Mapping Mangrove Extent in Mozambique

The nationwide estimation of mangrove area using Landsat imagery found that the mangrove area decreased from 2011 until 2021, with an annual percentage change of -2,16% between 2011 and 2016, and -2,93% between 2016 and 2021.

Although the rate of mangrove loss is slowly decreasing over time, these findings suggest Mozambique has been experiencing a continual net decline in mangrove cover, which could be attributed to various factors such as climate change, deforestation, and urbanization, among others. Such results can inform mangrove conservation and restoration efforts at the national level to mitigate further loss of this important coastal ecosystem.