Mangroves provide important socio-ecological services to coastal communities, such as coastal line protection, fish, shrimp and crab fishery, provide domestic fuel and building material. If excessive, the extractive exploitation of mangrove resources can lead to substantial changes in the forest structure of mangrove forests, and can also impair the provision of ecological services.

This study assesses the structure and condition of human exploited mangrove forests in peri-urban (Pemba) and rural (Olumbi, Vamizi, and Lalane) communities with contrasting cultural habits in northern Mozambique.

• Mangroves provide important goods and services and are vital to Western Indian Ocean coastal communities (woody resources, fish, ecological services, etc.); There are 9 species in the region; Madagascar and Mozambique have the largest areas;
• Mozambique mangrove area latest estimate: 2.953 km2 – the 3rd largest in Africa
• Country trend: increase/no change in remote areas; decrease close to human settlements
• Causes of degradation: population pressure/poverty, economic drivers, inappropriate governance, inadequate knowledge and awareness, climate change and natural processes
• Main objective of the study: To describe and compare parameters of mangrove utilization in contrasting communities (urban vs rural) with different cultural habits