Mangrove Communities

The globally important Rufiji Delta, Tanzania, was one of thirteen important sites identified (see table below). Four sites were ranked as being of ecoregional importance, two of which are located in Kenya (Lamu and Tana Delta), and two in Mozambique (Sofala Bank including the Zambezi Delta, and Bazaruto-Queuene). Six sites including the cross border site of Lindi-Ruvuma (Tanzania-Mozambique) were of subregional importance with two less known sites in Somalia (Shebela Delta) and the Kenya-Tanzania cross border site of Vanga-Tanga meriting further attention. Global importance was assigned to the Rufiji Delta for its extensive area with high habitat and species diversity. These features provide important linkages between marine and freshwater ecosystems (e.g. as breeding and feeding area for species from linked systems such as coral reefs and freshwater wetlands), and abundance of freshwater and marine predators. Factors used for designation of ecoregionally important sites were distinctive location amongst sand dunes (Bazaruto-Queuene), highest concentration of one species (Tana Delta), habitat and species diversity
(Lamu and Sofala Bank), and interaction with terrestrial wildlife (Lamu and to some extent Sofala Bank).

Summary of important mangrove community sites

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