Gov't set to pilot mangrove replanting - nature, man destroying some zones

http://www.stabroeknews.com/index.pl/article?id=56526739

Gov't set to pilot mangrove replanting
-nature, man destroying some zones
By Johann Earle
Stabroek News
Tuesday, August 14th 2007

Mangrove forests play an indirect but very important role in coastal
protection and government, with funding from the ninth European
Development Fund (EDF) is to commence mangrove re-vegetation next year
in a number of locations in Regions Four, Five and Six.

At the moment, the Ministry of Public Works' Sea Defence Division is
opening tenders for the design of the pilot project for the
regeneration of mangroves. This is a 300,000 euros project.

"We're doing pilot areas… best suited for mangrove re-vegetation," an
official of the Sea Defence Division (SDD) said. He said some of these
potential pilot areas were Montrose, Mon Repos and Good Hope on the
East Coast and the islands within the mouth of the Essequibo River.

It will later be determined if these sites will be the target for
mangrove re-vegetation with the completion of the pilot project.
However, not all areas will be done under the EDF.

A project document is currently being put together to inform the shore
zone management structure, but one of the overall aims is the
continuation of monitoring.


According to the official, the SDD will be doing some work in Region
Two on mangroves, but nothing on a significant scale.

On the development of its mangrove programmes, the Ministry of Works is
working along with the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the University of Guyana.

A recent study guiding the development of mangrove plans at the
ministry said that in view of the unique contribution mangrove
ecosystems could make in terms of coastal protection, it was important
that rehabilitation and restoration work pay attention to the factors
that will promote healthy growth and development of those ecosystems.
Considerations of site elevation, the correct choice of mangrove
species, coastal erosion or accretion processes, monitoring and
maintenance must take precedence when establishing pilot projects.

Additionally, under the sea defence component of the original EU
allocation, work will continue on construction and replacement of sea
defence structures along approximately five kilometres at vulnerable
locations on the East and West Coast Demerara and the Corentyne Coast.
Under this programme, government will commence it shore zone management
programme, which envisages the cultivation of mangrove plantations in
appropriate locations to be utilised by natural sea defence barriers.
These works, to commence in 2008, will augment additional works being
done under other programmes on the sea defence.

At some locations on the Corentyne Coast and in the Essequibo, there
were healthy plantations, in others, sparse growth.

The depletion in the Essequibo was found to be naturally occurring,
while in Berbice the loss was man-made.

On the Corentyne during a recent visit, residents told this newspaper
that the mangroves were still used for burning of earth to make roads.
But they also said that because of the vibrant growth of the vegetation
they saw no issue with the use of the mangroves for economic gain.

All along the length of the Corentyne coast, growth of mangroves was
lush and constant from one village to another.

Personnel from the SDD on the Essequibo Coast told this newspaper
during a recent visit that there was a 20-year cycle of erosion for the
mangrove plants. At Westbury, Bounty Hall and Better Success, there was
erosion in some areas, while in others the foliage of the mangroves was
healthy.

Joseph Arjune, an engineer attached to the SDD, said that every 15 to
20 years the plants disappear and then reappear, and that at some of
the locations visited, the cycle was in the re-vegetative stage. But
the engineer assured that even with the disappearance of the
vegetation, the structural works done in the form of rip rap defence
should be able to protect against the waves. He said that after some
time the rip rap works needed to be bolstered with the adding of
material.

During a tour of Westbury, Arjune explained that the mangroves had been
receding over the years, heading farther and farther out. He showed
this reporter where the mangrove trees had thrived some years ago but
because of natural forces, they were no longer there. This was not
unlike what was found at Better Success and Bounty Hall.

He said that at Johanna Cecilia sandbags have had to be used to raise
the level of the sea defence since there was a shortage of cement.

SDD Site Engineer for Region Two Chuman Narine said the disappearance
of some of the vegetation was a natural process and had nothing to do
with the actions of persons in the area. "In sea defence we have mud
flat migration," he said. "If we can predict what will happen in five
or ten years then we could plan ahead for sea defence.

"If we know that the foreshore will wash away then we wouldn't spend a
lot of resources there."

A walk on Number 63 Beach, Corentyne revealed that the natural defence
vegetation was thriving.

According to the Mangrove Management Plan, Mangrove forests are the
major coastal ecosystem found in Guyana, and are among the richest and
most productive ecosystems. It said that the mangrove ecosystem
provides a number of commercial and traditional products.

"These include sawn timber, charcoal, fuel wood, pulpwood, tannin, and
pharmaceutical products. Mangroves also provide nutrient enrichment for
aquatic and terrestrial flora and fauna," the plan said.

The draft plan said although mangrove forests did not form an
impervious layer like the masonry wall or earthen embankments, when
fully established they neutralize much of the wave action.

"This kind of vegetation, therefore, plays a very important role in the
protection of masonry structures and earthen embankments.

Furthermore, mangrove vegetation helps in the acceleration of the
process of deposition of soil particles suspended in tidal water,
thereby raising the level of the coastal land in the inter-tidal zone,
creation of new accretions beyond and deposition of materials suitable
for the growth and proliferation of the species," the plan said.

According to the document, the demand for the protection of mangroves
in Guyana was on the increase as a result of the country's
vulnerability to sea level rise and the rising cost of maintenance of
the sea defence structure.