This coast experiences two monsoon seasons each year, strong ocean currents and rising seas up to 5.6m in Mozambique.

The Bazaruto Archipelago is an example of offshore mangroves sheltered by coral and intermingled with a mixture of shoreline habitats such as grassy sand dunes and rockpools.

[citation needed] The swamps are also important feeding grounds for large numbers of migratory birds such as curlew sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea), little stint (Calidris minuta) and Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia), waterbirds such as crab-plover (Dromas ardeola), yellow-billed stork and malachite kingfisher, and seabirds such as roseate tern (Sterna dougallii).

[citation needed] The mangroves have been harvested for timber for centuries by traders from the nearby Arabian Peninsula.

[citation needed] All along the coast mangrove swamps have been cleared, not only for timber but for urban areas, salt panning and agriculture including rice growing and shrimp cultivation.