– Makes it clear the $100M mangrove project is not a massive replanting effort
Chair of the Mangrove Action Committee (MAC), Mrs. Annette Arjoon-Martins, has cleared misconceptions about the $100M, government funded, Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project (GMRP). And she made it clear that the mangrove project is not a massive replanting effort; rather it is about protecting and managing existing mangrove forests, and restoring mangroves in areas where they have been depleted.
She made these remarks at the Pegasus Hotel during an interactive session with media operatives.
There she observed that the mangrove project has three components: public awareness, research and restoration.
With regard to public awareness, she noted that collaborations with the media are crucial to the success and sustainability of efforts to protect, manage and restore mangroves in Guyana.
To this end, Arjoon-Martins gave members of the media an overview of the project.
Under the GMRP, a National Mangrove Management Action Plan 2010 was developed and covers a three-year period, 2010 to 2012.
Once the final draft of the plan is approved by Cabinet, additional funding in the sum of 4.165M Euros is expected to be available to assist works.
In addition to work done with the plan, several regional consultations have been held in Regions Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), Three (West Demerara/ Essequibo Islands), Four (Demerara/Mahaica), Five (Mahaica/Berbice) and Six (East Berbice/Corentyne).
At present, consultations are ongoing in Region One (Barima/Waini) and the feedback from these consultations will reportedly assist in the preparation of the National Mangrove Management Action Plan 2010.
The momentum built through the plan’s successful implementation is expected to aid long term sustainability.
According to Arjoon-Martins, the objectives of the plan are to promote sustainable management of mangrove forest; develop effective protection of mangrove ecosystem and rehabilitation; increase public awareness and education on the benefits of the mangrove forests; establish and complete a legal framework for mangrove ecosystem management and encourage community-based mangrove management; and establish the administrative capacity for the management of mangroves in Guyana.
The MAC Chair outlined the benefits of mangrove forests, sea defence being primary among these. The others include the fact that mangrove forest sequester 10 times more carbon than regular forests; they provide small fishes with a nursery; they act as feeding grounds for birds like egrets; and they also grow land.
She explained that in areas where mangroves grow, the natural growth process sees the roots holding together an increasing amount of soil – building land, a plus for protecting the coastline against the sea.
Additionally, the MAC Chair explained that mangroves have eco-tourism value, since in communities, in the hinterland for example, they line a number of rivers and creeks and are the habitat for different animals.
Arjoon-Martins noted that the team to assist with the implementation of the plan includes representation from various regulatory bodies, all stakeholders in mangrove conservation.
She noted, too, that at least two specialists from other countries will be on board to ensure that implementation is done in the least expensive, but effective way.
Mangroves are essentially forests that are found on the seacoast and riverside that can grow in areas of high salinity and tidal flooding.
There are seven types of mangroves, but the more popular ones are the Red, Black and White mangroves.
Actions such as grazing animals in the mangroves, dumping of garbage in the mangrove forests, fishermen pulling their boats through mangroves and cutting mangrove trees for fuel and other purposes are the reasons for their destruction.
Support for the GMRP is expected to mitigate the impacts of such actions.
An estimated 80,000 hectares of mangrove forests remain; and in recognition of their importance they are protected under the recently revised Forest Act and the Sea Defences Act of 1998.
Earlier in the year, during revision of the Forest Act, Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud declared the mangroves a protected species.
Under the Sea Defences Act, destruction of mangroves carry a sentence of 12 months in prison and a fine of $12,000.