Kurarama Kuthemba Muty ("Kukumuty")
Community-led Miombo Enrichment and Agroforestry in Mozambique
Location: Chibabava District, Sofala, Mozambique
Project Partners: Plan Vivo, Azada Verde and Climate Lab
Start date: May 2022
Project overview
The Kukumuty project is revitalising the Miombo woodlands – a critical ecosystem spanning 10% of Africa – while supporting rural communities to build sustainable and resilient livelihoods. Centred in the Chibabava District of central Mozambique, the initiative combines local knowledge with innovative approaches to deliver lasting social and environmental impact.
Collaborating with almost 3,000 residents in the Mangunde and Regulado communities, the project has plans to scale up to surrounding areas. Key activities include planting native Miombo species, establishing agroforestry systems with commercially valuable trees, and boosting carbon sequestration to combat climate change.
Named after the Ndau phrase ‘Kurarama Kuthemba Muty’ – meaning ‘we live and hope because of the trees’ – the Kukumuty project highlights the potential of community-driven solutions. By fostering climate resilience, restoring ecosystems, and improving livelihoods, it sets a benchmark for scalable and sustainable initiatives supporting communitas across the Indian Ocean region.
The Value of Miombo Woodlands
The Miombo woodlands are home to 8,500 plant species, more than half of which are endemic, making them a critical biodiversity hotspot. They are also vital to millions of rural households across the region, supplying food, fuel, and livelihoods.
However, changing climate patterns and growing economic pressures have increased demands on Miombo resources, leading to deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and degradation of ecosystem services. Preserving and restoring the Miombo woodlands is essential not only for environmental health but also for sustaining the communities that depend on them.
Project Objectives
Leverage Local Knowledge
Harness the deep agroecological knowledge of rural communities to understand how changing climatic patterns and economic pressures are impacting the Miombo woodland landscape. This local knowledge is applied to restore and sustainably manage an initial project area of 369 hectares.
Support Woodland Enrichment
Enrich the Miombo woodlands in community-identified areas through soil and fire management and planting native species sourced from local and project-established nurseries. Sustainable harvesting of grasses, honey, and Miombo fruits within these project areas will strengthen ecosystem resilience.
Establish Sustainable Land-Use Practices
Develop agroforestry lots with irrigation, incorporating commercially viable fruit, nut, medicinal, and other native trees to support community livelihoods.
Increase Floral Diversity
Boost floral diversity in areas currently dominated by species of Combretum trees by introducing more endemic Miombo species, thereby significantly raising biodiversity over time.
Boost Carbon Sequestration
Increase carbon sequestration across the project areas to provide long-term socio-environmental benefits and support community-driven reinvestments.
More information
Plan Vivo Kukumuty Webpage – Learn how the project contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals through the Plan Vivo website.
Kukumuty Becomes First Project Certified Beneath Updated Carbon Standard – Read how Kukumuty has become the first project to be certified beneath Version 5 of the Plan Vivo Carbon Standard (PV Climate).