– residents informed of importance of their role in the protection, restoration and management of mangroves
IN an effort to further secure the commitment of communities toward the protection and development of sustainable mangrove forests, a sensitization workshop was held on Saturday at the Colonial Visitor Centre in Victoria, East Coast Demerara.

Members of the Victoria Mangrove Action Committee (VMAC) and community members attended this meeting, facilitated by the Chairperson of the Mangrove Action Committee, Ms. Annette Arjoon-Martins.

Community Mangrove Action Committees (CMACs) were formed in recognition of the fact that community involvement, capacity building, and support are critical for the short and long-term realization of the goals of the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Programme (GMRP).
To date, such Committees have been established in the Victoria/Belfield restoration area and the Lusignan/Mon Repos area, and have been supported by GMRP in an effort to initiate and sustain the participation of the wider community towards the sustainable management of their mangrove forests.
During Saturday’s exercise, community members were informed of the importance of their role in the protection, restoration and management of the mangroves along the coastline.
“90 percent of our agriculture is along the coastline, our city is below sea level, and 90 percent of us live along the low-lying coastline  and face the constant threat of rising sea levels and climate change effects,” Arjoon-Martins explained.
Continuing, she noted that the National Mangrove Action Plan(NMAP), developed by local mangrove specialist Mr. Owen Bovell, was formulated to direct the four-year plan, and informed  community members that all species of mangroves are now protected under the Forestry Act of Guyana.
In addition, participants were also told about the proposed plans for the establishment of the ‘Mangrove Reserve’ to be located between the Golden Grove and Belfield communities on the East Coast of Demerara.
The VMAC and many of the villagers have been working towards the declaration of their mangrove forest as ‘a mangrove reserve’ through raising public awareness in their community as it relates to the usage and protection of mangroves.
One of the key threats to mangrove ecosystems and general health of the community, identified by the committee, is garbage disposal. In this regard, several clean-up exercises have been planned and executed by VMAC and villagers, with support from the GMRP.
According to the Monitoring Officer of the Mangrove Project, Mr. Jason Chacon,
14 schools have also participated in this clean-up exercise.
As to the importance of this, he said: “This clean-up campaign makes persons aware of the threat of garbage to the mangroves, and also teaches them about the importance of the mangroves.”
To date, 2.5 kilometres of the reserve have been cleared of garbage, he added.
Community members were also awarded three contracts for the growing of seedlings, which will be replanted in Belfield.

THE MANGROVE HERITAGE TRAIL

A 30-minute drive from Georgetown will take you to the 2.5 kilometres mangrove reserve nestled between the Golden Grove and Belfield communities.
At this location, four species of mangroves can be found including several species of birds such as the Flamingos, Scarlet Ibis, Wattled Jacan, Egret and Heron. The spot also contains a wetland area teeming with Tilapia and Patwa for fishing.
The communities in this reserve will also benefit from visitors by earning incomes from tour guiding, horse cart tours, honey production, and cultural presentations.
Apiculture is already practised at the proposed site  with support from  GMRP in the areas of enhancing product marketing and promotion.
In light of the proposed reserve, the Mangrove Heritage Trail was established to further highlight the benefits of the project, as well as the heritage and cultural aspects of the communities.
The tour begins with a brief introduction and orientation at the 150-year-old Colonial Visitor Centre where visitors will learn about mangrove conservation and management.
After this, they will be taken by horse cart to Victoria Village, the first village bought by the freed slaves by pooling their wages, and will see the original hut where former slaves collected their wages and the church in which they worshipped, all the while being regaled by stories from the accompanying tour guides.
During this trip, they will also be privy to important aspects of the rich heritage of the village as they proceed to the seawall for the educational mangrove tour.
While here, the visiting party will be given a chance to see the four species of mangrove trees that line the seawall including the Black, Red, White, and Buttonwood Mangroves.
The mangrove forests are the major coastal ecosystems found in Guyana and are therefore highly valuable. It should also be noted that four of the seven species found in the country are located at this site which is a rare and unique occurrence.
As a result, this site can provide opportunities for education, awareness and scientific research and the creation of the reserve is expected to have   a positive impact on biodiversity conservation.
In February 2010, the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Agriculture, with funding from the European Union’s Global Climate Change programme, launched the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project (GMRP) and is being accomplished through objectives outlined in the National Mangrove Action Plan (NMAP).