UNESCO has inscribed Mozambiques Maputo National Park and Malawis Mount Mulanje Cultural Landscape onto the World Heritage List during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris.
In addition, Madagascars Rainforests of the Atsinanana have been removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger following conservation successes.
Maputo National Park is Mozambiques second but first natural World Heritage Site. Located in southern Mozambique, the park encompasses a wide range of coastal and terrestrial ecosystems including coral reefs, seagrass beds, wetlands, freshwater lakes and mangroves.
This is a proud and historic moment for Mozambique, said Gustavo Dgedge , Mozambiques Secretary of State for Land and Environment. To be recognised by UNESCO is a powerful endorsement of the work being done here. It honours the dedication of our government, communities and partners to restore this unique landscape.
The park provides key nesting grounds for leatherback and loggerhead turtles, and hosts the worlds largest aggregation of giant kingfish while serving as a migratory bird stopover. Originally established to protect coastal elephants, the park now supports over 5000 reintroduced game animals with tourism and community co-management at its core.