Maputo National Park’s Sea Turtles UNESCO Nomination
By Steven Collins 29 May 2025
In a historic push for global conservation recognition, Mozambique’s Maputo National Park has been recommended for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Announced in Paris, France, on May 29, 2025, this nomination highlights the park’s vital role in marine conservation and its exceptional biodiversity.
If approved during the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Paris this July, Maputo National Park will join South Africa’s iSimangaliso Wetland Park as a transboundary World Heritage Site. This would be a monumental achievement for Mozambique, showcasing the region’s ecological importance on an international stage.
Situated along Mozambique’s southern coast, Maputo National Park boasts pristine beaches, vibrant coral reefs, and expansive seagrass meadows. These habitats support a diverse array of marine life, including the endangered loggerhead and leatherback turtles that nest on its shores. Watching these hatchlings journey to the ocean is a timeless reminder of nature’s resilience and the importance of protecting these critical ecosystems.
Beyond turtles, the park is a haven for flamingos, migratory birds, and a rich variety of marine species. Its coastal and marine ecosystems play a pivotal role in sustaining biodiversity within the Western Indian Ocean.
This recommendation comes amid broader efforts by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to promote natural site nominations from underrepresented regions. Other notable sites vying for UNESCO recognition this year include Guinea-Bissau’s Bijagós Archipelago, Sierra Leone’s Gola-Tiwai Complex, and Lao PDR’s Hin Nam No National Park.
The Bijagós Archipelago, another standout nominee, mirrors Maputo’s ecological importance. It serves as a major nesting ground for sea turtles in the eastern Atlantic and provides vital habitats for migratory birds and intertidal species.
IUCN’s evaluation process involved over 120 global experts who assessed eight nominations and reviewed conservation efforts across 70 existing sites. According to Tim Badman of IUCN, these nominations underscore the urgency of protecting ecosystems that are not only critical for wildlife but also for sustainable community development.
For Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau, successful nominations would mark their first natural World Heritage recognitions, emphasizing Africa’s invaluable marine and coastal resources. Protected areas like Maputo National Park offer a glimpse into a sustainable future where sea turtles and other endangered species thrive for generations to come.
This article is adapted from the SADC TFCA Portal.
