Could our mangrove forests be too much?

Nov 26, 2023 Letters

Dear Editor,

Given the undoubted benefits of the seashore mangrove forests in Guyana, one wonders whether those responsible for their cultivation and preservation would entertain some reservations. These reservations arise from the observation (on the ground and of Google Earth maps) that most of our shoreline of the country would soon be overtaken by tall continuous mangrove forests.

One envisages that the achievement of this goal of protecting our coast from wave erosion will be celebrated. Indeed, national awareness of the benefits of mangrove forests has reached a heightened stage where the recent clearing of mangroves to accommodate the Versailles shore base facility was met with outrage and rebuke from the media and others.

But is too much of a good thing producing a few bad thing with the near-continuous mangrove forest along our shoreline? Already, I suspect some coastline dwellers, like myself, are experiencing not only a physical disconnect from the ocean but a psychological and emotional one as well.

In the ECD community where I live, walking on the seawall to enjoy the breeze and the breaking waves and be awed by the sunrise and sunset is a long dead pastime. Not only is the line of sight blocked by mangrove trees, but the forest itself is an active trapping ground and a convenient dump site for all sorts of garbage.

There is also the suspicion that these forests act as a wind breaker. True or not, the cooling North-East trade winds are not as strong and reliable as before. Something to monitor.

Mind you, these reservations are not a case to discontinue the use of mangrove trees as shoreline protectors. I only advocate for our sea defence planners to give due consideration to the fact that a visible sea and shoreline contribute to the quality of life of many citizens.

There must be creative and effective ways to get the best of both worlds: on one hand, that of protecting our shores against wave attack (the main focus, no doubt) and, on the other hand, that of reducing the almost claustrophobic and forbidding environment these forests create and that of restoring some of the peace and inspiration many people get from viewing and strolling along the ocean/land interface.

Guyana is a coastal country. We must not be made to feel as if we were landlocked.

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