Rapid erosion of land due to decreasing mangrove presence has been one of the leading causes of flooding in Mahaicony, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) – a situation that is heightened during the high tides. Feeling the effect of this, persons within the community are now calling for the authorities to replant this natural barrier and protect the eroding dams. Speaking with Guyana Times on Friday, one concerned resident, Mahadeo Bindranauth, explained that it is crucial to replace this resource at the earliest. If not, the persistent flooding will continue to affect livestock and farmlands. “The mangrove is essential to what we do here. For two years now, we’re seeing a loss and now it gone completely. This used to hold the dam together and then whenever we have these waves coming in, it would break it so people around here would never get the full impact. Even flooding, the water might raise up a little but we could always handle that and prepare,” he related. The concerned resident noted that the rushing waves are making their way onto their properties at much ease, creating a devastating effect during every high tide. Adding to that, they are living in fear as to when another flooding will be experienced. Villages along the area have been facing heavy floods this year, due to the decline in mangrove presence to protect the dam. Now that this important resource is lacking, the natural soil barrier is susceptible to erosion. “Everybody that living close to the dam are taking precautions but we’re talking about meters of water. If the mangroves are not planted here, we’re looking at a [serious] consequence and people might not be able to live here anymore. Right now the area is like a swamp, all around,” he described. During last month’s flooding, officials declared that more than 300 acres of rice were destroyed and hundreds of acres were under threat of destruction by saltwater. Apart from the destruction of the rice, the flooded land became salty and could no longer work for rice production. It was the third flooding of that magnitude for this year and several villages were affected, including Dantzig, Columbia, Glazier’s Lust and Prospect. An affected resident, Riyaad Bacchus, had explained to this publication that many farmers were left with no choice but to move their livestock and cattle to higher grounds. While he would have succeeded in doing so, other persons in the area were not that fortunate as many animals would have drowned, or could not survive in the high waters. This was as persons were recovering from flooding which occurred four weeks prior at the Dantzig foreshore after a sea defence breach.
