Mangrove coverage has increased by 31% since 2020 – Min Mustapha 

– urges stronger waste management to safeguard coastal ecosystems

In observance of the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, which will be celebrated on Sunday, the Government of Guyana remains committed to supporting mangrove restoration, coastal monitoring, environmental education and community partnerships.
More importantly, a message from Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha stated that the Government will continue working with the relevant agencies and local stakeholders to improve waste management and strengthen care for mangrove areas.
The Minister, nevertheless, stated that mangroves are part green shield, part nursery and part storehouse for carbon, while adding that they support fisheries and coastal livelihoods, shelter wildlife and stabilise vulnerable shorelines.
He noted that in recent years, nearly $1 billion has been invested in mangrove management and restoration, while mentioning that 11 green-grey infrastructure projects have been completed across Regions Two, Four, and Five, benefiting more than 11,000 persons.
“Mangrove extent increased from 19,616 hectares in 2020 to 25,644 hectares in 2025 – a net gain of 6,028 hectares, or about 31 per cent. Overall gains were recorded in Regions One, Three, Four, Five, and Six. Region Two moved in the opposite direction, declining from 4966 hectares to 3567 hectares, a loss of 1399 hectares,” Mustapha stated in a missive on Saturday.
Furthermore, the statement revealed that the national total also fell from 24,517 hectares in 2023 to 22,799 hectares in 2024 before rising again in 2025. However, as the coast changes, a nation’s vigilance must change with it. In light of this, the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), together with the Mangrove Management Action Network, remains an important institution.
“Science, engineering, policy, and community knowledge must speak to each other. Through the Guyana Mangrove Information System, GuyMIS, we can track changes and guide restoration more carefully. Not every loss is obvious from the roadside. Sometimes the map tells the story first”, the Minister added.
In addition, the Minister noted that investments must be made in groynes, breakwaters, planting, and monitoring.
“But if garbage is being pushed into drains, canals, kokers, and waterways, we are working against ourselves. Waste discarded inland doesn’t simply disappear. It travels. It reaches the coast. It settles among the roots. We can’t plant our way out of a dumping problem.”
A 2026 coastal assessment stated that visible waste was recorded at 53 of 60 locations assessed across Regions Two to Six, with plastic packaging being present at 51 of the 53 affected locations. To eliminate the disposal of garbage, it is advised to use approved disposal services. Meanwhile, businesses are also challenged to manage their waste responsibly.