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More Awareness Necessary for Mangroves

Aug 01, 2024 Letters

Dear Editor,

Here are some stunning facts: In a single square mile, mangroves hold as much carbon as the annual emissions of 90,000 cars; mangroves protect coastal communities by buffering storm surges; mangroves serve as “nurseries” for numerous species, sheltering them from predators and currents.

In other words, Guyana was ‘right on target’ on Global Mangrove Day, when the news heralded that the country is investing some $1.9B in mangrove conservation. Let me add that mangroves support food security for coastal communities who eat and sell fish, clams and crabs. Mangroves are in fact among the world’s most productive ecosystems, as their high productivity sustain a rich food web, providing food, fiber, and fuels alongside cultural services that help maintain human well-being. They additionally support all four dimensions of food security: availability, access, stability, and utilization.

At the higher and larger scale, mangroves play a vital role in coastal ecology and in sustaining and securing coastal communities. They reduce the harmful effects of coastal erosion, storms and flooding and are one of the most cost-effective methods of managing disaster risk along coastlines. Where Guyana is concerned, it is good to see that we are doing our part as regards mangrove. I was very pleased that the Ministry of Agriculture, through the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), hosted an exhibition and signboard unveiling ceremony at the Kingston Seawall Esplanade. The event marked the celebration of International Mangrove Day 2024, under the theme, “Mangroves Matter: Safeguarding Our Coastal Guardians for Tomorrow.”

Chief Executive Officer of NAREI, Jagnarine Singh, on the occasion, and on behalf of spoke on behalf of Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, rightfully “… lauded the country’s progress in mangrove restoration, conservation, and management.” He detailed that “Mangroves are our coastal guardians, vital to Guyana’s environmental and economic health … They act as natural barriers against coastal erosion and surges, protecting our communities and infrastructure (and) with over 23,000 hectares of mangroves, they support fisheries, livelihoods, food security, and provide habitats for diverse wildlife.”

Editor, Guyana has indeed come a very long way, as “… since 2010, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has committed over 1.9 billion Guyana dollars to strengthen coastal district resilience through mangrove restoration.” This translates to more than 500 hectares of mangroves being restored across 35 locations in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, and Six.  For this year alone, Singh pointed out that “… an additional 275 million dollars have been allocated for rehabilitation initiatives in Regions Two and Five.”

Without belabouring the importance of the Government’s role in the mangrove drive, I hope that our people will realise that its restoration initiatives significantly impact several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). No doubt about it, as the CEO stated that” Our efforts enhance the resilience of coastal zones, biodiversity, livelihood support, and the fight against climate change.” No wonder the average rates of global mangrove loss are now slowing, and mangroves are being restored across their endemic lands despite external threats.

Let us celebrate our contribution and keep intensifying our efforts. Afterall, mangroves are vital to the world’s well-being.

Yours truly,

HB Singh.

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