Turning the tide: restoring Mozambican mangroves — in photos
Nature, Published online: 10 August 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02199-9 As urban expansion in Maputo threatens to destroy mangrove forests, marine biologist Célia Macamo is studying how to save them.
Mangrove forests in Mozambique's Maputo are under threat from urban expansion. Marine biologist Célia Macamo is working to protect these vital ecosystems. She collects soil samples from the mangrove forest near Maputo to estimate carbon storage. The dark, sticky peat found in the soil provides clues about the amount of carbon captured.
These carbon credits, equivalent to one tonne of carbon dioxide removed, can be sold by companies to offset their emissions. Landowners are rewarded for preserving their local habitats, preventing development and aquaculture.
Written by urgent.news from Nature's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.