type: Doctorate
Type: Dphil
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/30843
Identifier: vital:31182
Description: This study analyses the status and management of mangroves in Mozambique and how the management system addresses the threats to mangrove conservation. A comprehensive analysis of the country forest condition and management status was conducted based on a literature review and informal interviews with key informants. GIS and remote sensing techniques combined with groundtruthing were used to assess the impact of natural and human threats on mangroves based on changes in NDVI (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index) and cover area. These studies were conducted at the Save River and Cabo Delgado province, respectively. Structural data of the mangrove forest were collected during field visits to assess changes in structural parameters and compare impacts in different forests or locations within the same forest. Finally a community-based management system in Nhangau (Sofala province) was analysed in order to assess the efficacy as a management tool to meet mangrove conservation objectives. Mozambique has an estimated mangrove cover area of 3 054 km2. In general there is a trend of decrease in cover around major human settlements, while remote areas show an increase in cover as documented in Maputo Bay (175.96 km2, decreasing within Maputo town) and Zambezi Delta (370.34 km2, increasing), respectively. Mangroves are mostly used for wood resources, salt production and fishing grounds. However, urban development, saltpans, logging and natural phenomena such as floods and cyclones are a threat to these systems. Mozambique has 27% of its mangroves protected in conservation areas. At places like the Quirimbas National Park, this protection is not effective due to illegal cutting and poor enforcement. The Mozambican institutional and legal frameworks provide protection to mangroves at all levels and prohibit all forms of degradation and unsustainable use. However law enforcement and institutional functioning is weak. There is also a need to update the legislation by adding specific aspects related to mangroves, such as regulating invertebrate collection and defining customary use. At the Save River changes in NDVI indicated that 63.42 km2 of mangrove (47.8%) were affected by cyclone Eline. Field investigations 11 years after the cyclone showed that there was substantial recovery in the protected creek forest but changes in sedimentation prevented recovery in the seaward sites that are exposed to storm surges and wind. This study highlighted the necessity for field based investigations in addition to remote sensing as results showed site specific differences. The percentage of living trees at the creek forest ranged from 71 to 97% from the outer to inner forest. Also species density was higher at the creek sites from the outer (101 ± 63 tree/ha) to inner forest (488 ± 111 trees/ha) as was the complexity index (0.09 to 0.25 respectively). At the seaward forest the percentage of living trees increased from 0 to 79% from the outer to inner forest. Seedlings (up to 40 cm height) dominated the understory throughout the forest however the outer edge of the seaward forest had no regeneration at all. This forest recovered naturally from the cyclone, however it is important to maintain low exploitation levels to ensure forest resilience in case of similar future impacts. The frequency and intensity of cyclones is expected to increase with climate change and thus the results can contribute to management strategies and climate change adaptation plans. 3 Human impacts were investigated at a peri-urban, rural and island setting in Cabo Delgado province. It was hypothesized that peri-urban forests would be more impacted. However an analysis of LandSat images showed that mangrove cover at the peri-urban site actually increased by 22.7% between 1991 and 2013; while rural forests lost 23.2% of its area during the same period. Field studies showed that there was no significant difference between average tree density for the different sites (p= 0.16) and the low complexity indices indicated young disturbed forests. At the peri-urban and rural sites, the tree diameter class 5.1-8 cm was targeted for extraction, while at the rural island all size classes were targeted. The proportion of stump:living trees was 1:11 at the peri-urban site; 1:9 at the rural site and 1:4 at the rural island. Most of the standing trees were crooked and not suitable for building purposes. The small extractive use of mangroves at the peri-urban site could be related to the fact that the dominant ethnic group has kept its essentially agricultural habits while at the rural site the people are typically fishermen and marine invertebrate collectors that rely on mangroves and marine resources for their livelihoods. Proposed management measures for these sites include raising awareness at all sites and conducting mangrove restoration at the peri-urban (abandoned saltpans and aquaculture farm) and rural sites. A community-based management system at Nhangau (Sofala province) was analysed in order to assess how this has achieved management conservation objectives. After facing several impacts due to mangrove degradation, the community of Nhangau engaged in mangrove replanting and management. The main management actions were (1) reduction of extractive uses, (2) continuous awareness and mangrove planting and (3) law enforcement. The restoration interventions started in the late 1990s by the local government in partnership with the local community and NGOs. Currently (2018), most of the activities are led by the local Natural Resources Management Committee (NRMC). Ten hectares of mangrove were planted between 1996 and 2017, and according to the local community the restored areas are already providing important ecological services such as temperature regulation. There are several challenges such as, limited functionality of the NRMC and its interaction with other stakeholders, Government representatives and local NGOs. There is also a lack of alternative livelihoods for mangrove cutters and the wider Nhangau community. Improvements to the system include better integration of local government representative structures with the civil society organizations (NGO and NRMC), law enforcement, financing of the appropriate sustainable use practices, environmental awareness and education and the promotion of appropriate NRMC functionality and representation. With these improvements this community-based management system can be effective as a management tool to meet mangrove conservation objectives and serve as a replicable model for other parts of the country. In conclusion, this research has documented both anthropogenic and climate-related impacts on mangroves in Mozambique and highlighted options for mangrove management focusing at strengthening the community –based management of mangroves in rural sites. Mangrove management would improve significantly by strengthening the legislation on specific mangrove issues combined with law enforcement and better community organization and their training and sensitization to manage mangrove resources at the local level. Such actions will increase the resilience of forests, allowing sustainable use and faster recovery in case of impacts by either anthropogenic or natural factors such as cyclones.
Format: 178 leaves
Format: pdf
Publisher: Nelson Mandela University
Publisher: Faculty of Science
Language: English
Rights: Nelson Mandela University

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