Kukumuty
Kukumuty is providing community led enrichment of Miombo forests in and around Chibabava, Mozambique, regenerating climate resilient agroecosystems and livelihood.
PROJECT SUMMARY
Located in southeast Africa, Kukumuty (‘we live through the trees’) is a community-led Miombo enrichment and agroforestry project in Sofala, Mozambique. The project works with rural households in the Mangunde Regulado (Chibabava District, Mozambique). As well as enriching Miombo woodlands, Kukumuty sets up agroforestry nurseries for growing horticultural and fuelwood species. Over time it will upscale into surrounding communities.
The Miombo tropical woodland ecosystem covers roughly 10% of the African continent. It is rich in biodiversity with 8500 floristic species, more than half of which are endemic. Miombo is considered a plagioclimax community formed and maintained by continuous human activity for at least 12,000 years. In central and northern Mozambique, this complex agro-ecosystem mosaic supports nearly two-thirds of rural livelihoods and energy requirements. Changing climate patterns, combined with growing economic stress for rural households have increased pressure on Miombo woodland resources, tree cover, biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Land area
1987 ha
Project Status
Active
Participants
8398
Founding Partners & year
Climate Lab, Azada Verde, Reseed Indico, 2022
Certified Under
Plan Vivo Climate
TCO₂ – total verified carbon benefit
28,504
Project Type
Afforestation, reforestation and agroforestry
Key Species
Miombo natives Brachystegia spiciformis (Msasa), Julbernardia globiflora (Mnondo), Isoberlinia angolensis (Miombo redwood), Pterocarpus angolensis (African teak / Wild teak), Uapaca kirkiana (Wild loquat / Masuku), Baikiaea plurijuga (Zambezi teak)
How it works
3 Ecosystem Regeneration Strategies
- Miombo Soil Strategy, built on community knowledge of grasses and soil quality, to create a ‘soil fertility map’ and then mulching and swaling for water retention.
- Miombo Fire Strategy, built on community knowledge of fire and the creation of strategic fire breaks.
- Miombo Enrichment Strategy using biomass and soil monitoring combined with targeted planting of native Miombo trees.
All this regeneration work is lead by the communities.
What Makes This Project Special
Community led ecosystem regeneration
Kukumuty (‘we live through the trees’) is strongly led from local and indigenous knowledge and cultural practices. This is informing the work of Miombo woodland regeneration.
Miombo enrichment
Rather than just planting trees, the project enriches degraded Miombo woodland, one of Africa’s largest and most biodiverse tropical woodlands.
Balanced 3 step approach
Focuses on soil fertility, fore management and targeted planting of native species.
Certified under a robust community carbon standard
Kukumuty is the first project registered under the new Version 5 of the Plan Vivo Foundation standard, demonstrating high-integrity verification of both climate and community outcomes.
Scalable community approach
Founding partners Climate Lab, Reseed Indico and Azada Verde see strong opportunities to expand into more Miombo forests and villages.
Responding to challenge
- Degraded woodland recovery timelines
Miombo ecosystems regenerate slowly, requiring long-term protection, enrichment planting and sustained stewardship before measurable outcomes are realised.
- Fire management pressures
Seasonal and unmanaged fires pose ongoing risks to woodland recovery, seedling survival and carbon permanence.
- Rural livelihood constraints
Communities depend on fuelwood, charcoal and subsistence farming, creating pressure on restored areas if alternative income options are limited.
Project Documentation
For a transparent overview of the project’s progress and impact, the latest annual report
is available for download.
Full technical documentation, including the Verification Statement and Project Design Document (PDD), is available to all partners through the dedicated Client Hub.