Mozambique has taken a significant step towards preserving marine ecosystems by validating a new metric to assess the ecological condition of seagrasses.
The initiative was promoted by the COMBO+ Program, the result of a partnership between the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the Foundation for Biodiversity Conservation (Biofund) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries, through the National Directorate of the Environment (DINAB).
The development of this metric represents a step forward in reconciling economic growth and biodiversity protection, in line with the hierarchy of environmental impact mitigation and the new Directive on Biodiversity Offsets (Ministerial Order No. 55/2022 of 19 May). With this, it becomes the fourth national tool aimed at ecological monitoring of ecosystems.
The instrument was validated in a hybrid workshop held during the week of World Seagrass Day, bringing together 42 participants from different areas, such as marine biologists, researchers, university professors, environmental consultants and project managers.
Célia Macamo, consultant and professor at Eduardo Mondlane University, and Manuela Amone, postdoctoral researcher at Nelson Mandela University in South Africa, led the presentation of the metric.
The initiative reinforces the relevance of scientific research and cooperation between institutions in the search for effective environmental solutions. Seagrasses play a crucial role in climate resilience by storing carbon, protecting coastal areas through sediment stabilization, and providing essential habitat for a variety of marine species.
By implementing this metric, Mozambique strengthens its position among countries that combine sustainable development with environmental conservation, ensuring the protection of these ecosystems for future generations. The project received financial support from the Government of Sweden, through the Biodiversity Conservation Program, and from the World Bank, through the MozBio 2 Project, completed in December 2024. (By Renaldo Manhice)
