Latest update November 14th, 2024 1:00 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

REVISITING THE TOPIC OF MANGROVES

Aug 11, 2024 Consumer Concerns, Features / Columnists, Waterfalls Magazine

CONSUMER CONCERNS

PAT  DIAL

Waterfalls Magazine – This column will again touch on the subject of Mangroves because of its abiding importance historically, socially and economically.

When the Dutch colonizers first visited Guyana in the 17th century, they observed that Mangroves were growing along the entire coast, in some parts so thick that they could be considered as Mangrove forests.  The Dutch first settled on the coast and utilized the Mangrove as a convenient and easy source of wood for house building, fires for cooking and even to make boats and rafts.  It was only when they had cut down large stretches of Mangrove and the sea had begun to come up on the land that they understood the importance of Mangroves as an effective defence against the sea and flooding.  They held up to their Mangrove depletion and to avoid the threat of constant flooding, they began to move   their settlements to the river banks towards the end of the 18th century.

In 1815 when Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice were finally ceded to Britain, they were united in 1831 to form the colony of British Guiana.

The British developed their colony much faster than the Dutch.  Like the Dutch, they empoldered their agricultural land and built sea defences but it is only in the 20th century, with the growth of Ecological Studies and a deeper understanding of the Environment that the full importance of Mangroves came to be grasped.  The United Nations recognized the importance of Mangroves by declaring a Mangrove Day each year with a relevant  motto.  In this year 2024, the motto is “Mangroves matter.  Safeguarding our Coastal Guardians for tomorrow”.  Though this motto identifies the most important function of Mangroves, that is to guard against the flooding by the sea and tidal waves and so making the soil less fertile when it would have been impregnated with salt, there are other positives which emanate from Mangroves.

Mangroves provide a home for bees as well as feeding grounds since a large number of flowering plants grow among the Mangroves.  When hives are established in the vicinity,they provide bountiful supplies of honey.  Mangrove honey is much valued  by consumers.

Mangroves are a carbon sink and enhance Guyana’s efforts against climate  change.  They provide a livelihood for many coastal communities, one food resource being the varieties of fish which live among the Mangroves. They are an ecotourism attraction with the rich biodiversity which Mangrove forests offer and the Guyana Tourism Authority and the Ministry of Agriculture are cooperating in this development.  Mangrove restoration and preservation support several  Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) to the achievement of which Guyana is  seriously committed.

At the recent function of unveiling the plaque at the Kingston Seawall Esplanade in commemoration of  International Mangrove Day 2024, the Minister of Agricultures summarized the importance and impact of Mangroves : “Mangroves are our coastal guardians, vital to Guyana’s environmental and economic health”, he said, “they act as natural barriers against coastal erosion and surges, protecting our communities and infrastructure.  With over 23,000 hectares of Mangroves, they support fisheries, livelihoods, food security and provide habitats for diverse wildlife. . . Mangroves are important in sequestering carbon, enhancing efforts against climate change as outlined in Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030”.

The State has developed a 10-year National Mangrove Action Plan and an Inter-Agency Committee dedicated to promoting sustainable Mangrove management and over 500 hectares of Mangrove have been restored.  From 2010, over $1.9 have been invested in Mangrove preservation and restoration and regular injections of money are expected to be made as required, as for example, $275. millions have been allocated this year to rehabilitation initiatives in Regions Two and Five.

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | November, 11th, 2024

 

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Guyana Beverage Inc. on board with Petra to host 8th Annual Girls U11 Football Tournament

Guyana Beverage Inc. on board with Petra to host 8th Annual Girls U11...

Nov 14, 2024

  Kaieteur Sports- As excitement builds for Saturday’s kickoff, Guyana Beverage Inc. through its Koolkidz brand has joined the roster of sponsors supporting the Petra Organisation’s MVP...
Read More
GFF launches NAMILCO/Maid Marian Wheat Up Women’s Cup

GFF launches NAMILCO/Maid Marian Wheat Up...

Nov 14, 2024

Semi’s bowls off tomorrow with double-header at Providence 

Semi’s bowls off tomorrow with...

Nov 14, 2024

NO SURPRISE!!

NO SURPRISE!!

Nov 14, 2024

More support for Project “Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana”.

More support for Project “Cricket Gear for...

Nov 14, 2024

Guyana to participate at 2024 FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup

Guyana to participate at 2024 FIBA 3×3...

Nov 13, 2024

Features/Columnists

  • Poor Power Planning (PPP)

    …Peeping Tom Kaieteur News- Planning has long been the PPP/C government’s pride and joy. The PPP/C touts it at rallies,... more

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]