Life at Sea

Marine ecosystems are crucial for global economies, with billions of people depending on the ocean for their livelihoods. Healthy marine ecosystems uphold sustainable fishing, tourism, and pharmaceutical development and generate significant economic benefits.

There is a deep interconnection between marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and changes in marine environments, such as ocean acidification, rising temperatures, or overfishing, can have detrimental effects on the entire planet, impacting weather patterns, climate, and agricultural productivity. The health of marine ecosystems impacts the overall balance of all our ecosystems.

OUR WORK

Our programme in Mozambique protects a comprehensive blend of terrestrial and marine life. Encompassing 890 000 hectares and bordered by national parks, game reserves, and 64.37 kilometres of coastline, the area is a critical ecological corridor between the Indian Ocean, the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, and other protected areas in Zimbabwe and South Africa. The Greater Bazaruto region off the coast is home to five of the world’s seven sea turtle species, listed from vulnerable to critically endangered, and the last viable population of dugongs in the Western Indian Ocean.

This area is also an important migratory corridor for many megafauna species and coastal breeding grounds for several species of dolphins and whales. The coastal region features dense, productive mangrove forests that serve as marine and freshwater species nurseries. These forests constitute 10% of Mozambique’s entire mangrove network and offer critical ecosystem services, including coastal shoreline protection against tidal storms and erosion, and play a pivotal role in carbon sequestration.