The SWIO region is home to thousands of hectares of mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and coral reefs – all of which are incredibly effective at removing carbon from the atmosphere. Besides helping to mitigate climate change, these habitats are critical for marine life and serve as nurseries, feeding grounds and refuges for a wide range of fauna.

The discovery of oil and gas in the Northern Mozambique Channel, unsustainable fishing practices and rapid urban growth are placing the SWIO region’s ecosystems under pressure, with dire consequences for the populations of many marine species, including those that classify as endangered, threatened or protected.

WWF aims to achieve the three key area-based conservation targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in the SWIO region:

• TARGET 1: Plan and manage all areas to reduce biodiversity loss
• TARGET 2: Restore 30% of all degraded ecosystems
• TARGET 3: Conserve 30% of land, waters and seas (30 x 30).

Along with pursuing the Global Biodiversity Framework’s area-based conservation targets, this pillar also works towards achieving TARGET 4, that is, to “halt species extinction, protect genetic diversity, and manage human-wildlife conflicts”.

We work towards regionally aligned, integrated marine spatial planning and effective management, with the Northern Mozambique Channel region as a catalyst.

Marine spatial planning (MSP) is the public, data-driven process of determining the timing and location for human activities in marine areas in a way that aligns with ecological, economic and social objectives, as embedded in public policy. WWF advocates for inclusive, sustainable MSP that considers ecosystem-based integrated management, human rights and climate change.








The Northern Mozambique Channel (NMC) is an oceanic biodiversity hotspot that is facing immense anthropogenic pressure. This makes it an excellent candidate to catalyse MSP for effective, integrated ocean management.

To this end, WWF-SWIO partners with the Nairobi Convention and NMC governments (Mozambique, Comoros, Madagascar, Tanzania and Seychelles) to advance MSP processes through the NoCaMo (Integrated Management of the Marine and Coastal Resources of the Northern Mozambique Channel) project. A Shared Vision and Roadmap for MSP in the NMC has been developed under this project. 

We support the conservation of SWIO’s natural capital through effective area-based measures.

WWF has a long history of establishing and supporting effective, equitable management of marine protected and conserved areas, with multiple decades of work in the region to advance marine conservation through area-based tools. Now, it is aiming to protect the biodiversity and ecosystem services of the SWIO region by driving the creation of a well-connected system of marine protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs).

Activities under this objective include:

• Establishing transboundary conservation areas (TBCAs)
• Supporting countries in implementing OECMs and securing the recognition of community-managed areas as OECMs
• Amplifying WWF’s efforts, in partnership with communities and other conservation organizations, to conserve marine turtles and whale sharks.

We promote science and innovative technology as the foundation for effective area-based conservation.

Sound conservation decisions are backed by credible science. To this end, WWF helps provide scientific evidence to support conservation activities. 

WWF supports the use of innovative technologies to achieve regional ocean conservation objectives. Such technologies include a digital simulation or “twin” of the Northern Mozambique Channel to support marine spatial planning efforts.