SEVERAL residents along the coastal belt of Demerara and Berbice on Saturday last took up the challenge of supporting the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project (GMRP) by serving in newly established Mangrove Reserves Committees MRCs). The MRCs are a separate body from the village based Mangrove Action Committees (MACs) launched last year.
While the MACs are concerned primarily with the restoration of Mangroves in areas where cultivation is feasible the MRCs are concerned with the protection and conservation of existing healthy
And mature stands of the coastal forest, specifically in the villages in which they reside.
Twelve-member MRCs will monitor and manage healthy mangrove forests in their area and are expected to carry out education and awareness activities, targeting their fellow residents, on the importance of mangroves for a variety of services including sea defense and the
reasons why these trees should be protected and conserved and not destroyed.
The MRCs will have access to support from the GMRP and all relevant Government agencies in execution of their duties in conserving mangroves as sea defenses, as part of Guyana’s natural heritage and
ecosystem, as well as a relatively inexpensive adaptation to the threat of climate change.
All this was disclosed by chairperson of the GMRP Mrs. Annette Arjoon-Martins during a training and capacity building workshop held for MRC volunteers at the Mangrove Visitor Centre at Cove and John,
East Coast Demerara last weekend.
She stressed that MRCs will in return receive the support of the GMRP With livelihood projects such as beekeeping and honey production, tourism and where necessary marketing at both the local and
international levels of produce from cottage industries already in existence or developed.
The members of the MRCs which received training on Saturday last are from communities on the Corentyne from Phillipi to Tarlogie; the East Coast of Demerara from Mahaica and Golden Grove to Belfield and
on the West Coast of Berbice from Abary to Profit.
Their role will be to represent communities involved in mangrove restoration and conservation projects and to support activities aimed at providing alternative livelihoods and mangroves community awareness.
In a presentation Arjoon-Martins debunked the myth that the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) was based mainly on conservation of forests in the hinterland.
“Sometimes when we think of forests we think mainly about the forests in the hinterland. But we not only have these, we have coastal forests which are equally important to our LCDS.”
“The mangroves, which are our coastal forests, must be as strenuously protected from damage /deforestation as those in our hinterland.”
The newly established MRCs are expected to elect office bearers such as Chairmen, Deputy Chairmen, Secretaries and Treasurers.
The MRCs are expected to development a six month work plan, including community mangrove awareness activities, and to meet once a month to review implementation.
The members will be supported by a full time ranger whose task it will be to monitor the mangrove reserves daily and to take or recommend necessary action in support of the objectives of the MRC.
The MRCs are also expected to submit a monthly report on their activities to the GMRP.
Arjoon-Martins urged the members to work cooperatively together, to minimise conflicts and to give effective support to the mangrove restoration effort.
Congratulating them for volunteering, she said too that committees which distinguish themselves in performance will have every right to access resources in direct proportion to the efforts and quality of
their work.
The GMRP is a $5B Government of Guyana/ European Union programme aimed at the long term development of the sea defense sector with mangrove forests as the main bulwarks of coastal protection.
The programme started in 2010 and ends in 2013