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Forest in Mozambique: Actual Distribution of Tree Species and Potential Threats

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  • Eugénia Joaquim-Meque

    (Instituto de Educação a Distância (IED), Universidade Católica de Moçambique (UCM), Rua Correia de Brito, Nº 613, Pontâ-Gea CP 90, Beira 2102, Mozambique)

  • José Lousada

    (Departamento de Ciências Florestais e Arquitetura Paisagista (CIFAP), Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
    Centro de Investigação e de Tecnologias Agro-Ambientais e Biológicas (CITAB), UTAD, Quinta de Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal)

  • Margarida L. R. Liberato

    (Departamento de Engenharias, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
    Instituto Dom Luiz (IDL/UL), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749–016 Lisboa, Portugal)

  • Teresa F. Fonseca

    (Departamento de Ciências Florestais e Arquitetura Paisagista (CIFAP), Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
    Centro de Estudos Florestais (CEF), Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal)

Abstract

In recent decades, there has been a perception that the Mozambican forests have been threatened with massive exploitation for commercialization, deforesting vast areas, leading to desertification and contributing to the extinction of some forest species. The present research summarizes the official information obtained by monitoring the country’s natural resources over time and identifying the major types of existing forests in Mozambique. The main objective is to elucidate on the current state of Mozambican forests, analyze change and trends, and characterize the actual distribution of forest species in Mozambique to verify the sustainability of forest resources and their composition. It is a case study of the qualitative descriptive type, with data obtained through a bibliographic research method focusing on scientific articles on the type of forest species existing in Africa and Mozambique and data from official sources of the forests. Various types of forests were identified, such as mopane, mercrusse, semi-deciduous, miombo, and semi-evergreen, including the gallery forest. Forest species with particular relevance were highlighted, such as Afzelia quanzensis , Swartzia madagascariensis , Pterocarpaus angolensis , Combretum imberbe, and Millettia stuhalmannii . Major threats to these natural resources were identified and reported, including anthropogenic activity associated with traditional practices of illegal logging or due to the valuation of other goods of primary necessity, lack of protection and conservation measures, and impacts resulting from climate change. The Munza district is presented as a case study, carrying out a characterization of the forest in this district and identifying the main threats in the study area from 2015 to 2020.

Suggested Citation

  • Eugénia Joaquim-Meque & José Lousada & Margarida L. R. Liberato & Teresa F. Fonseca, 2023. "Forest in Mozambique: Actual Distribution of Tree Species and Potential Threats," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-18, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:8:p:1519-:d:1207277
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ghermandi, Andrea & Obura, David & Knudsen, Camilla & Nunes, Paulo A.L.D., 2019. "Marine ecosystem services in the Northern Mozambique Channel: A geospatial and socio-economic analysis for policy support," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 1-12.
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