Mozambique has become subject to one of the largest infrastructure project financing in Africa totalling $2.7 billion. The vast investment is financing the Nacala Logistics Corridor (CLN) – a railway system stretching 900 kilometres from the coalmines in western Mozambique moving east to the port of Nacala.
COWI's role is to ensure the sustainability of the project through biotic monitoring of the impacts of the Nacala Logistics Corridor. The primary objective is to gain insight into the status of the area and different components such as mangroves, seagrass meadows, marine and terrestrial fauna and marine sediments. Landsat images were also used to assists identifying and mapping changes in the mangrove and seagrass communities.
Biotic monitoring allows for better management of the project, timely corrective measures and minimal disturbance of the surrounding flora and fauna. The monitoring results were shared in the international scientific forum Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA).