Mozambique Environmental Challenges
- Fundação RESET
- Mar 2
- 2 min read
Mozambique is facing severe environmental challenges that are significantly impacting its natural resources, biodiversity, and agricultural productivity. Over 40% of the country’s agricultural land is degraded, leading to declining soil fertility, reduced crop yields, and increased vulnerability of smallholder farmers. Deforestation is another major concern, with an estimated 8 million hectares lost since the 1970s, primarily due to agricultural expansion, illegal logging, and unsustainable land-use practices. This rapid deforestation accelerates biodiversity loss, disrupts ecosystems, and weakens the country’s ability to mitigate climate change effects.
The impact of climate change in Mozambique is increasingly evident, with rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events. The country is highly susceptible to natural disasters, including cyclones, floods, and droughts, which devastate rural livelihoods. Recent events, such as Cyclones Idai (2019), Gombe (2022), Anna (2022), Freddy (2023), and Chido (2024), have caused widespread destruction across central and northern Mozambique, displacing thousands and crippling infrastructure. Additionally, ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation) cycle events, including La Niña (2010-2011, 2011-2012, 2020-2022) and El Niño (2009-2010, 2015-2016, 2018-2019), have severely impacted agricultural productivity and food security, leading to prolonged droughts or extreme flooding.
With millions of Mozambicans reliant on agriculture for their livelihoods, addressing these environmental threats is critical for ensuring sustainable food production, rural economic stability, and climate resilience. Urgent measures, including reforestation programs, climate-smart agriculture, soil restoration initiatives, and disaster risk reduction strategies, are essential to combat land degradation and enhance the country’s ability to adapt to climate change. Strengthening policy frameworks, enforcing land-use regulations, and promoting sustainable resource management will be crucial to safeguarding Mozambique’s environmental future and ensuring long-term resilience.
The main Bibliography sources:
RESET Foundation is committed with the The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The environmental challenges faced by Mozambique are closely linked to several SDGs, particularly those focusing on climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, and environmental protection. The main related SDGs include:
The SDG's, also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
