Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud today described the Mangrove Management Action Plan as “timely and low cost” with the spin-off of providing economic benefit to the fishing, leather craft and apiculture industries.
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the provision of financing to support the project was signed with the Ministry of Agriculture and Chairperson of the Action Committee, Annette Arjoon-Martins who presented the report to Minister Persaud.
The plan does not only outline the protective element but also includes the productive aspect especially to fishermen, beekeepers and those involved in leather craft.
Minister Persaud mentioned that mangroves serve as a protective barrier to shorelines against fierce tides that disrupt the normal flow of the sea.
He pointed out that it is now unlawful for any person to remove mangroves without the explicit permission of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) and disclosed that the ministry has been relying on the Global Positioning System (GPS) of the commission in mapping the mangrove forests.
He stated that government has spent a lot on maintaining sea defences which would be unnecessary had there been adequate mangrove protection especially in light of significant spring tides over the past two weeks. .
Martins said the committee has done extensive consultation with various stakeholders and has laid out clear guidelines as to the objectives of the project and the methods of achieving them.
She noted that persons have been very supportive of the project, even requesting seedlings for replanting in areas which would have been eroded.
The European Union (EU) will provide in excess of 41M euros for the project and has expressed satisfaction with the plan and its development in conformity with the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).
