Natural erosion of the mangroves on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD) has resulted in ongoing monitoring to assess the situation and condition of the soil before the area can be restored.
Head of the Mangrove Office at the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) Kene Moseley told this publication on Friday that this occurrence started about three years ago.
The mangroves were there for the primary defence in that area. Presently, the area is still eroding further and due to mangrove loss, assistance was sought from the Sea and River Defence Unit to have the seawall structure strengthened to withstand the impact of the Atlantic waves.
“Monitoring is occurring on the West Coast but there hasn’t been any changes with regards to the shorelines having the conditions that we can do restoration activity. The reason why works would’ve been initiated there is because its experiencing
Continuous erosion at Ruimzeigt
sinking and that situation hasn’t changed as yet,” said Moseley.
She explained that for the restoration and replanting of mangroves at the site, the elevation of the land and soil type must be of a certain mark. This is yet to occur and she anticipates that it will take some time.
“There are a number of conditions that would need to be right before mangroves can be restored in the area and one of the important aspect is with regards to having the correct elevation and having the correct soil condition. That is not a situation that changes overnight and it would require long-term monitoring on our part.”
For now, restoration activities are being conducted along the Essequibo Coast where conditions are suitable. Attention will be paid to the WCD site until it is ready for replanting.
“In any case, we might not be able to return back to do restoration within a few months. We’d have to do the ongoing monitoring because the area is still ongoing erosion so it’s not suitable to go back at the moment to any restoration for now,” the head of the mangrove office posited.
“We have restoration activities happening on the Essequibo Coast. We currently have planting happening at Walton Hall with support from the community members and we have a project at Aberdeen and Columbia,” she further stated.
Since the die-off of the herbaceous border, residents were experiencing flooding and thus, the sea defence unit was engaged to construct riprap structures.
