The mangrove restoration project has not been suspended, the Ministry of Agriculture said on Wednesday, while emphasising that activities under its various components will continue to be implemented.
The Guyana Times reported on Tuesday that the project, funded jointly by the Government of Guyana and the European Union to the tune of €4.1M (G$1.1B), had been suspended, saying that the EU had suspended funding since it could not meet specific benchmarks.
However, in a statement, the ministry noted the report but assured that it was working towards the acceleration of implementation within the project.
It did not address whether the EU had suspended funding, saying instead that the project is funded through the National Appropriation Budget and that the National Assembly has approved a total of $290M to the Ministry for implementation.
According to the Ministry, at the moment the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project (GMRP) committee is restoring mangroves along the shoreline at several areas, including the East Coast of Demerara (Felicity/Success), West Coast Berbice (Number 6 – 8 Villages) and East Berbice, Corentyne (Wellington Park).
It added that a total of 210,000 seedlings will be planted for this planting season. It stated too that the project is promoting community livelihood projects within various communities, such as Golden Grove – Victoria, Buxton, Cottage Mahaicony, Trafalgar, Litchfield, Wellington Park and Number 64 Village.
A research component, which includes eleven research topics undertaken by the students of the University of Guyana, is also ongoing. The project also has a total of eight rangers protecting over twenty-four kilometres of mangrove forest along the Coastline.
A number of other initiatives are being undertaken and implemented by the project at the moment, the ministry stated.
In March this year, Head of the EU Delegation to Guyana Ambassador Robert Kopecky pledged the support of his office to the Project, during a visit to several sites along the East Coast to observe its progress.
The mangrove secretariat has been making preparations in order to qualify for the second tranche of EU funding this year.
The project’s aim is to augment Guyana’s sea defence by protecting, restoring and managing the natural coastline provided by mangrove forests.
It was initiated in 2010, in support of the government’s Low Carbon Development Strategy.
According to the Mangrove Secretariat, the cost to build one mile of concrete sea–defence is approximately $9M while the cost to plant a mile of mangroves lies in the vicinity of $150,000.
According to the EU, building and repair of sea defences have long been a priority for funding from the organisation, hence a new programme of protecting and replenishing low cost mangrove cover, which provides a natural defence.
Successive European Development Funds (EDF) have put approximately €70M into work on sea defences here and the sum includes €17M, passed under the 9th EDF, where works are under implementation and are expected to be completed by August this year.
