Loop-root mangrove

The mangroves of the Zambezi Delta are the largest mangrove forest in East Africa – trees standing in salt water on a tangle of stilt roots.

The loop-root mangrove is a mangrove tree growing up to 20 m tall, propped up on arching stilt roots that anchor it in the soft mud flooded by the tides. It has thick, leathery leaves capable of getting rid of excess salt. It reproduces in a remarkable way: the seeds germinate while still on the tree, forming long, sharp-pointed seedlings that drop into the water and drift until they take root in the mud. Loop-root mangrove forests protect the coast from erosion and storms and are breeding grounds for fish and prawns.

Significance in the country

Mozambique has the largest mangrove resources in East Africa, with extensive forests in the Zambezi Delta and around Beira. Mangrove wood has been used to build houses for centuries, and prawn fishing – an important export – depends on healthy mangroves.

Where it grows

River mouths and bays along the whole coast – the most extensive forests are in the Zambezi Delta (Zambezia and Sofala) and around Beira, as well as in Nampula, Cabo Delgado and Maputo Bay.

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