Mangrove restoration project taken to Region Two

By Erika Haag-Tularam

The importance of mangroves in protecting against natural disasters and extreme weather events has in recent past been highlighted; and Guyana has since joined the world in protection of its mangroves.

            The initiative is aimed at restoring areas, as mangroves play a vital role, in providing protection for over 90 percent of Guyana’s population who live within the naturally low-lying areas along the coast.

            Coordinator of the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project (GMRP), Bissesar Chintamanie during an exclusive interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), said that the committee will be moving to Lima and La Belle Alliance in Essequibo where 36,000 seedlings will be planted using 45 hectares.

            This will be then followed by the planting of 18,000 seedlings over a spread of 20 hectares in Number 6 village, West Coast, Berbice.

            Areas such as, Green Field, Ann’s Grove, Victoria, and Wakenaam will also be targeted.

             According to Chintamanie the project is expected to complete approximately 11 kilometers over a three-year period but noted that with the aggressive work currently ongoing it is anticipated that much more will be done.

             “Since persons have been sensitized about the importance of mangroves; we at the unit, have seen a massive reduction. People are no longer using the wood for cooking and for burning brick that has stopped completely and then cutting of mangroves, generally you have a great reduction,” he said.

            Citing the need for the wanton grazing of cattles and livestock on the coastline to be eliminated, he said, despite aggressive work to sentisise the public this is still ongoing. Works are currently ongoing on the issue of garbage and wildlife protection.

            The committee currently has a Community Development Specialist onboard who carries out work on a daily basis apart from meetings at the community levels.

            “We also meet the focal group people on a needs basis as well as go house to house. In Hope and Mon Repos where we were planting; we went house to house sensitizing people on the importance of our programme,” he said.

The Unit is also working with a consultant in setting up a website. It is supported by the European Union.

  Over 10,000 and 8,500 seedlings respectively were planted by the Committee in Mon Repos and Hope recently.