500 hectares of mangroves restored since 2010 – Agri Minister

Some 500 hectares of mangroves have been restored since the 2010 launch of the Government’s mangrove restoration project which is aimed at protecting and conserving these natural resources.
This was shared by Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha as Guyana observed International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystems on Monday. The project was piloted under the previous PPP/C Administration and continues to receive full support under the Irfaan Ali-led Government.

Executed under the stewardship of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), Mustapha related that these actions will contribute to Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and achievements of international commitments linked to the Sustainable Development Goals and Aichi Biodiversity Targets.
Since its inception, the mangrove restoration programme has implemented a range of interventions along the coastlands in Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
“This has resulted in the restoration of over 500 hectares of mangroves which now provided added protection to coastal communities from rising tides and increased incidents of storm surges. Local communities have benefitted and will continue to benefit from income-generating activities such as community seedling nurseries, community tourism and beekeeping.”
As Guyana positions itself for transformative development, the Government through the LCDS initiative said it will continue to provide environmental stewardship, and this will include restoration and conservation of the mangrove ecosystem. This year, $51 million has been committed to the Mangrove Management Capital programme to support the construction of rock and geotextile tube groynes that will serve to create a suitable habitat to support the restoration of the mangroves along Beterverwagting, La Bonne Intention and Non Pariel on the East Coast of Demerara.
The 2021 Mangrove Capital programme will also support the completion of topographic surveys to monitor shoreline elevation in Regions Two and Four. To support long-term planning and management, NAREI is working to develop an updated National Mangrove Management Action Plan with support from partners at Conservation International-Guyana. The new Action Plan will provide a road map to guide Guyana’s mangrove conservation and management for the next 10 years.
“Mangrove Ecosystems play an important role in the flood protection of vulnerable coastal communities. They also provide important ecosystem services such as maintenance of fisheries, coastal biodiversity, livelihoods and food security. In Guyana, the mangrove ecosystem provides a range of services to local communities, these include fisherfolk, farmers, beekeepers, coastal ecotourism operators and Indigenous communities,” the Minister added.