Focus on Mozambique

The report identifies five critical stressed ecosystem services in Mozambique: biodiversity, food and fibre provision, water supply/purification/regulation, fuel provision, and flood regulation. It links these ecological stresses to threats in human well-being, specifically the ability to be nourished, access clean water, obtain energy, earn a livelihood, and remain secure against extreme events. The analysis highlights that Gaza, Manica, Nampula, Sofala, and Tete are the most critical regions where all five ecosystem services and well-being constituents are threatened. High population density in Nampula and Zambezia also makes them priority areas due to severe chronic malnutrition and poor water access.

• Five critical ecosystem services are identified as stressed across Mozambique: biodiversity, food and fibre production, water access and quality, flood regulation, and energy resources.
• Rapid deforestation and habitat fragmentation, driven by wood extraction, selective logging, and agricultural conversion, are causing significant biodiversity loss, particularly in mangrove forests.
• Mozambique's food provision is highly vulnerable to rainfall variability, with seven of the ten provinces affected by drought or desertification, often caused by vegetation removal and soil fertility loss from heavy rainfall.
• Water pollution is an emerging problem caused by urban areas, industry, and agro-industries, with only 2% of families having adequate sewage treatment.
• Energy security is precarious as 83% of total energy consumption comes from woodfuel, and forests are being cleared for agriculture and fuel needs, especially in densely populated coastal regions.
• Human well-being is severely impacted, with 70% of the population living below the poverty line and only 35.7% of the population having access to safe drinking water.
• Chronic malnutrition in children aged 0-5 is particularly severe in Cabo Delgado (56%) and Niassa (47%).
• The provinces of Gaza, Manica, Nampula, Sofala, and Tete are identified as the highest priority because all five ecosystem services and well-being constituents are threatened in these regions.
• Nampula and Zambezia are highlighted as priorities due to high population density and critical health indicators; in Zambezia, only 13.7% of the population has access to clean water.

APA

Wong, C., Roy, M., & Duraiappah, D. A. K. (2005). Focus on Mozambique. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/economics_poverty_mozambique.pdf

Chicago

Wong, Carissa, Marlene Roy, and Dr. Anantha Kumar Duraiappah. Focus on Mozambique. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2005. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/economics_poverty_mozambique.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Wong |first1=Carissa |last2=Roy |first2=Marlene |last3=Duraiappah |first3=Dr. Anantha Kumar |title=Focus on Mozambique |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2005 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/economics_poverty_mozambique.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wong2005focus, author = {Wong, Carissa and Roy, Marlene and Duraiappah, Dr. Anantha Kumar}, title = {{Focus on Mozambique}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2005}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/economics_poverty_mozambique.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }