Mozambique

Download the report

Located on the south-east coast of Africa, Mozambique lies predominantly in the tropics. As a result, much of the coastline is subject to the regular seasonal influence of monsoon rains from the Indian Ocean. Mozambique's mountainous hinterland culminates at Monte Binga (2436 meters) in Chimanimani, Manica province. Divided into 14 ecoregions, the country boasts three geographical concentrations of biodiversity: the East African Coastal Forests, the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany and the East Afromontane. With over 100 river basins and underground reserves, Mozambique has abundant water resources. In addition, the flooded coastal savannah of the Zambezi River is a unique ecoregion. According to national estimates, Mozambique is home to some 5,500 species of flora and 4,271 species of terrestrial fauna, including 72% insects, 17% birds, 5% mammals and 4% reptiles, a number of which are endemic. The 29 Key Biodiversity Areas (terrestrial and marine) identified and validated throughout the country attest to the richness of Mozambique's biodiversity.

The 2,700 km-long coastline features numerous plains, where coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass beds are major marine and coastal habitats. 17 fish and many marine mammals are endemic to Mozambique, including the dugong, 7 species of dolphin, humpback whales, 77 species of hermatypic coral and 5 species of turtle, all of which contribute significantly to the country's tourist appeal. The coastline is also home to three deep seaports in the cities of Nacala (north), Beira (center) and Maputo (south), strategic for trade and regional development.

The country's biodiversity generates clear benefits for Mozambicans, notably in terms of supplying firewood and furniture, water supply and purification, soil fertility and flood protection. In addition, most of the traditional and modern medicines used in Mozambique are derived from wild plants, animals, fungi and bacteria. With an economy based mainly on agriculture, which employs 70% of the population, Mozambique's greatest environmental challenges revolve around finding ecologically sustainable solutions to the consequences of human exploitation, including land degradation, soil erosion, reduced soil fertility, deforestation, wetland degradation, overexploitation of biodiversity and pollution. The sustainable use of water resources, essential to the livelihood of Mozambicans, is also a major challenge for the country.

Access to the IBAT sheet

In Mozambique, the process of negotiating voluntary commitments has mobilized different players depending on the sector.

For the soybean and sugarcane sectors, two regional workshops were organized in Guruè and Maputo respectively, bringing together companies, the public sector, academics, civil society and financial players.

Three multi-sectoral workshops also provided an opportunity to discuss with financial players, report on Diagnosis 2 and share the commitments discussed at the closing ceremony.

For the crab and shrimp sectors , a regional workshop was organized in Beira City, bringing together companies, the public sector, academics, civil society and financial players.

For the heavy sands and gas sectors, two regional workshops were organized, in Quelimane and Maputo respectively, with the same stakeholders as for the other sectors, with the exception of representatives from the academic world.

Options chosen and scenarios discussed

Solutions identified by stakeholders

Find below the content of the voluntary commitment tracks obtained in Mozambique.

Country profiles IPPS

Notes de politiques publiques

After supporting the 15 countries in the identification of priority sectors, and facilitating the commitment of private-sector players in favor of biodiversity, BIODEV2030 is building on the momentum created to roll out the voluntary commitments on a pilot territory scale, and to strengthen the integration of biodiversity into countries' sectoral public policies.

The sectors targeted for Phase II are the soybean, sugarcane, shrimp and crab fishing, and mining industries. To identify the most relevant sectoral public policy instruments (SPPIs) to be created, abolished, or amended, BIODEV2030 engaged Altai Consulting. This support aims to contribute to aligning economic, sectoral (agriculture, mining, fisheries, forestry, etc.), and environmental policies (particularly those related to biodiversity), a key aspect of the mainstreaming approach. This comprehensive integration of biodiversity helps prevent economic and sectoral policies from encouraging stakeholders (producers) to adopt production practices harmful to nature, which would contradict a government’s biodiversity commitments.

Altai has developedIPPS sheets for each country. The Mozambique sheet is available via the button above.

The priority reforms in the agriculture and fisheries sectors focus on:

• the revision of the decree formalizing the procedures followed in environmental impact assessments of projects;
• the revision of the law on tax deductions and exemptions to promote activities in the public interest;
• the establishment of zoning for oilseed-producing plots;
• the approval of seed regulations.

Concept Notes

With the aim of helping stakeholders in pilot areas (private, public, CSOs) to collectively define actions to reduce pressures on biodiversity, transition projects towards nature-positive practices, or even nature-based solutions, will be developed on the basis of the change actions identified during the multi-stakeholder dialogue, and then brought to the attention of potential funders.

The pilot project in Mozambique will be carried out in the Zambezi Valley.