Native Woodland Restoration - Sofala, Mozambique
The Kukumuty project in Mozambique is restoring 2,870 hectares of degraded Miombo woodland near Chibabava, while also establishing agroforestry nurseries and systems across the area. The Miombo woodlands are a tropical woodland ecosystem that cover 10% of Africa and are increasingly endangered due to rapid climatic changes and growing economic pressure. The Kukumuty project is helping to conserve and restore one of Africa’s most magnificent ecosystems by regenerating this crucial landscape, benefiting 8,398 households, and developing agroforestry systems that reduce pressure on the native woodland.
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Project information
Sofala, Mozambique
The Kukumuty project is located near Chibabava, in Sofala Province, Mozambique. The area features a fragmented, degraded Miombo woodland habitat. The Miombo ecosystem covers 10% of Africa and harbours a high level of biodiversity and species endemicity. The system relies on human activity, but in recent decades it has been highly degraded through a combination of charcoal production, slash-and-burn agriculture, and timber harvesting. Changing climate patterns and growing economic stress have also increased the pressure on the resources found in the Miombo woodlands.
The project is addressing these challenges through large-scale restoration of native Miombo woodland, with 2,870 hectares now under restoration as of 2025. Agroforestry nurseries are also being established to support sustainable livelihoods and reduce reliance on forest resources. Through these interventions, the project is benefiting thousands of households across local communities. The Kukumuty project has also expanded its work through a new partnership with coastal fishery communities, supporting the restoration of 179 hectares of mangroves to help rebuild ecological balance and strengthen resilience for local livelihoods.
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Intervention
Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation
Location
Mozambique
Standards
Plan Vivo
Sustainable Goals
Project performance
The Earthly rating
The Earthly rating is the industry-first holistic project assessment. Earthly researchers analyse 106 data points, aggregating information across the three vital pillars of carbon, biodiversity and people. Projects in Earthly's marketplace all exceed a minimum score of 5.5/10.
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106,560
Tonnes of CO2 sequestered since the start of the project
1500
Number of Miombo seedlings planted each year
60%
Female participation in project activities
Project impact
Local impact
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The forest changes observed within and around the project area are related to the natural fires within the Miombo ecosystem. All changes observed from 2023 onwards are the result of the project activities, indicating that the fires are now being more closely managed to ensure the health and sustainability of the ecosystem.
Dataset used: Hansen Global Forest Change (2012-2023) modified.
Project area: through time
The Kukumuty project focuses on enriching woodlands by integrating soil and fire management with the planting of local Miombo species from community and project-run nurseries. Fire is a natural part of the Miombo ecosystem, essential for maintaining ecological balance. Research, including from Ribeiro et al. (2020), shows that fire, climate variability, and soil nutrients are crucial to this ecosystem.
While traditional practices like slash-and-burn agriculture haven't significantly depleted biomass, uncontrolled fires remain a risk. Therefore, this project’s approach isn't to ban fire entirely, which would be detrimental, but to manage it effectively. According to Ribeiro et al. (2021), a managed fire return interval of three to five years is ideal for the ecosystem's health.
The Kukumuty project establishes community-managed mulching zones and fire breaks to protect against uncontrolled fires. By creating experimental plots to study the impact of fire frequency and intensity on biomass, the project is creating firebreaks and enhancing its management practices for sustainable fire use in Miombo woodlands.
Positive for people
The Miombo ecosystem covers around 10% of Africa. It also contains over 8,500 floral species, over half of which are endemic. The project also helps support the livelihoods of millions of people. As such, conserving and restoring this ecosystem is crucial for biodiversity and people.
As of 2025, the Kukumuty project is restoring 2,870 hectares of degraded land across the Miombo landscape. The project is planting native Miombo species from seeds collected by local community members, with 670 seedlings planted across project sites in 2025. It is also establishing agroforestry nurseries to support restoration through agroforestry plots, which provide food, timber, and other resources while reducing pressure on native forests.
Alongside woodland regeneration, the project is constructing water-retaining swales and other soil and water conservation measures. These activities improve water retention, minimise soil erosion, and help mitigate the impacts of droughts, floods, and storms.
The Kukumuty project has also expanded through a partnership with coastal fishery communities to restore mangroves and rebuild ecological balance. As of 2025, 179 hectares of mangroves are under restoration, with 2,200 mangrove seedlings planted in 2025, strengthening the resilience of vital coastal ecosystems.
Good for earth
The Miombo ecosystem covers around 10% of Africa. It also contains over 8,500 floral species, over half of which are endemic. In addition, it helps support the livelihoods of millions of people. As such, conserving and restoring this ecosystem is crucial not only for biodiversity but also for people.
The Miombo ecosystem covers around 10% of Africa. It also contains over 8,500 floral species, over half of which are endemic. In addition, it helps support the livelihoods of millions of people. As such, conserving and restoring this ecosystem is crucial not only for biodiversity but also for people.
The project is planting native Miombo species from seeds collected by local community members. It is also establishing agroforestry nurseries to plant trees in agroforestry plots. These plots will produce food, timber and charcoal for the local communities and reduce the pressure they put on the forests. Lastly, the project is also constructing water-retaining swales and other soil and water conservation measures. These activities will improve water retention, minimise soil erosion and help mitigate the impacts of droughts, floods and storms.
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