Mozambique: New discoveries could save Mabu rainforest
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00:00It's known as the Sky Island.
00:03Sitting atop a remote mountain, surrounded by lowland, Mount Mabu, the largest rainforest
00:09in southern Africa, could soon become a protected area, as explorers document hundreds of new
00:14species unique to the forest.
00:17I hope that we have a new species for this area.
00:20That's very exciting.
00:21Amazing.
00:22Remote, and little known to the outside world up until about 20 years ago, the jungle remains
00:27lush and almost untouched compared to other major forests.
00:32Such isolation means that fauna and flora have grown in their own environment without
00:37mixing their DNA with other breeds, strains or species.
00:40The forest is in excellent condition.
00:43The water is crystal clear.
00:44This is about as good as it gets.
00:46Snakes, butterflies and bugs, the rainforest is a haven for biodiversity.
00:51Oh my God, I mean, what have we discovered here?
00:54Each expedition brings groundbreaking discoveries to the scientific world.
00:58I thought that he was like four metres up in a small vine.
01:02The cambia belissi, it's a chameleon which is only found on Mount Mabu.
01:08Naming and documenting new species is the first step in protecting them, but also in
01:13understanding their role in healthy ecosystems.
01:16Dong beetles, for example, are essential to a well-functioning environment.
01:20Dr Daniels has already discovered a dozen different species native to the rainforest.
01:25And to attract them, he uses his own unconventional methods.
01:29I'm using my feces as a bait to attract dong beetles here in the forest.
01:35Turning Mount Mabu into a protected area means that logging and mining will be forbidden,
01:40bringing Mozambique closer to its commitment to protect 30% of its land by 2030, in line
01:46with COP 15 agreements to fight climate change.
01:50For more UN videos visit www.un.org