The public awareness component of the National Mangrove Action Plan 2010 continues and members of the Mangrove Action Committee (MAC), on Monday, took their campaign to the Essequibo Islands.
The MAC members made stops at Leguan and Wakenaam. Wakenaam was the first stop and in Leguan the MAC members visited several villages.
Project Coordinator; Mr. Bissasar Chintamanie, said that the outreach was successful.
“Since the visit to Wakenaam coincided with a visit by the Agriculture Minister, we were able to meet a fair amount of people,” he said.
Chintamanie explained that the island is very vulnerable to high tides and thus restoration of mangroves is important.
Prior to this, regional consultations were conducted in Regions One (Barima/ Waini), Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam), Three (West Demerara/ Essequibo Islands), Four (Demerara/ Mahaica), Five (Mahaica/ Berbice) and Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne).
Currently meetings are also being held with focal groups in different parts of the country to address the further advancement of efforts to protecting, managing and restoring mangrove forests.
Under the $100M, government-funded, Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project (GMRP), the National Mangrove Action Plan 2010 covers a three year period, 2010 to 2012. The momentum built through successful implementation is expected to aid long term sustainability.
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.
Also, under the European Union’s Global Climate Change Alliance budget line, a programme linked to sustainable Coastal Zone Management was developed and a total of $4.165M Euros is expected to be made available for this project.
The Project Coordinator indicated that the MAC is expected to return to the islands to look at possible restoration sites.
“Many women folk are interested in getting involved in planting mangroves…we have planned to return to the island to conduct training sessions,” he said.
Chintamanie observed that stakeholders were very supportive of the project activities and affirmed that this is a “good step forward.”

Referring to Leguan, Chintamanie said, “The western part of the island is pretty intact with respect to mangroves. However, the eastern and northern sides have poor stands of mangroves”.
According to him, these sites will have to be evaluated to see weather mangrove planting is possible.
The Project Coordinator stated that for successful establishment of mangroves stands, there must be a stabilized mud bank.
Additionally, Mr. Paul McAdam, Community Development Specialist with the MAC, said “We will be coming back to the schools and the NDC’s (Neighbourhood Democratic Councils) to continue our public awareness drive”.
According to him this is very crucial in order for the project activities to be implemented successfully”.
In the coming weeks similar visits are planned for Berbice River as well as Bartica.
The importance of mangroves, apart from sea defences, extends to other areas.
Mangroves serve to shield inland areas during storms, trap sediment and break down pollutants, serve as a source of food for fish, shrimp and crabs that live in rivers and shallow areas of the sea/ocean, provide homes and nurseries for many animals, primarily fishes, and provide a safe haven for juvenile fish, shrimp and crab located on Guyana’s coastline.
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, engendered via the public awareness, is expected to mitigate the impacts of such actions.