Mozambique protects Mount Mabu's endemic

Mozambique has formally protected Mount Mabu, a forest home to more than 200 butterfly species. The Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries published the decree on August 24, creating the 9,341-hectare Mount Mabu Community Conservation Area.

Ecologist Julian Bayliss, who led surveys over 20 years, told Mongabay the protection is a great relief. He stated these forests are very important due to their high levels of endemism. The land's stewardship is granted to the local communities that have preserved it for generations.

A Haven for Endemic Species

Mount Mabu hosts the largest continuous block of medium-altitude forest left in southern Africa. Its steep ridges and valleys create isolated microclimates. This isolation allowed flora and fauna to evolve over millions of years into species found nowhere else.

Scientists have recorded over 200 butterfly taxa there. They believe the real number could reach 250 with further study. Every October and November, hundreds of butterflies gather on the 1,700-meter summit in a mating behavior called hilltopping. Naturalist David Attenborough documented this phenomenon in 2013, coining the nickname 'butterfly forest.'

New Species Discoveries

Since 2005, researchers have discovered more than 30 new species in Mabu's forests. These include frogs, chameleons, bats, and insects. Bayliss and colleagues recently described a new cobalt-blue butterfly, Iolaus mabuensis. It was found by his research team in 2008. Only one specimen of this species has been collected to date.

Bayliss was also the first scientist to encounter the Mount Mabu forest viper, Atheris mabuensis. He described it in 2009 after accidentally stepping on one under leaf litter.

Community-Led Conservation

The decree dedicates the land to the protection, conservation, and sustainable use of natural resources by local communities. Specific activity restrictions will be defined in a community management plan, which is not yet finalized. José Monteiro, executive director of ReGeCom, told Mongabay the effort recognizes the community that protected the forest. He said, 'The community, over a long time, kept the forest standing.'

According to a 2024 proposal reviewed by Mongabay, the forest is well-conserved and treated as sacred by locals. The main current threats are encroachment from small-scale agriculture and logging. The new protected status aims to formalize the community's longstanding guardianship.