Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud and the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Committee (GMRC) embarked on a rigorous mangrove planting exercise at Triumph, East Coast Demerara on Wednesday last even as the minister appealed for volunteers for the exercise.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release the exercise is one of many aimed at restoring mangroves to low-lying areas. Drainage and irrigation community enhancement workers conducted the exercise. The minister said the efforts to restore the mangroves is “visionary” as the ministry aims to adapt and prepare before a crisis occurs. “We are trying to adapt to our infrastructure and all of us know that our sea and river defences are very vulnerable as we saw what took place recently,” he said. Several residents along riverain and low-lying communities suffered losses after the Demerara River overtopped its boundaries due to spring tides last week.
A total of 13,000 seedlings will be planted at Triumph and several communities are collaborating with the ministry and the GMRC to provide about 77,000.
The initiative will be completed in the area soon then the exercise will be started at Montrose. Persaud said the current efforts must be supplemented and appealed for more persons to volunteer to assist with the project. He said too in addition to sequestering carbon it is more economical to restore the plants than to build sea defences.
Chairperson of the Mangrove Action Committee Annette Arjune-Martins echoed the minister’s call for more volunteers and for the preservation of mangroves. Director of the National Agricultural Research Institute Dr Oudho Homenauth, Project Coordinator Bissesar Chintamanie and Community Development Specialist Paul Mc Adam also attended the exercise.
