AT Malgre Tout/ Versailles on the West Bank of Demerara, large swathes of mangroves were removed, reportedly to facilitate the construction of a shore base. The removal of the vegetation has been called necessary for the development of infrastructure that would bring jobs to Guyanese and spur economic development. This occurrence should make us think about the developmental trajectory Guyana is currently pursuing.

Mangroves are natural sea defences; they help to mitigate erosion and flooding. They are also used as a habitat for birds and a nursery for fish. Cognisant of this alone, it can be argued that removal of the mangroves has a significant impact on flood-mitigation efforts and generally, on the ecosystem that supports lives and livelihoods.

I do not agree with, nor support destruction of the mangroves. I am of the view that environmental conservation should be the top priority of all countries, given the climate crisis with which we are, unfortunately, confronted. Still, despite my aversion to destruction of the natural sea defence, the reality remains that there will be some amount of degradation in our current pursuit of economic progress.

What is occurring now would be the same if large swathes of land were cleared to create a network of roadways to enhance accessibility to the hinterland region, for example. Our environmental concerns would certainly remain but again, the reality is that there will be some amount of degradation.

As we navigate our development as a burgeoning oil-producing nation, there are instances where there will be environmental destruction, but it is up to us, the heirs of our country’s natural patrimony, to ensure that where there is destruction and degradation, there are also efforts made to ensure the conservation, restoration and generally, more sustainable development.

In the short term, as a mitigation measure for destruction of the large swathes of mangrove at the Versailles-Malgre Tout location, I would like to see mangroves replanted- if not at the same site, due to the forthcoming construction, at least in other spaces where it would be more feasible. At the very least, the developer should support these replanting efforts.

Furthermore, the developer must ensure that there are other mitigation measures in place to protect the surrounding communities from rising sea levels and flooding. Consideration must, however, be given to the wide-reaching consequences such mitigation efforts may have. As reported by the Stabroek News, local conservationist, Annette Arjoon-Martins noted that even if a concretised structure is built to protect residents from the rising sea levels, that man-made structure would not be able to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as the mangroves would.

Beyond just ensuring that there are mitigation efforts and attempts at engaging in some environmental restoration, it is also imperative for us to integrate sustainable development in our conceptualisation of infrastructural development and economic progress.

As per the 1987 Brundtland Commission Report, sustainable development has been defined as: “… development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” The definition is an instructive one if we are to juxtapose it with the current removal of the mangroves at Malgre Tout/ Versailles.

This conceptualisation of development encourages us to move away from this rigidly industrial way of thinking that resource depletion is a necessary evil on the pathway of infrastructural development and economic progress and instead, begin to think more innovatively.

And, thinking innovatively is not an impossible or even a very difficult feat. We already have the example of the Diamond Hospital, on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD). This facility has been upgraded with the requisite infrastructure to guard against flooding, reduce reliance on the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) corporation by resorting to renewable solar energy, and enabling the use of rainwater for its day-to-day functions. This is just one example of how environmental conservation efforts can be integrated into infrastructural development.

As Guyana’s oil-and-gas industry continues to develop and expand, we will be at the crossroads of environmental degradation versus infrastructural development many more times. It is important, however, that we do not allow the economic progress brought by this industry, or by economic development in general, to degrade our natural environment, not just because we like our environment and think it is pretty, but because the environment sustains life itself.

If you would like to discuss this column or any of my previous writings, please feel free to contact me via email: vish14ragobeer@gmail.com