A baseline for a wild floodplain: photographic survey in central Mozambique
The managers of a floodplain reserve in central Mozambique needed a reliable picture of wildlife and human pressures across a vast, often flooded landscape. In June 2026, we flew a photographic baseline survey to give them one.
At a glance
Region: Central Mozambique
Ecosystem: Floodplain wetland
Area: 205,700 ha
Date: June 2026
Flights: 9 flights over 7 days
Images: 148,482
Coverage: 92.7% of the area photographed
The challenge
Earlier aerial surveys of the area had used different designs and covered different areas, so their numbers couldn't be compared directly. The reserve needed a baseline that could be repeated in future years.
What we did
We flew 3,909 km of survey lines over nine flights, covering the full reserve and the neighbouring floodplain. Images were captured along 99.5% of the planned lines. Every image was annotated by hand, and every detection was reviewed by an ecologist. We recorded wildlife, carcasses and signs of human activity.
Results
Buffalo: about 30,600
Waterbuck: about 25,800
Warthog: about 2,000
Hippo: about 680
Southern reedbuck: about 400
Elephant: about 270
The same images mapped huts, cultivated fields, boats and fishing camps. Wildlife was most concentrated in the centre of the floodplain, while people and farming were mostly along the edges. Very few wattled cranes were recorded, so we recommended a dedicated survey for this vulnerable species.
Fishing nets on the shore A fire burning at the floodplain edge
Left: fishing nets on the shore. Right: a fire burning at the floodplain edge. The survey mapped human activity alongside wildlife.
Why it matters
The reserve now has a repeatable baseline of where its wildlife and human pressures are. Future surveys flown the same way will show real change over time. The imagery is a permanent record that can be re-analysed as new questions arise.
Need a baseline for your landscape? Get in touch and we'll design a survey that fits your aims and objectives.
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