East African mangroves
Encyclopedia
The East African mangroves are an ecoregion
consisting of mangrove
swamps along the Indian Ocean
coast of East Africa in southern Mozambique
, Tanzania
, Kenya
and southern Somalia
.
in Mozambique and the Rufiji River
in Tanzania, which can extend as far as 50 km inland, as well as smaller areas along the coast. This coast experience two monsoon
seasons each year, strong ocean currents and rising seas up to 5.6m in Mozambique. Rainfall is high especially in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania.
of West Africa mangroves of East Africa have a greater variety of vegetation with two distinctive types: the mangroves on the coast itself such as the birdwatching site Mida Creek near the Arabuko Sokoke National Park
and the town of Watamu
, and the Lamu Archipelago both in Kenya, which are fed by constant streams of fresh water; and the mangroves in river inlets where more salt accumulates in the water. East African mangrove species are similar to those found on other coasts around the Indian Ocean. The Bazaruto Archipelago
is an example of offshore mangroves sheltered by coral and intermingled with a mixture of shoreline habitats such as grassy sand dunes and rockpools.
s and molluscs in the waters to snakes and monkeys such as Sykes' Monkey
in the trees and animals including antelope
s, elephant
s and African Buffalo
who come to graze on the fringes of the swamps. Larger animals that feed in the swamp waters include hippopotamus
, green turtle (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), and olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) turtle
s, porpoise
s and important populations of the endangered dugong
. Located alongside coral reefs, these mangroves are sheltered by the coral from ocean tides and storms, and the swamps provide food for the many fish, shrimps and other marine fauna that shelter in the coral. The swamps are also important feeding grounds for large numbers of migratory birds such as Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea), Little Stint (Calidris minuta) and Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia), waterbirds such as Crab-plover (Dromas ardeola), Yellow-billed Stork
and Malachite kingfisher
, and seabirds such as Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii).
. All along the coast mangrove swamps have been cleared, not only for timber but for urban areas, salt panning and agriculture including rice growing and shrimp cultivation. The habitat is further diminished by pollution of rivers from urban and industrial waste and agrochemicals. Urban areas near the mangroves include: the Swahili
town of Lamu
, the beach town of Malindi
and the large port city of Mombasa
in Kenya; the port of Tanga
in Tanzania; and Quelimane
, the large city of Beira
(famous for its prawns), Inhassoro
and Vilankulo
(the ports for Bazaruto), and Maxixe
in Mozambique.
Protected areas include Watamu Marine National Park
and Ras Tenewi Marine National Park in Kenya; Mafia Island Marine Park
, Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park
and Saadani National Park
in Tanzania; and the Bazaruto Archipelago, Inhaca
and Portuguese Island, Marromeu Game Reserve, and Pomene Reserve in Mozambique. Also some areas of mangrove in Kenya and Tanzania are managed as forest reserves.
Ecoregion
An ecoregion , sometimes called a bioregion, is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than an ecozone and larger than an ecosystem. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of land or water, and contain characteristic, geographically distinct assemblages of natural...
consisting of mangrove
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
swamps along the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
coast of East Africa in southern Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
and southern Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
.
Location and description
The ecoregion consists of two large areas of mangove in the deltas of the ZambeziZambezi
The Zambezi is the fourth-longest river in Africa, and the largest flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa. The area of its basin is , slightly less than half that of the Nile...
in Mozambique and the Rufiji River
Rufiji River
The Rufiji River lies entirely within the African nation of Tanzania. The river is formed by the convergence of the Kilombero and Luwegu rivers. It is approximately 600 km long, with its source in southwestern Tanzania and its mouth on the Indian Ocean at a point between Mafia Island called Mafia...
in Tanzania, which can extend as far as 50 km inland, as well as smaller areas along the coast. This coast experience two monsoon
Monsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
seasons each year, strong ocean currents and rising seas up to 5.6m in Mozambique. Rainfall is high especially in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania.
Flora
The mangroves include tall trees, up to 30m. Compared to Central African mangrovesCentral African mangroves
The Central African mangroves ecoregion consists of the largest area of mangrove swamp in Africa, located on the coasts of West Africa, mainly in Nigeria.-Location and description:...
of West Africa mangroves of East Africa have a greater variety of vegetation with two distinctive types: the mangroves on the coast itself such as the birdwatching site Mida Creek near the Arabuko Sokoke National Park
Arabuko Sokoke National Park
The Arabuko-Sokoke Forest is located on the coast of Kenya, 110 km north of Mombassa and is protected as a national Forest Reserve. The Arabuko-Sokoke National Park is only a small portion of the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest Reserve, a few square kilometres in size and is located on the north-western...
and the town of Watamu
Watamu
Watamu is a beach resort on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya. It lies on a small headland, between the Blue Lagoon and Watamu Bay. Its main industries are tourism and fishing...
, and the Lamu Archipelago both in Kenya, which are fed by constant streams of fresh water; and the mangroves in river inlets where more salt accumulates in the water. East African mangrove species are similar to those found on other coasts around the Indian Ocean. The Bazaruto Archipelago
Bazaruto Archipelago
The Bazaruto Archipelago is a group of six islands in Mozambique, near the mainland city of Vilankulo. It comprises the islands of Bazaruto, Benguerra, Magaruque, Banque, Santa Carolina and Shell....
is an example of offshore mangroves sheltered by coral and intermingled with a mixture of shoreline habitats such as grassy sand dunes and rockpools.
Fauna
The mangroves are an important habitat for a variety of wildlife from fish crustaceanCrustacean
Crustaceans form a very large group of arthropods, usually treated as a subphylum, which includes such familiar animals as crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill and barnacles. The 50,000 described species range in size from Stygotantulus stocki at , to the Japanese spider crab with a leg span...
s and molluscs in the waters to snakes and monkeys such as Sykes' Monkey
Sykes' Monkey
Sykes' monkey , also known as the white-throated monkey or Samango monkey, is an Old World monkey found between Ethiopia and South Africa, including south and east Democratic Republic of Congo...
in the trees and animals including antelope
Antelope
Antelope is a term referring to many even-toed ungulate species indigenous to various regions in Africa and Eurasia. Antelopes comprise a miscellaneous group within the family Bovidae, encompassing those old-world species that are neither cattle, sheep, buffalo, bison, nor goats...
s, elephant
Elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
s and African Buffalo
African Buffalo
The African buffalo, affalo, nyati, Mbogo or Cape buffalo is a large African bovine. It is not closely related to the slightly larger wild Asian water buffalo, but its ancestry remains unclear...
who come to graze on the fringes of the swamps. Larger animals that feed in the swamp waters include hippopotamus
Hippopotamus
The hippopotamus , or hippo, from the ancient Greek for "river horse" , is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub-Saharan Africa, and one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae After the elephant and rhinoceros, the hippopotamus is the third largest land mammal and the heaviest...
, green turtle (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), and olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) turtle
Turtle
Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines , characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield...
s, porpoise
Porpoise
Porpoises are small cetaceans of the family Phocoenidae; they are related to whales and dolphins. They are distinct from dolphins, although the word "porpoise" has been used to refer to any small dolphin, especially by sailors and fishermen...
s and important populations of the endangered dugong
Dugong
The dugong is a large marine mammal which, together with the manatees, is one of four living species of the order Sirenia. It is the only living representative of the once-diverse family Dugongidae; its closest modern relative, Steller's sea cow , was hunted to extinction in the 18th century...
. Located alongside coral reefs, these mangroves are sheltered by the coral from ocean tides and storms, and the swamps provide food for the many fish, shrimps and other marine fauna that shelter in the coral. The swamps are also important feeding grounds for large numbers of migratory birds such as Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea), Little Stint (Calidris minuta) and Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia), waterbirds such as Crab-plover (Dromas ardeola), Yellow-billed Stork
Yellow-billed Stork
The Yellow-billed Stork, Mycteria ibis, is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It occurs in Africa south of the Sahara and in Madagascar....
and Malachite kingfisher
Malachite Kingfisher
The Malachite Kingfisher is a river kingfisher which is widely distributed in Africa south of the Sahara. It is largely resident except for seasonal climate related movements....
, and seabirds such as Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii).
Threats and preservation
The mangroves have been harvested for timber for centuries by traders from the nearby Arabian PeninsulaArabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2...
. All along the coast mangrove swamps have been cleared, not only for timber but for urban areas, salt panning and agriculture including rice growing and shrimp cultivation. The habitat is further diminished by pollution of rivers from urban and industrial waste and agrochemicals. Urban areas near the mangroves include: the Swahili
Swahili people
The Swahili people are a Bantu ethnic group and culture found in East Africa, mainly in the coastal regions and the islands of Kenya, Tanzania and north Mozambique. According to JoshuaProject, the Swahili number in at around 1,328,000. The name Swahili is derived from the Arabic word Sawahil,...
town of Lamu
Lamu
-Threats to Lamu:In a 2010 report titled Saving Our Vanishing Heritage, Global Heritage Fund identified Lamu as one of 12 worldwide sites most "On the Verge" of irreparable loss and damage, citing insufficient management and development pressure as primary causes.- See also :* Juma and the Magic...
, the beach town of Malindi
Malindi
Malindi is a town on Malindi Bay at the mouth of the Galana River, lying on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya. It is 120 kilometres northeast of Mombasa. The population of Malindi is 117,735 . It is the capital of the Malindi District.Tourism is the major industry in Malindi. The city is...
and the large port city of Mombasa
Mombasa
Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya. Lying next to the Indian Ocean, it has a major port and an international airport. The city also serves as the centre of the coastal tourism industry....
in Kenya; the port of Tanga
Tanga, Tanzania
Tanga is both the name of the most northerly seaport city of Tanzania, and the surrounding Tanga Region. It is the Regional Headquarters of the region.With a population of 243,580 in 2002, Tanga is one of the largest cities in the country...
in Tanzania; and Quelimane
Quelimane
Quelimane is a seaport in Mozambique. It is the administrative capital of the Zambezia Province and the province's largest city, and stands 25 km from the mouth of the Rio dos Bons Sinais . The river was named when Vasco da Gama, on his way to India, reached it and saw "good signs" that he was on...
, the large city of Beira
Beira, Mozambique
Beira is the second largest city in Mozambique. It lies in the central region of the country in Sofala Province, where the Pungue River meets the Indian Ocean. Beira had a population of 412,588 in 1997, which grew to an estimated 546,000 in 2006...
(famous for its prawns), Inhassoro
Inhassoro
Inhassoro is a small fishing port in Inhassoro District of Inhambane Province in Mozambique. The town has about 43,000 inhabitants and is located on the Indian Ocean coast along the EN1 highway....
and Vilankulo
Vilankulo
Vilankulo is a coastal town in Mozambique, lying in the Vilanculos District of Inhambane Province. Vilankulo is named after local tribal chief Gamala Vilankulo Mukoke, and some of the "bairros" are named after his sons...
(the ports for Bazaruto), and Maxixe
Maxixe, Mozambique
Maxixe is the largest city and economic capital of the province of Inhambane, Mozambique. It is situated on the Indian Ocean at 23°52′S 35°23′E just south of the Tropic of Capricorn, in a bay opposite historic Inhambane City which can be reached by local ferries...
in Mozambique.
Protected areas include Watamu Marine National Park
Watamu Marine National Park
Watamu Marine National Park and Reserve is located in Kenya. Established in 1968, it was one of Kenya's first marine parks. It is located about north of Mombasa, Kenya's second largest city. Its coral gardens are merely from the shore and are home to approximately 600 species of fish, 110...
and Ras Tenewi Marine National Park in Kenya; Mafia Island Marine Park
Mafia Island Marine Park
Mafia Island Marine Park is a protected area in the vicinity of Mafia Island south of Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean, and part of the country of Tanzania.- External links :*...
, Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park
Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park
The Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park is a national park of Tanzania located on the island of Zanzibar. It is the only national park in Zanzibar....
and Saadani National Park
Saadani National Park
Saadani National Park is Tanzania's 13th National Park. Tourists can view animals basking along the Indian Ocean shores. It has an area of 1100 km2 and was established in 2005 from an a game reserve which had existed from 1969...
in Tanzania; and the Bazaruto Archipelago, Inhaca
Inhaca Island
Inhaca Island is a subtropical island of Mozambique off the East African coast.The 52 km² island separates Maputo Bay to the west from the Indian Ocean off its eastern shores. The island's irregular coastline approaches mainland Machangulo Peninsula at Ponta Torres where a 500m-wide tidal...
and Portuguese Island, Marromeu Game Reserve, and Pomene Reserve in Mozambique. Also some areas of mangrove in Kenya and Tanzania are managed as forest reserves.