Katembe is located within the South Zone of Maputo, in Mozambique and is a part of the Maputo-Province. The project in Mozambique, including Katembe, began in October 2018. Within the region there are several degradation drivers such as the illegal extraction of woodfuel (firewood and charcoal) and poles, fishing, uncontrolled fires, urbanisation through the occupation of mangrove areas for housing and infrastructure, pollution either through spillage or improper handling of oils in ports affecting the survival of mangroves and the effect of climate change, through rising mean sea levels and natural disasters such as floods.

Why support mangrove restoration?

Restoration of mangrove ecosystems are nature-based solutions, helping to reduce the risk of disasters and adapt to climate change. Globally, coastal regions are susceptible to sea levels rising and tropical storms, increasing their sensitivity to climate change. Mangrove forests are a key solution to protecting these communities. 

Mangroves have also been recognised as blue carbon ecosystems, with the capacity to extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, making them substantial net carbon sinks. These ecosystems are considered the most productive coastal wetlands that sustain and store blue carbon. Around 11.5 billion tons of carbon is stored by blue carbon ecosystems worldwide, with mangroves having the largest blue carbon pool of 6.5 billion tons.