Our Projects
Chimanimani Landscape Restoration Project
Project Overview
The Chimanimani Landscape Restoration Project represents a landmark effort to restore and protect one of Mozambique’s most ecologically significant regions. Located along the Mozambique-Zimbabwe border, this mosaic landscape contains three-quarters of the country’s precious Afromontane forest and 78 endemic plant species found nowhere else on Earth.
In partnership with local communities, Eden addresses the drivers of deforestation that have led to 29% tree cover loss since 2000. Through a 15+ year commitment, we’re working to transform 206,000 hectares through community-based natural resource management, sustainable livelihood development, and active forest restoration.
This landscape-scale approach reconnects fragmented ecosystems, empowers communities as stewards of their natural resources, and creates a model for restoration that balances ecological health with human wellbeing across one of Africa’s most biodiverse transboundary regions.
Download the Chimanimani Landscape Restoration Project Brochure
Learn more about this restoration project and its impact on local communities and ecosystems. Our detailed project brochure provides key information about implementation strategies, current progress, and partnership opportunities.Ecosystem
The Chimanimani landscape encompasses a rich mosaic of interconnected ecosystems, each with unique biodiversity value. Miombo woodland dominates the buffer zone with its characteristic deciduous trees, while rare Afromontane forest fragments harbor endemic plant species at higher elevations. Lower-elevation tropical evergreen forests provide critical habitat for forest-dwelling bush elephants.
This ecological tapestry faces multiple challenges, including agricultural expansion through slash-and-burn practices, uncontrolled fires (over 237 recorded in 2024 alone), unsustainable resource extraction, and invasive species encroachment. The fragmentation of these ecosystems threatens the area’s exceptional biodiversity and the ecosystem services that sustain local communities.
As part of the transboundary Chimanimani Transfrontier Conservation Area, this landscape represents a critical opportunity to restore connectivity between protected areas while maintaining the ecological processes that support both wildlife and human communities.
| Stat Label | Stat Value |
|---|---|
| Total Project Area | 206,000 hectares |
| Active Restoration Target | 95,000 hectares |
| Communities Engaged | 22 communities (42,000+ people) |
| Implementation Timeline | 15+ years (2024-2039) |
Community
The project area is home to over 42,000 people across 22 communities, predominantly from the Ndau, Mathéwe, and Shona cultural groups. These communities maintain deep cultural connections to the forest, including traditional practices like rain-making ceremonies that form an important part of local identity and social cohesion.
With 90% of residents engaged in subsistence agriculture and an average annual income of just US$200, these communities depend directly on landscape resources for their livelihoods. Eden works in partnership with these communities to develop sustainable approaches to natural resource management that improve wellbeing while restoring ecosystem function.
By facilitating the formal registration of community land rights and strengthening Natural Resource Management Committees, the project builds local capacity for long-term stewardship. This collaborative approach ensures that restoration activities reflect community priorities and traditional knowledge while creating new opportunities for sustainable economic development.
Technical Approach
The project employs diverse, context-specific restoration techniques designed to address the unique challenges of the Chimanimani landscape:
Indigenous tree planting forms the foundation of active restoration, with over 110 locally appropriate species identified. Applied nucleation creates “forest islands” that accelerate natural recovery by attracting seed-dispersing wildlife and creating favorable microclimate conditions. Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration promotes natural recovery of trees in degraded farmland with minimal external inputs.
Key species like Millettia stuhlmannii (Panga panga) play multiple roles in the restoration process. This large tree improves soil fertility through nitrogen fixation, provides valuable wildlife habitat, and offers sustainable harvesting potential through its ability to coppice from cut stumps.
Implementation follows a phased approach with careful baseline assessment and planning, followed by capacity building, active restoration, and long-term monitoring. All activities are guided by reference forest models that establish ecological targets based on five intact forest systems identified within the landscape.
Progress and Impact
The project has already made significant progress in establishing the foundation for long-term landscape transformation. In 2024, Eden planted 863,429 indigenous trees representing 71 different species and brought 1,267+ hectares under active restoration. Five large-scale community nurseries now support ongoing restoration efforts, and 349 community members have gained employment through project activities.
Stakeholder engagement has been equally important, with 48 stakeholders participating in project design and 18 communities actively represented in planning workshops. The project has completed its comprehensive Project Design Document, including a validated theory of change, safeguards framework, and monitoring plan.
An off-grid seedbank has been established for biodiversity preservation, and detailed mapping has documented an additional 2,965 hectares for future restoration. Through strategic partnerships with organizations like Micaia Foundation, the project is also laying groundwork for sustainable value chains that will support community livelihoods.
