The race to protect Mozambique from the next deadly cyclone
Muanema Timam, left, plants mangrove seedlings to protect her village in Cabo Delgado
Credit: Harry Johnstone
Media Source: The Telegraph (UK)
Date: 23 March 2026
As the rain pours down, Muanema Timam digs a hole in the watery sand and plants another mangrove seedling. Her cobalt blue veil is drenched, but there is work to do. With air and ocean temperatures rising, deadly cyclones and flooding are overwhelming entire districts across Mozambique, including her community in Namau, a small…
As the rain pours down, Muanema Timam digs a hole in the watery sand and plants another mangrove seedling. Her cobalt blue veil is drenched, but there is work to do. With air and ocean temperatures rising, deadly cyclones and flooding are overwhelming entire districts across Mozambique, including her community in Namau, a small fishing village. While there are some climate change adaptation projects – like planting mangroves – the government’s resources are being stretched thin by aid cuts, and whether enough is being done to shield the population from recurring catastrophes is an open question. Community-led mangrove forestry in Cabo Delgado is being supported by the Aga Khan Foundation. As well as becoming a buffer against the wind, mangroves sequester nearly nine tonnes of carbon dioxide per hectare each year. Mangroves are also used as hives for bees and their waterways become breeding grounds for fish – vital livelihoods for Mozambique’s coastal communities.