Mount Mabu

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Mount Mabu
Mount Mabu (10.3897-zse.92.9948) Figure 2 (cropped).jpg
Highest point
Elevation 1,700 m (5,600 ft)
Coordinates 16°17′52″S36°23′39″E / 16.29778°S 36.39417°E / -16.29778; 36.39417
Naming
Language of name Portuguese
Geography
Mozambique relief location map.jpg
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Mount Mabu
Location of Mount Mabu in Mozambique
Location Mozambique

Mount Mabu is a mountain in northern Mozambique, famous for its old-growth rain forest. Mount Mabu is approximately 1,700 metres (5,600 feet) high and the forest covers about 7,000 hectares (27 square miles). While well known locally, the Mount Mabu forest and its extremely diverse wildlife were unknown to plant and animal scientists until 2005. [1] It was visited after browsing Google Earth in 2005 by a team of scientists from the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust (MMCT) and several ornithologists, [2] and later in 2008 by scientists from Kew Royal Botanic Gardens; by browsing Google Earth's satellite view to look for potential unknown wildlife hotspots in Africa. [3] [4] It is frequently referred to as the "Google Forest". [5] [3] [6] It forms part of a proposed ecoregion, to be called the South East Africa Montane Archipelago (SEAMA). [7]

Contents

Habitations

There are communities living around Mount Mabu, the closest being Nangaze, Nvava, and Limbue. The mountain plays a crucial role in the lives of the communities, and in the cosmology of the Nangaze leader, Mount Mabu belongs to a kinship network in which Mabu is the oldest brother, Mount Muriba is the youngest brother and River Mugue is the middle sister. Local narratives state that the first leaders of the Nvava or the Nangaze community after they died their spirits flew to the mountain. This is the reason why each one of these communities claim legitimate belonging to Mount Mabu. The communities resort to the mountain for protection, animal protein, smallholding, foraging, and traditional ceremonies – mucutu[ what language is this? ] in the present. These activities have generated a wealth of local knowledge about the Mountain that is yet to be explored in association with the growing interest on Mabu. In their cosmology Mount Mabu is a moral subject that needs to be respected.

Currently, there are two Mozambican NGOs working with the communities to turn Mount Mabu into a conservation area, namely, Justica Ambiental and RADEZA. These NGOs created associations to protect Mount Mabu in different communities. JA created associations in Nangaze, Nvava, Namadoe and Limbue. RADEZA created committees of natural resources management in the four communities mentioned and six more. RADEZA in association with ITC (Iniciativa de Terras Privadas) persuaded the government to provide community land titles – DUAT. Until, the present there is no formal conservation of Mabu. However, the associations "control" access to the mountain and forest.

Species

Among 126 species of birds identified, there are seven new populations of globally threatened species of birds in the forest, including the Thyolo alethe, whose other populations are all threatened by logging and deforestation. Others include Swynnerton's robin and Namuli apalis. [8] [3]

Several new species have been discovered in the Mount Mabu forest. The isolation of the rain forest, surrounded by savannah, makes it likely that it is host to many previously undiscovered species. Named species so far include:

There are likely many more new species in the forest, with likely candidates so far including a shrew, a pseudo-scorpion, frogs, snails, bats, catfish, and various insects. [18]

Conservation

In June 2009, the Mozambique government announced that they would establish conservation measures to prevent commercial logging. The Mabu forest is believed to be the largest medium-altitude rain forest in Africa. [19] African forests that are unspoiled by logging and other human activity are rare. The Mount Mabu forest is surrounded by areas devastated by the Mozambican Civil War (1977–1992). Poor road access, and its use as a refuge for local villagers during the war all contributed to its protection. No records of previous expeditions or collecting trips have been discovered. [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Bradypodion</i> Genus of lizards

Bradypodion is a genus of chameleons in the family Chamaeleonidae, collectively called South African dwarf chameleons. All species are found in South Africa and most are endemic to this country, but a few can also be found in Eswatini, Lesotho, southernmost Namibia and possibly southernmost Mozambique. They are quite small chameleons where the different species often can be difficult to separate by appearance, although exact location and the intense breeding colours of males are useful for their identification. They are arboreal, but some species are mostly found low in the vegetation.

<i>Rhampholeon</i> Genus of lizards

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<i>Kinyongia</i> Genus of lizards

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<i>Nadzikambia</i> Genus of lizards

Currently, two species are placed in the recently established genus Nadzikambia. They are plesiomorphic, small chameleons from the Ruo Gorge forest on Mount Mulanje in Malawi and Mount Mabu in Mozambique.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Namuli</span>

Mount Namuli is the second highest mountain in Mozambique and the highest in the Province of Zambezia. It is 2,420 m (7,940 ft) high and was measured, surveyed and described in 1886 by Henry Edward O'Neill, the British consul in Mozambique. The Namuli massif consists of a level plateau with the granite dome of Mount Namuli above. The area was historically clad in tropical rainforest and is an important biodiversity hotspot with many endemic species of animals and plants. The lower slopes are now mainly used for the cultivation of tea and the middle slopes for other agricultural purposes, with indigenous forest now mostly restricted to the higher parts and corridors along water courses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Zanzibar–Inhambane coastal forest mosaic</span> Tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion of eastern Africa

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Atheris mabuensis, the Mount Mabu forest viper, is a species of venomous snake in the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to Mozambique.

<i>Helixanthera schizocalyx</i> Species of mistletoe

Helixanthera schizocalyx is a species of loranth, or tropical mistletoe, discovered by a research team from Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew on Mount Mabu in northern Mozambique in 2008. In December 2010, it was announced that it was a new discovery and determined to be vulnerable to extinction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natal Midlands dwarf chameleon</span> Species of reptile

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Kinyongia carpenteri, commonly called Carpenter's chameleon or the helmeted chameleon, is a species of chameleon, a lizard in the family Chamaeleonidae. The species is native to central Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mlanje Mountain chameleon</span> Species of lizard

The Mlanje Mountain chameleon is one of two species in the genus Nadzikambia. It is a plesiomorphic, small chameleon from the Ruo Gorge forest on Mount Mulanje in Malawi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Mabu chameleon</span> Species of lizard

The Mount Mabu chameleon is one of two species in the genus Nadzikambia. It is a small chameleon from Mount Mabu in Mozambique.

<i>Ficus cyathistipula</i> Tropical African fig tree

''Ficus cyathistipula'', the African fig tree, is a species of fig that is native to the tropical forest regions of Africa. They may be small trees, shrubs or hemi-epiphytic lianas, and are widespread in the moist tropics, where they may be found in Afromontane or rainforest, often overhanging pools. The figs are reddish when ripe, and have thick, spongy walls that enable them to float on water. They are named for their cup-shaped (cyathus-) and persistent stipules (stipula).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Lico</span> Mountain in Mozambique

Mount Lico is an inselberg mountain in the Alto Molocue District of Zambezia Province in northern Mozambique, most notable for its old-growth rainforest and its lack of penetration by humans. Mount Lico is approximately 1,100 metres above sea level but is distinctive in having sheer rock walls of up to 700 metres above the surrounding countryside that have all but prevented human intrusion. The forest on top, within a volcanic crater, covers only about 30 hectares.

Rhampholeon bruessoworum, the Mount Inago pygmy chameleon, is a small species of chameleon endemic to Mozambique. It was described in 2014.

The Mount Mabu horseshoe bat is a species of horseshoe bat that is endemic to the Southeast African nation of Mozambique.

Mount Inago, also known as Serra Inago, is a mountain in northern Mozambique.

Roeperocharis bennettiana is a terrestrial orchid native of East Africa. It is one of the 4 known species of the genus Roeperocharis as of 2014. This species of orchid has been reported to grow on woodland, Mbuga and grassland vegetations.

<i>Rhampholeon maspictus</i> Species of lizard

Rhampholeon maspictus, the Mount Mabu pygmy chameleon, is a small native species of chameleon endemic to the tropical rainforests atop Mount Mabu in Zambezia, Mozambique. It is roughly 6 cm (2.4 in) long.

References

  1. ↑ "The discovery, biodiversity and conservation of Mabu forest—the largest medium-altitude rainforest in southern Africa" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-03-27. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  2. ↑ Spottiswoode, Claire N; Patel, Hassam I; Herrmann, Eric; Timberlake, Jonathan; Bayliss, Julian (April 1, 2008). "Threatened bird species on two little-known mountains (Chiperone and Mabu) in northern Mozambique". Ostrich. 79 (1): 1–7. doi:10.2989/OSTRICH.2008.79.1.1.359. S2CID   86727722 – via Taylor and Francis+NEJM.
  3. 1 2 3 "Exploring the 'Google forest'". BirdLife International. 26 January 2009. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  4. 1 2 Jowit, Juliette (21 December 2008). "British team discovers lost Eden amid forgotten forest of Africa". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  5. 1 2 "Helixanthera schizocalyx". Kew Plants & Fungi. Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. Archived from the original on 23 December 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  6. ↑ Fisher, Jonah (11 June 2009). "Exploring the 'Google forest'". BBC News. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  7. ↑ GrrlScientist (2 April 2024). "Hundreds Of New Species Discovered On Africa's Isolated Sky Islands". forbes.com. Forbes. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  8. ↑ "Many New Species Discovered In Hidden Mozambique Oasis With Help Of Google Earth". Science Daily. 1 February 2009. Archived from the original on 21 March 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  9. ↑ Branch, William R.; Tolley, Krystal A. (October 2010). "A new species of chameleon (Sauria: Chamaeleonidae: Nadzikambia) from Mount Mabu, central Mozambique". African Journal of Herpetology. 59 (2): 157–172. doi:10.1080/21564574.2010.516275. S2CID   84272547.
  10. ↑ Taylor P.J., Stoffberg S., Monadjem A., Schoeman M.C., Bayliss J., Cotterill F.P.D. (2012). "Four New Bat Species (Rhinolophus hildebrandtii Complex) Reflect Plio-Pleistocene Divergence of Dwarfs and Giants across an Afromontane Archipelago". PLOS ONE. 7 (9): e41744. Bibcode:2012PLoSO...741744T. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041744 . PMC   3440430 . PMID   22984399.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ↑ Branch WR, & Bayliss J (2009). "A new species of Atheris (Serpentes: Viperidae) from northern Mozambique". Zootaxa. 2113: 41–54. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.2113.1.2.
  12. ↑ BRANCH, WILLIAM R.; BAYLISS, JULIAN; BITTENCOURT-SILVA, GABRIELA B.; CONRADIE, WERNER; ENGELBRECHT, HANLIE M.; LOADER, SIMON P.; MENEGON, MICHELE; NANVONAMUQUITXO, CRISTÓVÃO; TOLLEY, KRYSTAL A. (July 25, 2019). "A new species of tree snake (Dipsadoboa, Serpentes: Colubridae) from 'sky island' forests in northern Mozambique, with notes on other members of the Dipsadoboa werneri group". Zootaxa. 4646 (3): 541–563. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4646.3.6. PMID   31717005. S2CID   199634456.
  13. ↑ BRANCH, WILLIAM R.; BAYLISS, JULIAN; TOLLEY, KRYSTAL A. (June 6, 2014). "Pygmy chameleons of the Rhampholeon platyceps compex(Squamata: Chamaeleonidae): Description of four new species from isolated 'sky islands' of northern Mozambique". Zootaxa. 3814 (1): 1–36. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3814.1.1. PMID   24943411. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Cymothoe baylissi description" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-01-27. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  15. ↑ Barbee, Jeffrey (25 March 2017). "'Who knows what we'll find next?' Journey to the heart of Mozambique's hidden forest". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 13 October 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  16. ↑ "A new species of Iolaus Hübner, [1819] subgenus Epamera Druce, 1891 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Theclinae) from Mts Namuli and Mabu, Northern Mozambique" (PDF). Metamorphosis. 27. Lepidopterists' Society of Africa: 23–30. 30 May 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-01-30. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
  17. ↑ "A new species of Leptomyrina Butler, 1898 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) from Mts Mecula, Namuli, Inago, Nallume and Mabu in Northern Mozambique" (PDF). Metamorphosis. 30. Lepidopterists' Society of Africa: 19–24. 3 December 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-01-30. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
  18. ↑ Barbee, Jeffrey (6 July 2009). "Expedition Discovers New Chameleon". Global Post. Archived from the original on 9 February 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  19. ↑ Windsor, Antonia (27 June 2009). "Mozambique agrees to protect lost rainforest of Mount Mabu". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 September 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
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