Mozambique will host the largest mangrove restoration project in Africa, with an estimated investment of 60 million dollars (3.7 billion meticais). The initiative, led by the United Arab Emirates-based company Blue Forest, aims to restore and protect mangrove forests along the Mozambican coast, covering an area twice the size of Singapore.
The project, called MozBlue, will begin in November and plans to plant 200 million mangrove trees in the provinces of Zambézia and Sofala. The first phase will cover 5116 hectares of degraded forest. Funding will be guaranteed through the pre-sale of carbon credits, which will be generated from the carbon absorbed by the trees.
Mangroves are known for their ability to absorb up to ten times more carbon than terrestrial trees, making them essential in the fight against global warming. Over 60 years, the MozBlue project hopes to remove 20.4 million tons of carbon from the atmosphere. The effectiveness of the project will be monitored by measuring the growth and survival of the trees planted.
In addition to the environmental benefits, the project plans to create 5,000 jobs and allocate 60% of the revenue to local communities, contractors and the government. Blue Forest, which has already invested around 63.2 million meticais in preparing the project, sees mangrove restoration as an opportunity to promote sustainable development and the well-being of coastal communities.
Founded by Vahid Fotuhi, a former BP Plc executive, Blue Forest has extensive experience in social impact and renewable energy projects in Africa. This is the first commercial project for the company, which has already developed philanthropically-funded initiatives in Côte d’Ivoire and Kenya, and plans to expand its activities to Tanzania and West Africa.
The MozBlue project represents a milestone in environmental conservation and the fight against climate change in Africa. With the potential to cover up to 215,000 hectares in Africa and Asia, Blue Forest reaffirms its commitment to sustainability and socio-economic development in the regions where it operates.
