Biodiversity survey discover over 1,000 animal, plant species in central Mozambique

Source: Xinhua| 2019-09-17 23:35:32|Editor: Mu Xuequan
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MAPUTO, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- More than 1,000 species of animals and plants including a number of species new to Mozambique and several potentially new to science were discovered in central Mozambique's Manica province.

The discovery, results of a two-week biodiversity survey that took place in late 2018 in a section of an under-researched conservation area named Chimanimani, was announced in a statement by the country's National Conservation Area Administration (ANAC) on Tuesday.

The findings include 231 species of birds, 176 plants, 42 mammals, 22 amphibian species, 45 reptiles and more than 450 insects, according to the statement.

One bat species is believed to be new to Mozambique and one frog, one lizard, and a bush-cricket are believed to be new to science. Several species of animals were recorded for the first time in Mozambique, it said.

Experts stressed the importance of protecting the rich biodiversity of this landscape from threats such as mining, logging and demographic increase.

"It is critical that threats to the landscape, including illegal mining as well as poaching, logging and harmful farming practices are addressed, so that we can protect this unique landscape for generations to come," according to Lionel Massicane, Warden of the Chimanimani National Reserve.

The Chimanimani National Reserve have been inhabited for centuries and contain important historical sites, including Stone Age cave paintings and ruins dating back to the Great Zimbabwe era of the 14th and 15th centuries.

Together with Zimbabwe's Chimanimani National Park, the Chimanimani National Reserve is a transboundary protected area covering about 1,000 km².

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