TotalEnergies and Associação Eden Reforestation join efforts for the restoration of mangroves in Cabo Delgado

The Mozambique LNG project, operated by TotalEnergies EP Mozambique Area 1 Limitada, and Associação Eden Reforestation have been working, since last February, on a program to restore mangrove areas in the coastal region of Cabo Delgado province, covering, in a first phase, the district of Palma. The program, with a duration of 2 years, benefits from a budget of US $760,000 allocated by Mozambique LNG project and is implemented by Associação Eden Reforestation.

The program, which aims to restore more than five thousand hectares of mangroves, will also create around 400 direct jobs for members of different local communities. In the first two months of implementation of the initiative, more than 12 hectares of mangroves were planted and about 200 jobs were created.

Tércio Masseque, Vice-President for Health, Environment and Safety at TotalEnergies EP Mozambique Area 1 Limitada, said that “Totalenergies puts sustainable development in all its dimensions at the heart of its projects and operations to contribute to the well-being of people.

The company is committed to contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including those related to the preservation of biodiversity.”

Masseque added that “with this program, we would like to contribute to the sustainable development of Mozambique, in general, and of Cabo Delgado, in particular. We would like to reinforce our initiatives for the promotion and preservation of biodiversity and contribute to supporting initiatives of the Government of Mozambique in the restoration of mangroves in the context of the National Strategy and Action Plan for Mangrove Management in Mozambique. Restoration of mangroves will contribute to the preservation of numerous animal and plant species, to water filtration and retaining of coastal erosion, and to the reduction of greenhouse gases.”

In turn, Gildo Cuamba, Managing Director of Associação Eden Reforestation, said: “This agreement is an opportunity to actively contribute to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, as well as to the materialization of our organization’s mission. Our motto is: we just need a committed village to rebuild a forest. Our work in Mozambique helps protect coastal communities from environmental disasters, improves fishing, captures carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and increases biodiversity while addressing the urgent need for poverty alleviation. Therefore, in the partnership with TotalEnergies, we have seen an opportunity to establish a natural alliance with gains for the maintenance of biodiversity and jobs creation and income generation for the local communities of Cabo Delgado.”

It should be noted that, still in biodiversity, TotalEnergies EP Mozambique Area 1 Limitada, as operator of Mozambique LNG project, signed, last April, with Universidade Lúrio (UniLúrio), a memorandum of understanding, which provides for the allocation of US$460,000 to finance a project to restore coral reefs and develop sustainable fishing in Pemba, Maringanha, Wimbe and Gimpia, in Cabo Delgado province.