STAKEHOLDERS and students of the Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast branch of Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) were trained in mangrove planting on two experimental plots on Sunday June, 27. About 150 plants were planted, the specialist, Professor Owen Bovell, attached to the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project (GMRP) reported after the exercises at La Belle Alliance and Lima.
He said at La Belle Alliance, where planting was done about a month before, the success of that undertaking was assessed at 83 per cent.
“There is vigorous root growth and, while there is not much vegetative growth, having the plants anchored is the first and most important thing,” Mr. Bovell said, acknowledging that there are challenges amidst the success.
He said, at Lima, they planted there for the first time and, in another two weeks, the GSA students will be instrumental in measuring the progress and feeding that data back to the Mangrove Action Committee (MAC).
The MAC was established to ensure the realisation of the objectives of the National Mangrove Management Action Plan 2010, a three-year GMRP scheme.
Bovell said the experience of the recent involvement would have made the participants aware of the specifics of the GMRP, exposed them to the planting which involves a different technique and afford them knowledge of the mechanics of selecting a site for the purpose.
“Together with the training that was done to sensitise the GSA students on mangroves, the actual planting was a good experience,” he said.
Bovell said the GSA students are able to easily identify the different mangrove types and their benefits.
The importance of mangroves, apart from sea defences, extends to other areas, like shielding inland areas during storms; trapping sediments and breaking down pollutants; serving as a source of food for fish, shrimps and crabs that live in rivers and shallow parts of the sea/ ocean; providing homes and nurseries for many animals, primarily fishes and a safe haven for juvenile fish, shrimps and crabs.
Bovell said the public awareness has worked and progress has been seen, as the GMRP is moving smoothly and in line with their schedule for achieving the goals.
“The project will better our natural means of sea defences and, in time, we will be able to estimate the impact on our fisheries sector. Immediately, in the next three years or so, we will see the impact on our sea defences. The impact on our fisheries will be more long term and there will be benefits for other aspects of biodiversity, too,” he offered.
DEDICATED EFFORTS
Bovell said small and dedicated efforts to facilitate training students and undertake experimental planting will deliver results soon.
GMRP Coordinator, Mr. Bissasar Chintamanie, said the experimental planting is quintessential to be able to map future areas.
“The purpose of experimental planting is to assess the type of soil and which is better for a particular mangrove plant. We are looking to see the conditions under which the mangrove plants thrive better,” he said.
Chintamanie pointed out that, aside from the soil typing data, they experiment with different planting methods.
He said, at La Belle Alliance, a non-protective approach was used where the mangroves were planted and left under conditions that are similar to those seen in natural growth.
Chintamanie said the protective approach is where the mangroves are planted and breakwaters are created to prevent the wave action from destroying them.
“We are doing both so we can properly evaluate growth,” he said.
Chintamanie said, too, that the development of mangroves depends on a tropical climate, shores free of strong waves and tidal action, a large tidal range and saline conditions, among others.
He said the overall objective of the entire venture is to abate climate change and to mitigate its effects through the protection, management and restoration of Guyana’s mangrove ecosystem.