the project is located within the Bazaruto Archipelago, an area with scenic beauty landscapes of sand dunes, coastal forests, inland lakes and white sand shores; the region also comprises outstanding fauna and flora (marine mammals: species of whales, dolphins and the largest population of dugongs of the Western Indian Ocean; five species of sea turtles; highly productive coral reefs; seagrass meadows; and a rich birdlife and fish stocks populations); mapalo (Pintacta imbricata) is an important socioeconomic and biodiversity resource of the region for which the project will concentrate on its study and collaborative-management, limiting its depletion; simultaneously the project will promote sustainable alternative management models for the use of natural resources while increasing household income, and improving livelihoods.