Coastal East Africa
Improving livelihoods by conserving nature
Coastal East Africa stretches for 2,900 miles from northern Kenya through Tanzania and Mozambique. There are few places on Earth that can match the vibrancy and diversity of life found here.
The region boasts a variety of features including freshwater lakes, mountains, grasslands, woodlands, mangroves, sea grass beds and island archipelagos.
These landscapes and waters support an abundance of plant and animal life and some of the Indian Ocean's most varied coral reefs.
Coastal East Africa is also distinguished by its:
The region boasts a variety of features including freshwater lakes, mountains, grasslands, woodlands, mangroves, sea grass beds and island archipelagos.
These landscapes and waters support an abundance of plant and animal life and some of the Indian Ocean's most varied coral reefs.
Coastal East Africa is also distinguished by its:
- 1,000 miles of coral reefs that stretch for close to 60 miles at a time
- 350 species of fish and 40 classes of corals off the coasts of Tanzania’s Mafia Island
- 192 million acres of mangroves and marine ecosystems, roughly the size of California and Kentucky combined
- 64.3 million acres of coastal forests, slightly larger than Colorado
- Ruvuma landscape in southern Tanzania and northern Mozambique, home to the second largest population of African elephants
Threats: Illegal and unregulated fishing, unsustainable timber harvesting, massive infrastructure development, oil and gas exploration and extractive mining all threaten habitats and wildlife. Wildlife trade is also a threat because Mozambique and Tanzania act as major hubs for illegal products before they are shipped around the world. Learn more
Species: The coast’s waters sustain all five species of sea turtles in the Indian Ocean and 35 species of marine mammals, including whales, dolphins and the endangered dugong. 1,000 species of fish live in Lake Niassa, the eighth largest lake in the world. On land, habitats provide refuge for African elephants, lions, black rhinos, wild dogs, and red colobus monkeys. Learn more
People: The communities have a strong cultural heritage with rich traditions and their livelihoods and health are directly connected to natural resources. Empowering the 30 million people who live here to be intimately involved in conservation helps preserve the environment and creates alternative, long-lasting income sources. Learn more
Related Global Markets
Climate Change | Fishing | Forests | Agriculture | Aquaculture | International Finance | Wildlife Trade
