THE Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project (GRMP) attracted regional support yesterday when over 100 volunteers from 10 Caribbean countries teamed up in the early morning hours at Hope, East Coast Demerara, to assist in planting mangrove seedlings and cleaning up the beach. Planting began last Saturday and with support from the Mangrove Action Committee (MAC), the Agriculture Ministry’s Drainage and Irrigation (D&I) workers and community volunteers have undertaken planting.
A total of 13 acres was expected to be planted with the seedlings by the end of the week, but circumstances have shifted that to next week.
These works are part of a larger effort, guided by the National Mangrove Action Plan 2010-2015, to ensure that Guyana’s mangroves are protected, managed and restored.
The volunteers are in Guyana for the Caribbean Award Sub-Regional Council (CASC), CASC 2010, hosted by the President’s Youth Award Republic of Guyana (PYARG).
CASC 2010 is being held under the theme ‘Experience the Nature Kingdom’ and is a 16-day event that seeks to provide participants with a unique, challenging and memorable experience.
The ‘camp’ ends on Sunday and the group’s involvement with the project is part of the community service work done annually in the territory where the volunteers meet.
One of the volunteers, Alicia Pompey, in an invited comment, said the PYARG volunteers are in full support of the GMRP, since it addresses protection of the environment in a sustainable way.
“We will like to encourage community members to assist with the projects in their area and for them to do everything possible to ensure that the mangroves are protected,” she said.
CASC 2010
Guyana hosted Caribbean Award Sub-Regional Council (CASC) in 1999, one year after gaining independent operator status from the International Award Authority (IAA).
The more than 100 participants and Unit Leader are expected to be exposed, among other things, to certified Lifeguard, swimming instructors, HIV/Health peer education, a study of the expedition routes, the Award-in-action, a residential project, a qualifying expedition and cultural exchanges.
The objectives of the 2010 forum are to: promote a new spirit of discovery for all participants; provide participants with a real life changing experience of the Award in Guyana; foster a greater awareness of the social issues that impacts the lives of the Caribbean Youths and effect positive behavioural change; provide entertainment and fun for youths in a safe environment; and provide a platform for strengthening exchange amongst Award youths towards sharing of experiences and best practices and expanding partnerships and opportunities for meaningful youth engagement and development.
Pompey said, “The response from the participants has been sheer excitement…many of them have not had this experience and they want to be involved because they get the chance to make a difference in protecting the environment.”
However, even as she made this observation, the volunteer said enforcement of policies, in the interest of ensuring that the efforts of stakeholders do not go in vain, is a concern.
At present under the Sea Defence Act of 1998 destruction of mangrove forests carries a fine of $12,000 and a sentence of 12 months imprisonment.
Also, the amended Forestry Act of 2010 also provides for penalties in the event of mangrove destruction.
Additionally, Director of the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), Dr. Oudho Homenauth, said the GMRP is moving apace.
He maintained that the project has access to adequate resources, both manual and technical, to see the project through to completion and lauded the tremendous stakeholder support.
The GMRP Coordinator, Mr. Bissasar Chintamanie, reiterated the latter and noted that it is “encouraging” to see interest in the environment picking up, particularly at the level of the average man.
“The support for protecting the eco-system and the mitigation of climate change effects, especially mangrove restoration, is something of a success,” he said.
The approach employed to address restoration of mangrove is the Ecosystem Mangrove Restoration (EMR) approach. The EMR approach has specific steps: step one is to understand which mangrove species belongs at a particular site and what conditions it needs to grow successfully; step two is to understand the existing conditions at the site and to figure out what is preventing the normal growth of the mangrove trees; step three is to amend the site conditions, once adequate assessments have been done, so that they meet the needs of the mangroves; and step four is top only plant new mangroves if re-growth is not occurring.
The GMRP is a $100M, government funded, initiative and its objectives 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 project is managed by the Mangrove Action Committee (MAC), established under the GMRP, within the Climate Change and Agricultural Adaptation Unit of NARI.
Mangroves are essentially forests that are found on the seacoast and riverside that can grow in areas of high salinity and tidal flooding.
Apart from sea defences, the importance of mangroves extends to other areas. Mangroves serve to shield inland areas during storms; trap sediments 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 provides a safe haven for juvenile fish, shrimp and crab located on Guyana’s coastline.