THE Ministry of Agriculture has noted a story in the media related to the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project. The ministry wants to assure everyone that the project is not suspended and, in fact, the ministry is working towards the acceleration of implementation within the project.
For example, at the moment the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project is restoring mangroves along the East Coast of Demerara (Felicity/Success area), West Coast Berbice (Number 6 – 8 Villages) and East Berbice, Corentyne (Wellington Park). A total of 210,000 seedlings will be planted for this planting season. Also, the project is promoting community livelihood projects within various communities such as Golden Grove – Victoria, Buxton, Cottage, Mahaicony, Trafalgar, Litchfield, Wellington Park and Number 64 Village. A research component, which includes eleven (11) research topics undertaken by the students of the University of Guyana is also ongoing. The project also has a total of eight rangers protecting over twenty-four (24) kilometres of mangrove forest along the coast of Guyana. A number of other initiatives are being undertaken and implemented by the project at the moment.
This project is funded through the National Appropriation Budget and parliament has approved a total of two hundred and ninety million dollars ($290 M) to the Ministry of Agriculture for the project to be implemented. We therefore will continue to implement the project with all of its activities under the various components.