Georgetown: Climate change is a major issue for Guyana and the new Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) has, as a central theme, forest conservation including protection of coastal areas from seas as one of its aims. Mangroves contribute substantially to sea defenses by damping wave action and protecting coastal banks, but have also traditionally been a source of raw materials, which has contributed to their degradation. Natural processes are however also important due to the impacts of wave action and the constant movement of mud banks from East to West around the coastline of Guyana.
According to Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Alli Baksh, Mangrove management is referred to in several policy documents and is addressed in several legal instruments. The Forest Act (2008) mandates the Guyana Forestry Commission with the overall management of the state forests and this is detailed in the National Forest Plan. The National Biodiversity Action Plan II (2007-11) of 2008, produced by the EPA, includes a programme to reduce habitat destruction in the coastal zone particularly mangroves. It is however, the National Mangrove Management Action Plan, 2010 (NMMAP) that is the guiding operational document for the SPSP. This plan includes public awareness activities, replanting, research and monitoring and development of a code of practice.
I. Project Objectives
The Overall objectives of the GMRP as detailed in the National Mangrove Management Action Plan (NMMAP) is to respond to climate change and to mitigate its effects through the protection, rehabilitation and wise use of Guyana’s mangrove ecosystems through processes that maintain their protective function, values and biodiversity while meeting the socio-economic development and environmental protection needs in estuarine and coastal areas.
The specific objectives of this plan are:
§ To establish the administrative capacity for the management of mangroves in Guyana
§ To promote sustainable management of mangrove forest.
§ To establish and complete a legal framework for mangrove ecosystem management which encourages community-based participation.
§ To support research and development of Guyana’s mangrove forest
§ To develop effective protection and/or rehabilitation of mangrove ecosystems
§ To increase public awareness and education on the benefits of the mangrove forests
II. Employment generation
|
Description |
Number |
|
Community seedling nurseries |
110 |
|
Labourers for seedling planting |
240 |
|
Community rangers |
9 |
|
Community Tour guides |
5 |
|
Mangrove Reserve Producers Coop |
12 |
III. Status update – Summary of major achievements
a. Mangrove Restoration through planting
GMRP’s restoration program has planted in excess of 336,000 black mangrove seedlings (Avicennia germinans) along the coastline in Regions #4, #5 and #6. The length of coastline protected as a result of the project planting activities is approximately 5.5km. (See annex 1 for detailed breakdown).
The project’s restoration program engages community groups and individuals (seedling contractors) to grow mangrove seedlings in community nurseries and plant the seedlings at the selected sites. Seedling contractors are reimbursed at a rate of $100 per seedling. Communities at intervention sites also provide the labour for planting the seedlings if the foreshore.
b. Mangrove Restoration through coastal engineering interventions
GMRP through a partnership with the Sea and River Division constructed Guyana’s first Geotextile structure with the construction of an offshore Geotextile Breakwater at Victoria, East Coast Demerara. The breakwater will assist in the protection of the existing mangrove fringe from further erosion by wave action. The project anticipates additional benefits in the form of accretion of the foreshore.
The construction of coastal engineering structures to aide in accretion and/or protection of existing mangrove forest from erosion is an integral part of project’s restoration program. As such the project has signed contracts with Toolsie Persaud Quarries Inc for the construction of a groyne field at Cane Garden, Leguan Island and a groyne at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara. The Project’s 2013 workplan anticipates construction low cost structures in the form of brushwood dams at selected sites along the coastline.
c. Mangrove Monitoring and enforcement
GMRP has established a monitoring system comprising the Guyana Mangrove Monitoring Plan and complimentary GIS database system as well as mangrove rangers to effectively monitor and protect Guyana’s coastal mangrove resources. The project has eight (8) mangrove rangers engaged and protecting 24Km of coastal mangrove forest.
d. Community based mangrove management
The success of mangrove management and protection is dependent on the involvement of the communities which utilize the mangrove forest. GMRP has established five Village Mangrove Action Committees (VMACs), in communities where the project has established restoration sites and areas where mangroves are particularly vulnerable. The VMACs work in collaboration with the project to promote mangrove awareness and management at the community level.
Additionally, the project has established a mangrove tourism product through the proposed Golden Grove/Belfield mangrove reserve – The Mangrove Heritage Trail. The Mangrove Heritage Trail is the winner of the Tourism and Hospitality of Guyana Environmental Award 2012 and the Caribbean Tourism Organisation Biodiversity Conservation Award 2012
Community groups from, Seven (7) communities along the coast line in Regions #4, #5 and #6 have formed themselves into a cooperative “the Mangrove Reserve Producers Coop Society”. The Coop provides an alternative livelihood for single mothers who produce small scale agro processing, mangrove honey and beeswax candles, all marketed under the “Mangrove Reserve Products” brand.
e. Public awareness and education about the importance of mangroves
The project’s public awareness and education campaign has produced the Mangrove documentary “Holding Back the Sea” which was launched in collaboration with NCERD and is aired on the Guyana Learning Channel. This is complimented by numerous public billboards, short infomercials, posters and brochures on the importance of mangroves and mangrove protection.
Secondary schools were targeted with the development of secondary school teachers’ resource manual and training of teachers in use of the manual.
The project has collaborated with the Ministry of Education through NCERD to facilitate over 20 school tours to the Golden Grove/Belfield mangrove.
f. Mangrove research projects
Research on Guyana’s mangrove forest is being executed in collaboration with the University of Guyana. In 2012 the project signed eleven (11) research grant contracts with the University o to conduct research in several key areas.
Seven (7) research projects were completed by students and University faculty staff with grants from the project during 2010 – 2011.
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