Geography:
Chinizua Forest lies in Central Mozambique between Beira and the Zambezi River. The concession area lies north–north west of Beira, about 110 km north of Dondo, and directly west of the small village of Condue in the Sofala Province with the boundaries following water-courses more or less. This is still an open system without fences restricting the movement of wildlife. The topography is generally flat or gently undulating with a slope of near zero, and depressions on the Chinizuia river and its tributaries. The average altitude is around 200-300 m, with an annual rainfall of 1 000 – 1 200 mm. The climate in the miombo region is characterised by an alternation of wet and dry seasons. Human population densities are still relatively low and transformation of the original land cover is therefore limited.

The forest consists mainly of mature Msasa and riverine vegetation along the Chinizua River and its tributaries. The forest contains many threatened or endangered ecosystems and forest areas containing regionally significant concentrations of high biodiversity values. These forests have a high biodiversity value, not only of woody spp but also ferns and tree orchids. Much of these areas are regionally under threat from irresponsible log exports and from charcoal production.

The area consists mainly of

a) Brachystegia spiciformis (Msasa)(85%) but also
b) Pterocarpus angolensis (Umbila)
c) Julbernardia globiflora (Muinbe)
d) Afzelia quanzensis (Chanfuta)
e) Albizia versicolor (Tanga-tanga)
f) Khaya anthotheca (Umbaúa)
g) Millettia stuhlmannii (Panga-panga)
h) Amblygonocarpus andongensis (Banga-wanga)


Vegetation
The main vegetation is miombo woodlan. Miombo is a colloquial term used to describe the woodlands dominated by the genera of Brachystegia, Julbernardia and Isoberlinia, three closely related genera from the legume family (Fabaceae, subfamily Caesalpinioideae). Miombo woodland is the most extensive vegetation type in the Zambezian phytoregion but globally miombo has a limited distribution, being confined to the deciduous woodlands of southern central Africa. Locally, vegetation patterns show a) Closed miombo woodland/forest just east of the Muanza-Inhaminga road, with mixed open and closed understorey b) Riverine forest along streams running south-east from this road towards the coast, with generally closed understorey and associated tree and understorey species of coastal forest c) Open miombo woodland to open grassland along the relatively shallow ridges and dambos between the stream lines, with clumped stands of shrubs The miombo woodland on the FMU is very tall and although found on nutrient poor soils, the deep sands hold water and are obviously able to support very tall trees. Scattered throughout the woodland are termite mounds. These are reputed to go down to the water table level. They support a woody vegetation with a higher nutrient and moisture requirement than the miombo spp which increases the biodiversity within the miombo woodlands. There are a number of streams, including the Chinizuia river and its many tributaries, which rise in open grassland areas and support a very diverse and interesting riverine woody vegetation. In addition a large number of ferns and epiphytic orchids are present. The miombo woodlands of the Midlands and Cheringoma Plateau have always been very lightly stocked with larger mammals despite the presence of perennial water and the lack of human habitation over large areas. Current wildlife diversity and numbers are very low in the concession area. This pattern is largely the result of the occurrence of more nutrient-rich soils with higher-quality grazing in the Rift Valley.

Ecology:
Miombo trees are frost sensitive and do not tolerate absolute minimum temperatures below - 4° C and this may be the significant factor that determines the southernmost limit of miombo distribution in the Zambezian phytoregion. Miombo vegetation is absent on soils that are alkaline (pH=7) and those that are water-logged. Under these edaphic conditions miombo gives way to swamp or riparian forest. Top soil moisture content is very variable because of seasonality of rainfall. Miombo soils have a low concentration of organic matter, macro nutrients and exchangeable bases. Miombo woodland has a higher species diversity than many other vegetation types in the Zambezian phytoregion. Since it grows on poor soils, high species diversity in miombo probably increases the probability for the coexistence of different strategies for nutrient retention. Trees in miombo have deep tap roots and extensive lateral roots which probably capture nutrients lost from the upper soil layers through leaching. Some of these nutrients are returned to the top soil through leaf fall and litter decomposition. These processes of nutrient uptake from the soil, litter production and decomposition ensure a stable but tight cycling of essential nutrients and are probably the basis for sustainable production in miombo ecosystems. Leaf fall peaks during August to October while leaf flush occurs during August to November.