BOOK OF ABSTRACTS - Mangrove restoration · BOOK OF ABSTRACTS . ... Anton de Kom University of Suriname, Faculty of Technological Sciences 15:15hrs/15:30hrs (15’) Nicolas Ruiz Application

1ST GUYANA MANGROVE FORUM

Restoring and Managing Mangrove

Ecosystems in a Changing World

Georgetown, Guyana, International

Conference Centre, 11-13 APRIL 2013

BOOK OF ABSTRACTS

1st GUYANA MANGROVE FORUM: Restoring and Managing Mangrove Ecosystems in a Changing World 1

The organizing committee is pleased to welcome you to Georgetown, Guyana for the 1st Guyana Mangrove Forum, Restoring and Managing Man-grove Ecosystems in a changing world.

We are excited to have a strong turnout with more than 100 attendees, 4 exhibitors and 16 poster pre-sentations with broad participation from govern-ment, Non Government organisations, universities and private sector in Guyana and from 9 countries in the immediate region.

As part of the forum we have also organized an edu-cational exhibition focusing on the importance of mangroves and efforts in Guyana, the region and in-ternationally to restore and conserve mangrove eco-systems for a broader audience of school children and community members who we expect to attend portions of the forum proceedings.

Our 27 presenters at the forum will address all as-pects of mangrove restoration and management from the technical aspects of mangrove restoration to approaches to restoration and sustainable use of mangroves, coastal processes and engineering solu-tions to mangrove loss, institutional issues associ-ated with mangrove restoration and management and emerging areas of blue carbon and GIS/ remote sensing technologies which can be applied to man-agement of mangrove ecosystems.

We selected the theme for the forum “Restoring and Managing mangrove ecosystems in a changing world” to highlight the realities of mangrove resto-ration on the ground in Guyana which is occurring in the context of an extremely dynamic coastline and the realities of sea level rise and a complex so-cio-economic and institutional environment.

The Forum, is an important event of the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project (GMRP), a project co-funded by the Government of Guyana and the European Union, as it provides an opportunity for the project to share experience and reflect on the work completed over the last two years since proj-ect inception and hear from other mangrove prac-tioners in the region on their experiences on related projects. Importantly, the forum also provides an opportunity to capture lessons learnt from the above and to look forward to the next phase of mangrove restoration and management in Guyana including the potential for ongoing cooperation and collabo-ration with regional partners.

We wish you an enjoyable and successful forum.

The Organising Committee

Welcome to the 1st Guyana Mangrove Forum, Restoring and Managing Mangrove Ecosystems in a Changing World


Table of Contents

Welcome 1

Forum Highlights 3

Forum Schedule 5 - 8

Session 1: Mangrove Restoration Case Studies 11 - 14

Session 2: The Management of Mangrove Ecology and Biodiversity 16 - 18

Session 3: The Influence of Coastal Processes on Mangrove 20 - 23 Restoration Efforts and the Potential for Application of Coastal Engineering Solutions.

Session 4: Community Engagement in Mangrove Forest Management 24 - 26

Session 5: Institutional Arrangements for Mangrove Management 27 - 30 Including Protected Area Management

Session 6: Emerging Areas in Mangrove Research Related to Sea Level Rise, 32 - 34 Carbon Sequestration Potential of Mangroves

Session 7: Future Directions for Mangrove Restoration, Research 35 and Management in Guyana.


Welcome to Georgetown, Guyana. Formerly known as the Garden city of the Caribbean, George-town is a small city of 240,000 people located on the Atlantic Ocean coast at the mouth of the Demerara River. The city was established in the 18th century and is now characterised by colonial architecture, lively markets, museums and lush parks and gar-dens all of which give it a give it a laid-back feel. Georgetown is used by tourists as the gateway to the interior and the renowned Kaiteur falls, Amerin-dian villages and virgin rainforests, savannahs, and uncharted rivers and mountains.

Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/the-gui-anas/guyana/georgetown#ixzz290WpYROA and http://www.guyana.org .

International and regional presentations from leaders in the various disciplines which make up coastal restoration. Our 27 presenters at the forum will address all aspects of mangrove restoration and management from the technical aspects of man-grove restoration to approaches to restoration and sustainable use of mangroves, coastal processes and engineering solutions to mangrove loss, institution-al issues associated with mangrove restoration and management and emerging areas of blue carbon and GIS/ remote sensing technologies which can be applied to management of mangrove ecosystems.

Celebration. Join us for cocktails, local delicacies, some Caribbean hospitality and a cultural show on the first night of the forum at the Conference centre.

Friday plenary. The future of mangrove restoration and management in Guyana, keeping the momen-tum of the GMRP and building regional links to support these initiatives in the future. This engaging discussion will feature the chairpersons from the forum’s 6 technical sessions who will seek to map out future directions for the GMRP and regional collaboration in mangrove management and resto-ration based on project experiences learnt to date and regional/ international experience.

Opportunity to contribute to coastal restoration in Guyana. On Saturday 13th April, the GMRP and the local Village Mangrove Action Committee of No. 6-10 village, West Coast Berbice have organized to plant more than 1,000 Spartina alterniflora plugs as part of the larger effort to restore mangroves to the shoreline at this restoration site. Also on this day, forum participants will also be invited to par-ticipate in a guided tour through the historic village of Victoria, East Coast Demerara and observe the project’s first coastal engineering initiative, the con-struction of offshore geotextile tube breakwaters (also at Victoria).

Proceedings. Proceedings of the Mangrove forum will be published by the GMRP and made available to registered participants subsequent to the forum.

Forum Highlights, the First Regional Forum Focusing on Restoration

and Management of Mangrove Ecosystems


About the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project

The Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project (GMRP) (www.mangrovesgy.org) is a project funded by the European Union (through the Global Climate Change Alliance (www.gcca.eu) and the Government of Guyana which aims to abate climate change (through carbon sequestration through reforesta-tion and forest preservation) and to mitigate its ef-fects on sea defence and biodiversity. The GMRP will achieve its objective through support to the implementation of the Guyana National Man-grove Management Action Plan (NMMAP). The responsibility for the implementation of the Na-tional Mangrove Management Action Plan (NM-MAP) falls under the Mangrove Action Committee (MAC) with a project unit led by the National Ag-riculture Research & Extension Institute (NAREI).

Registration Desk Hours

Wednesday, April 10th 17:00hrs - 20:00hrsThursday, April 11th 7:00hrs - 17:00hrsFriday, April 12th 7:00hrs - 17:00rs

Poster hall hours

Thursday, April 11th 7:30hrs - 17:00hrsFriday, April 12th 7:30hrs - 15:00hrs

Student postersThe First Guyana Mangrove Forum allows stu-dents from across Guyana to share their research findings during a series of poster sessions sched-uled through the forum schedule.

InternetWifi internet is available within the conference centre for all participants. Please contact the regis-tration desk to request a password.

Key contact numbers:GMRP staffKene Moseley 600-2224Susan Singh, 609-3763James Machin 684-3985

MiscellaneousTaxi, 226-3000 Ambassador Taxi Service; 226-2155 Sheriff Taxi ServicePolice, 911 or 225-2694 Kitty Police StationGrand Coastal Hotel, 220-1091Pegasus Hotel, 225 2856Brandsville Hotel, 227-0989

General Information


Forum Schedule THURSDAY, 11th APRIL GRAND COASTAL INN, LE RESSOUVENIR, EAST COAST DEMERARA

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8:00hrs/9:00hrs

REGISTRATION CONFERENCE OPENING

Chair: Dr. Oudho Homenauth

9:00hrs Oudho Homenauth

Welcome and Opening, Dr. Oudho Homenauth, CEO, National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI)

9:05hrs Annette Arjoon-Martins

Remarks Mangrove Action Committee, Mrs. Annette Arjoon-Martins, Chair Mangrove Action Committee

9:10hrs Robenson Benn

Remarks Ministry of Public Works & Communications, Mr. Robenson Benn, Hon. Minister of Public Works and Communication

9:15hrs Robert Kopecký

Remarks Delegation of European Union, Ambassador Mr. Robert Kopecký, Head of Delegation

9:20hrs Leslie Ramsammy

Opening Address: Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, Hon Minister of Agriculture

9:30/9:35 hrs BREAK Preparation for technical sessions OPENING OF TECHNICAL SESSIONS

9:35hrs/10:00 hrs (25' min) Owen Bovell

The Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project (GMRP), Issues facing mangroves in Guyana, Key questions, Results to date, lessons learnt and objective of the forum and technical sessions, Mr. Owen Bovell, Dean Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Guyana

SESSION 1: Mangrove Restoration Case Studies

Chair: Roy “Robin” Lewis

10:00hrs/10:15hrs (15’)

Roy ‘Robin” Lewis Ecological Mangrove Restoration (EMR): Case Studies, Lessons Learned and application to the Guyana Context, Roy “Robin” Lewis, Lewis Environmental Services, Florida

10:15hrs/10:30hrs (15’)

Jamie Machin Restoring Mangroves in a challenging environment, Guyana, Jamie Machin, Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project

10:30hrs – 10:45hrs BREAK

VIEWING OF EXHIBITION 10:45hrs/11:00hrs (15’)

Andre Rovai Mangrove Restoration in Brazil: Restoring old paradigms to strengthen future outcomes Andre Rovai, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brazil

11:00hrs/11:15hrs (15’)

Rahanna Juman Restoration of A Mangrove System In Point Lisas, Trinidad & Tobago, Rahanna Juman, Environmental Research Programme, Institute of Marine Affairs, Trinidad & Tobago

11:15hrs/11:30hrs (15’)

Chalene Roye-Myrie Ecological Restoration of a Degraded Mangrove Forest in a Marine Protected Area as an Adaptive measure to Increase the Resilience of Coastal Ecosystems to Climate Change. Chalene Roye-Myrie, National Environment and Planning Agency, Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Jamaica

11:30hrs/12:00hrs (30’)

OPEN DISCUSSION SESSION 1 12:00hrs / 13:00hrs LUNCH


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SESSION 2: The Management of Mangrove Ecology and

Biodiversity Chair: Phillip DaSilva

13:00hrs/13:15hrs (15’)

Phillip DaSilva Avifaunal diversity in a Guyanese mangrove ecosystem: The proposed Wellington Park Mangrove Reserve, Corentyne, East Berbice, Phillip DaSilva, University of Guyana

13:15hrs/13:30hrs (15’)

Roy “Robin” Lewis Mangrove Forest Ecology, Management And Restoration In Florida, USA, Roy ‘Robin” Lewis, Lewis Environmental Services

13:30hrs/13:45hrs (15’)

Leslie Hernández Fernández General State of the mangroves in Cuba. Sabana-Camaguey Archipelago and Jardines de la Reina National Park, Leslie Hernández Fernández, Carloa J. Acevedo, Mayrene Guimarais Bermejo, Hector Salvant Torres, Center for Coastal Ecosystems Research, Cuba

13:45hrs/14:15hrs (30’)

OPEN DISCUSSION SESSION 2

14:15hrs-14:30hrs BREAK

SESSION 3: The influence of coastal processes on mangrove restoration efforts and the potential for application of coastal engineering solutions.

Chair: Jermaine Braithwaite

14:30hrs/14:45hrs (15’)

Michael Giovannozzi Coastal engineering approaches applied through the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project to protect existing stands of mangroves and facilitate natural recruitment Michael Giovannozzi, Ranata Robertson, Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project

14:45hrs/15:00hrs (15’)

Maurice Veecock A synopsis of the hydrological and climatic conditions affecting Guyana’s coastline Maurice Veecock, Retired Hydrologist, Senior Lecturer, University of Guyana

15:00hrs/15:15hrs (15’)

Sieuwnath Naipal Enhancing resilience of the coastline through removing stress, rehabilitation and mangrove planting, Sieuwnath Naipal, Anton de Kom University of Suriname, Faculty of Technological Sciences

15:15hrs/15:30hrs (15’)

Nicolas Ruiz Application of geotextile tubes for protection of mangrove coastlines, case studies, Nicolas Ruiz, Tencate

15:30hrs/16:00hrs (30’)

OVERALL DISCUSSION SESSION 3 16:00/16:30hrs POSTERS SESSIONS 1, 2 and 3

From 18:00hrs Cocktail Reception Courtyard, Grand Coastal Inn, Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara


FRIDAY, 12th APRIL GUYANA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTER, EASTERN CONFERENCE ROOM

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SESSION 4: Community engagement in Mangrove forest management

Chair: Barbara Thomas - Holder

9:00hrs/9:15hrs (15’)

Barbara Thomas-Holder Residents Readiness to Advance Mangrove Restoration in Buxton/Friendship, Barbara Thomas-Holder, University of Guyana

9:15hrs/9:30hrs (15’)

Shanna Boodhoo Community surveying of perceptions of mangrove loss and options for management in Guyana, preliminary results and recommendations, Shanna Boodhoo, The Consultancy Group

9:30hrs/9:45hrs (15’)

Michelle Kalamandeen Development of a management plan for the Golden Grove-Bellfield Mangrove Reserve, lessons learnt in and potential for application to other mangrove reserves in Guyana and the region, Michelle Kalamandeen, University of Guyana

9:45hrs/10:00hrs (15’)

Patrick E. Williams Developing Community Partnerships as a strategy for the sustainable management of mangroves in Guyana, Patrick E. Williams, WWF Guianas

10:00hrs/10:30hrs (30’)

OPEN DISCUSSION SESSION 4 10:30hrs/10:45hrs BREAK

SESSION 5: Institutional Arrangements for mangrove management including Protected Area management

Chair: Professor Rory Fraser

10:45hrs/11:00hrs (15’)

Rory Fraser Institutional issues affecting the sustainable development of Guyana’s mangroves, preliminary findings and recommendations, Professor Rory Fraser, Alabama A&M University

11:00hrs/11:15hrs (15’)

Linda Johnson-Bhola Land tenure issues as a constraint to the sustainable management of Guyana’s Mangroves, Linda Johnson-Bhola, School of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Guyana

11:15hrs/11:30hrs (15’)

Alana Lancaster Blue Green Carbon: Do legal frameworks exist for the payment of Ecosystem Services of Guyana’s Mangrove Ecosystems? Alana Malinde S.N Lancaster, Faculty of Law, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus

11:30hrs/11:45hrs (15’)

Minu Parahoe Management of Coastal Protected Areas in Suriname, Minu Parahoe, Suriname Coastal Protected Areas Management Project (SCPAM), Ministry of Physical Planning, Land and Forest Management

11:45hrs/13:00hrs LUNCH

13:00hrs/13:15hrs (15’)

Denise Fraser The Guyana Protected Areas commission and its role in sustainable mangrove management in Guyana, Denise Fraser, Protected Areas Commission

13:15hrs/13:30hrs (15’)

Jagdesh Singh Future institutional arrangements for mangroves in Guyana, including potential contribution to management of mangroves through the REDD+ initiative, Jagdesh Singh, Guyana Forest Commission (GFC)

13:30hrs/14:00hrs (30’)

OPEN DISCUSSION SESSION 5


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Level rise, carbon sequestration potential of mangroves Chair: Steven Crooks

14:00hrs/14:15hrs (15’)

Stephen Crooks Application of the concept of Blue Carbon to sustainable mangrove management in Guyana, Stephen Crooks, Senior Wetland Scientist/Geomorphologist, ESA PWA

14:15hrs/14:30hrs (15’)

Serena Fortuna UN-REDD programme – monitoring, measuring, reporting and verification functions of the national forest monitoring systems, Serena Fortuna, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation

14:30hrs/14:45hrs (15’)

Sirpaul Jaikishun Estimating carbon storage capacity of mangrove species (Avicennia germinans, Laguncularia racemosa and Rhizophora mangle) in Guyana, Sirpaul Jaikishun, University of Guyana

14:45hrs/15:00hrs

BREAK

15:00hrs/15:15hrs (15’)

Colis Primo Vulnerability Assessment of Guyana’s mangroves, Colis Primo, Environmental Protection Agency Guyana

15:15hrs/15:30hrs (15’)

Valrie Grant Emerging technologies for mangrove monitoring and management, Valrie Grant, GeoTech Vision Enterprise

15:30hrs/16:00hrs (30’)

OPEN DISCUSSION SESSION 6 16:00hrs/16:30hrs POSTERS SESSIONS 4,5, 6

16:30hrs/17:00hrs (30’) SESSION 7: Future directions for mangrove restoration, research and management in Guyana.

Panel: Owen Bovell, Phillip DaSilva, Robin Lewis, Steve Crooks, Jamie Machin

17:00hrs/17:15hrs (15’)

CLOSING ADDRESS

SATURDAY, 13th APRIL From 8:30 hrs to 17:00hrs

FIELD TRIP Victoria, East Coast Demerara

Tour of proposed Golden Grove/Belfield Mangrove Reserve Site of Offshore detached Geotextile breakwater

Woodley Park, West Coast Berbice Observe damaged mangrove site. Site proposed for

Hydrologic restoration Village # 7, West Coast Berbice

Observe mangrove restoration site – success & challenges Participants planting of Spartina brasiliensis


GMRP restoration site Le Bonne Intention (LBI), East Coast Demerara


Forum DetailTHURSDAY, 11th APRILGUYANA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTER

OPENING PRESENTATION

The Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project (GMRP), Issues facing mangroves in Guyana, Key questions, Results to date, lessons learnt and objective of the forum and technical sessions

Owen Bovell, Dean Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Guyana

Owen Bovell is Dean, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry at the University of Guyana. He is one of Guyana’s mangrove specialists having worked on mangrove issues in Guyana for over 8 years includ-ing formulation of the Draft Code of Practice

for Mangrove Management for the Guyana For-est Commission. His work with the Guyana Man-grove Restoration Project has extended to identify-ing suitable planting sites and provision of advice on planting and nursery techniques for Avicennia germinans and helped draft the National Mangrove Management Action Plan (NMMAP) 2010-2012. He has also conducted several research projects on the mangrove ecosystem including a project focus-ing on productivity and community composition of mangrove forest along the coast of the Demerara river and supervised numerous student research projects focusing on the mangrove ecosystem.


SESSION 1: Mangrove Restoration Case StudiesChair: Roy “Robin” Lewis

Roy R. (Robin) Lewis is the founder and president of Lewis Environmental Services, Inc., an environmental consulting firm located in Tampa, Florida, founded in 1989. He is also president of Coastal Resource Group, Inc., an educational and scientific organization. Mr. Lewis’ expertise includes the ecology, manage-ment, restoration and creation of fresh and saltwater marshes, mangrove forests, forested freshwater for-ests, and seagrass meadows. He has studied the ef-fects of oil spills on coastal ecosystems, plant and ani-mal colonization of dredged material islands, marine and estuarine fish use of restored tidal wetlands, and experimental revegetation of wetlands using both ma-rine and freshwater species. He has published more than 100 papers on these subjects. Mr. Lewis has designed more than 200 completed

wetland restoration or creation projects in Florida, California, South Carolina, Puerto Rico, U.S. Vir-gin Islands, Nigeria and Thailand. These include a 613acre freshwater wetland, in Broward County (Fort Lauderdale) and a 1,250 acre mangrove restoration project at Anne Kolb Park in Hollywood, Florida. Mr. Lewis was the Lead Consultant for the restoration of the nation’s first National Wildlife Refuge at Pelican Island, Sebastian, Florida, established in 1903, which resulted in the eroding island being saved from de-struction. This work took place in three phases during the period 1999-2007 at a cost of USD$1 million.

Mr. Lewis has recent work experience on overseas projects in Thailand, Vietnam, Nigeria, Mexico, Bra-zil, Hong Kong, Cuba, and Jamaica.

Ecological Mangrove Restoration (EMR): Case studies, lessons learned and application to the Guyana context

Roy ‘Robin” Lewis, Lewis Environmental Services, Florida

Ecological mangrove restoration (EMR) is a general approach and methodology developed over the last twen-ty years by a consortium of international scientists to provide direction to what have been mostly failed efforts to restore mangroves worldwide. These failures could be directly traced back to a failure to appreciate the limits of mangrove distribution within the intertidal zone based upon the frequency of inundation. Repeated studies have shown that in general mangrove species are able to tolerate inundation periods of as much as 30% of the time, while drying periods without standing water need to represent typically 70% of the time. These are provided by regular tidal inundation and tidal retreat on falling tides. Some mangrove forests in Brazil and Thailand appear to survive well with as little as 10% inundation times. Previous worldwide efforts at mangrove management and restoration have included largely direct planting or afforestation of mangrove seeds or seed-lings on bare mudflats lying at lower tidal elevations in front of existing mangrove stands. These mostly fail to establish ecologically meaningful plant cover or fail completely unless the mudflat is actively accreting and is close to the correct tidal elevation to support mangroves naturally. EMR has evolved over the years from a five step process to an eight step process, but is very flexible in its application. The key provision in the approach is to “do your homework” and understand for your particular location what the tidal elevations are that support mangroves, and work within those limits to restore tidal flows to abandoned aquaculture ponds for example, or add dredged material to lower sites to raise the elevation to appropriate levels, or protect eroding shorelines and associated mangroves from intense wave action through coastal engineering projects. The Guyana context with the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project has evolved after some failures in plantings to a more active pre-assessment process looking at potential restoration sites carefully before restoration efforts including affor-estation are undertaken. These earlier efforts can be now regarded as “pilot” projects that have led to adaptive management and application of the basic principles of EMR to achieve routinely successful restoration efforts.


Restoring Mangroves in a challenging environment, Guyana________________________________________Jamie Machin, Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project

Mangrove restoration has been a major focus of the GMRP and project planting activity in 2010-2012 combined has enabled more than 330,000 Avicennia germinans seedlings to be planted across 5.59km of the coastline at ten locations, equating to approxi-mately 35ha in area. Evaluation of field results in-dicates that where mangrove seedlings are planted in optimal environmental conditions, recovery of the coastal protective belt can be rapid with mean growth rate of 200cm per year at the most success-ful field site and canopy closure at approximately 12 months after planting. These successful sites can be compared to neighbouring planting sites which have experienced near total mortality of seedlings during the same period. Evaluation of environmental con-ditions at the different field sites suggests that mud elevation and associated sediment condition and wave energy levels is the primary differentiating factor between these two groups of field sites, with positive correlations between survival and seedling growth rate observed at three field sites.

To reduce the risk of planting at unsuitable plant-ing sites, the project has developed a comprehen-sive site selection processes prior to future planting involving assessments at different scales (1- macro scale, using Satellite imagery and Aerial photog-raphy from the GIS database to identify presence of mud banks and predict their movements) and 2) Micro scale at each potential planting site to assess suitability of different locations within planting sites in terms of known tolerance limits of man-groves to variation in mud elevation, soil conditions and wave action. Site selection data is incorporated into conceptual models for each field site before decisions are made on the most appropriate proj-ect intervention at each site. To increase its arsenal

of potential project interventions as an alternative to mangrove planting providing restoration options for a wider range of field sites at a faster rate and at lower cost, the project is trialing ecological natural restoration methods. Techniques being trialed include:• planting of coastal grasses (e.g. Spartina) to fa-

cilitate stabilisation of sediments in areas sub-ject to heavier wave energy, as well as natural recruitment of mangrove seedlings through en-trapment of propagules,

• fencing to enable natural recruitment by natu-rally available mangrove seeds without pressure from grazing animals,

• trials of techniques to restore natural hydrologi-cal processes in degraded mangrove forest ar-eas to again allow for natural recovery of these mangrove areas and

• establishment of coastal engineering structures such as geotextile breakwaters and low cost Brushwood dams to reduce wave energy and facilitate accretion of sediments.


Mangrove Restoration in Brazil: Restoring old paradigms to strengthen future outcomes________________________________________Andre Rovai, Universidade Federal de Santa Cata-rina, Brazil

Mangroves are disappearing worldwide at alarming rates and evidence for successful restoration on any large scale is nearly non-existent. A systematic re-view on mangrove restoration publications in Brazil was performed. Data was combined into a meta-analysis. From 1994 to 2012 43 publications were produced. Studies differed in experiment’s duration and spatial design, however, shared low survival rates. Plantings account for ca. 2.6 ha. The case studies examined lacked experimental design (spa-tially and temporally), compromising any consistent conclusions in light of community dynamics. Based on those findings, we hypothesized that restoration strategies are not successful because basic ecologi-cal principles go often largely ignored and stressors are not removed. To test our hypothesis we selected three planted mangrove stands (in southern Brazil), with different disturbance histories, and compared them to reference sites using secondary succession and photosynthetic performance as functional in-dicators. Restoration sites were managed by single planting ten to twelve years ago and immediately left to natural regeneration. The reference areas consisted of natural regeneration and old-growth stands, with approximately ten and fifty years old, respectively. The permutational multivariate analy-sis of variance showed significant interaction among sites and treatments and the post-hoc tests showed that restoration areas differed from at least one of the reference sites. Elevation disruptions and heavy metals concentration were responsible for driving both structural and photosynthetic responses. At restoration sites an impaired pattern of secondary succession was observed as well as photosynthet-ic performance was reduced, indicating that single species plantings may be ineffective if characteris-tics on site and landscape levels are not considered. Coupling structural and physiological properties proved efficient in revealing important trends in the

ecosystem development, representing a powerful tool for the analysis of the effectiveness of future initiatives to restore coastal environments.

Restoration of a mangrove system in Point Lisas, Trinidad & Tobago________________________________________Rahanna Juman, Environmental Research Pro-gramme, Institute of Marine Affairs, Trinidad & Tobago

The Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) monitors a site in Point Lisas, Trinidad, where a mangrove replanting project was undertaken in 1999. This project was implemented when 1200m2 of fringed mangrove forest showed no signs of regeneration 18 months after clearance by an ammonia produc-ing industry, to allow passage of an effluent pipeline carrying wastewater to the Gulf of Paria. Although natural regeneration was expected because of the availability of seedlings in the adjoining wetland areas, this did not occur. Prior to the pipe laying activity, the area experienced tidal flushing. During the activitity, marl used to cover the pipeline was unevenly placed and restricted tidal flow. To restore the topography, profiles were done in the cleared area and were compared to the adjoining mangrove forest. From these profiles it was determined that 40cm of overburden in the landward sector had to be removed to restore the topography and to ore- es-tablish the tidal hydrology. After excavation work, the area was again flooded by the tide and 170 red (Rhizophora mangle), 76 black (Avicennia germi-nans) and 15 white (Laguncularia racemosa), man-grove seedlings were planted and monitored. Ten months after planting more than 354 seedlings were recorded. This included 45 black and 8 white man-grove transplants and only 10 red mangrove trans-plants. Eighty two percent of the seedlings recorded were natural colonisers.


In 2003, the mangrove in the restored area ranged between 6m and 8 m in height and tree density was estimated at 30 trees/ 0.01 ha. Shortly after, man-grove dieback was observed in this forest but there was subsequent re- growth without intervention. The restoration project in 1999 was successful; however the planting of mangrove seedlings was not necessary the physical characteristics of the site were restored.

Ecological restoration of a degraded man-grove forest in a marine protected area as an adaptive measure to increase the resilience of coastal ecosystems to climate change________________________________________Chalene Roye-Myrie, National Environment and Planning Agency, Ministry of Water, Land, Envi-ronment and Climate Change, Jamaica

The National Environment and Planning Agency is responsible for implementing component two of the GOJ/EU/UNEP Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk – Increasing Resilience to Cli-mate Change Project. It is geared towards assisting Jamaica in adapting to climate change and to con-tribute to the sustainable development by increas-ing resilience and reducing the risks that are associ-ated with natural hazards, particularly in vulnerable coastal communities. On aspect of this project is to restore degraded mangrove ecosystems in a se-lected Marine Protected Area. In order to fulfill this component, 5.04 ha of a degraded mangrove forest located in the Portland Bight Protected Area; the is-land’s largest protected area was selected as the tar-geted restoration site. In 2004 Hurricane Ivan dam-aged a significant portion of the forest. This coupled with construction of a temporary road, dredging of the existing channel and dumping of stockpiles into the forest restricted hydrological connections and introduced feral grazers which led to large scale

die off the mangrove forest. Restorative activities began in April 2012 and were completed in August 2012. The restoration methodology employed to re-store the degraded forest was Ecological Restora-tion. This focused on restoring and improving the hydrological connections by recreating historical tidal channels and creating new ones to facilitate tidal flushing and natural regeneration overtime. This was enhanced by planting 4,920 red and black mangrove seedlings that were common to the area prior to the forest being disturbed. Results of the time zero report indicated that more than 50% of the black seedlings succumbed to the hypersaline conditions of the site resulting in a seedling density of 1 seedling/5.9m2. Following the second series of monitoring numerous volunteer mangroves were re-corded colonizing the site representing a 1:5 ratio of planted versus natural recruits. The overall survival rate of the area currently stands at 1seedling/1.4m2.


Snowy Egrets and Scarlet Ibis nesting in Mangrove Forest


Phillip DaSilva is Senior Lecturer and Assistant Director University of Guyana Berbice Campus. Philip has a background in environmental science and extensive experience in research associated with mangrove ecosystems and their biodiversity in-cluding research into the Avifauna in mangrove eco-systems: Wellington Park, Guyana (2012), the role of nurseries in mangrove conservation and manage-ment (2012) and baseline studies and survey of uses of mangrove resources in two coastal communities in Guyana (2012). For the GMRP, Phillip has pre-viously assisted the project to develop a teacher’s resource manual on mangrove education secondary schools (2011) and Monitoring protocols (2011). Phillip was previously a Member of National Bio-diversity Advisory Committee (EPA) (1991 to 2009) and Member and Chairperson of National Integrat-ed Coastal Zone Management Committee (1991 to 2011).

Avifaunal diversity in a Guyanese mangrove ecosystem: The proposed Wellington Park Mangrove Reserve, Corentyne, East Berbice, Guyana________________________________________Phillip DaSilva, University of Guyana

Mangroves play a vital in the defense of Guyana’s coastal zone. The increased risks posed by predicted rise in sea level and the rising cost of maintenance of the sea defense structure have prompted the Gov-ernment of Guyana to resuscitate and promote man-grove conservation through the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project (GMRP).

Known to be among the most biologically diverse ecosystems of the world, mangroves are known to provide nesting, roosting and feeding sites for many

avifaunal species. However, in Guyana little work has been done to specifically study avifaunal diver-sity in mangrove ecosystems. This study being re-ported examined the avifaunal diversity of the man-grove ecosystem at the proposed Wellington Park Mangrove Reserve.

Observational methods were used to conduct the study. A total of 1184 birds comprising thirty-seven (37) species were observed during the study period. This total number of species represented seven (7) Orders, fourteen (14) Families and thirty seven (37) genera. Of the recorded species 37.8% belonged to the Passeriformes, 21.6% to Pelicaniformes, 13.5% to Accipitriformes, 10.8% to Charadriiformes, 8.1% to Cuculiformes, 5.4% to Caraciiformes and 2.8% to Caprimulgiformes. Avifauna of the Order Pas-seriformes was represented by seven families fol-lowed by Pelicaniformes and Charadriiformes with two families each.

The Ardeidae had the greatest number of species (seven species), followed by Tyrannidae and Accipi-tridae (five species each). Three families had three species each, two families had two species each and five families had one species each.

Because the extent of mangroves has declined in Guyana over the years the mangrove rehabilita-tion project is definitely needed. Given the limited studies and data available on avifauna in mangrove ecosystems in Guyana this research could form an important baseline data set for future studies on avi-faunal diversity in mangrove ecosystems in Guy-ana.

SESSION 2: The Management of Mangrove Ecology and Biodiversity

Chair: Phillip DaSilva


Mangrove forest ecology, management and restoration in Florida, USA________________________________________Roy ‘Robin” Lewis, Lewis Environmental Services

The mangrove forests of the state of Florida, USA, currently cover 238,131 ha of which 93% are in public ownership and management and 7% are in private ownership. It is estimated that the historic cover of mangroves was approximately 300,000 ha indicating a loss of approximately 25% of the histor-ic cover largely due to development activities. The forests are composed of three mangrove species, the red mangrove, Rhizophora mangle, the black man-grove, Avicennia germinans, and the white man-grove, Laguncularia racemosa. Mangrove associ-ates include the buttonwood, Conocarpus erecta, and various grass species including smooth cord-grass, Spartina alterniflora, salt grass, Distichlis spicata, black needle rush, Juncus roemerianus, salt jointgrass, Paspalum vaginatum, Virginia dropseed, Sporobolus virginicus, and the succulent ground-cover species, saltwort, Batis maritima and peren-nial glasswort, Salicornia virginica. This species composition is very similar to that of Guyana.

Primary and secondary succession processes in mangroves in Florida are also similar to those in Guyana, with smooth cordgrass and saltwort often acting as nurse plants that facilitate early mangrove establishment on disturbed or newly accreted sites. With most of the mangroves in public ownership and protection, and a legal system that protects all mangroves, both on public and private lands, from large scale development, current losses are largely due to die-offs from historic hydrologic modifica-tions. Large scale restoration efforts which have restored hydrologic connections on the northeast coast of Florida are underway, but hydrologic modi-fications due to historic dredging for navigation and mosquito control ditching remain largely un-addressed in the rest of the state, and represent the largest threat to continued high productivity by this ecosystem. Long range threats include sea level rise currently estimated at 2.5 cm per decade but accel-erating.

General State of the mangroves in Cuba. Sa-bana-Camaguey Archipelago and Jardines de la Reina National Park________________________________________Leslie Hernández Fernández, Center for Coastal Ecosystems Research, Cuba

The mangroves in Cuba consist, mostly, for four species: Rhizophora mangle (red mangrove), Avi-cennia germinans (black mangrove), Laguncularia racemosa (patabán), Conocarpus erectus (yana) and Conocarpus erectus var. sericeus. Mangroves have an associate flora conformed, approximately, for 157 botanical species, belonging to 100 genus and 64 families. There are 36 species of trees, 20 bushes, 44 grasses, 17 lianas, 16 epiphytes and 7 hemiparasites. Mangroves in Cuba have been af-fected by a range of manmade and natural factors including coastal erosion, and the effects of sea level rise, changes to coastal lagoons because of natural process of channel closing, accumulation of sands due to changes in the coastal dynamics what causes the coverage of the roots of the mangroves caus-ing their death, destructive effect of meteorological events (hurricanes) and variations of hydrological regimen (decrease of the precipitations. The Cen-tre for Coastal Ecosystems Research in Cuba has conducted long term research into mangroves in the Sabana-Camaguey Archipelago and the Jardines de la Reina (Jardines de la Reina National Park) which is one of the most important areas for the diversity and conservation of the flora associated to the eco-systems of mangroves. In order to characterize the mangrove in Jardines de la Reina National Park, a series of monitoring plots (10 x 10 m) were estab-lished at seven sampling sites. For each plot was scored the number of trees, root height, total height, stem length, diameter at breast height (dbh) and position of each tree. In addition, interstitial water salinity and substrate type data were collected. Re-sults indicate that mangrove forests show great vari-ability, which is the result of the vegetation response to various physical factors operating at different in-tensities in the environment.


The localities of Boca Piedra and Los Hierros had the highest values of height and diameter, where the forest is on a sandy-muddy substrate and salinity of 36 psu. However, Nicola and Auras sites showed a high number of trees 45 and 44 respectively. For-est indices (basal area and biomass) showed higher values in the town of Boca Piedra with average val-ues of 22.49 m2 ha-1 and 8.04 kg m-2, respectively. Within the National Park a large area of mangrove die back was also monitored.

The conclusion of the study showed that information obtained of sites of mangroves has never been be-fore studied, and that in the mangroves species were identified that had not been previously been reported for Cuba. The study has identified a large number of potential research topics and actions required for conservation of these areas. Questions remain as to the cause of the death of mangroves within the Jar-dines de la Reina National Park.


Offshore detached geotextile breakwater, Victoria, East Coast Demerara


Mr. Jermaine Braithwaite is a Senior Engineer within the Sea and River Defence Department of the Works Services Group. He initiated his tertiary education at the University of Guyana where he ob-tained a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering. After two years of practice with a local engineering consultancy, he commenced post-graduate studies at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering with a the focus on Hydraulics Engineering.

Mr. Braithwaite commenced his tenure with the Works Services Group in 2008 and has worked on various aspects of project implementation for Sea and River Defences infrastructure and shore zone monitoring systems. He is currently a member of the project management team for Foreign Funded Sea Defences Programme and a member of the Sea De-fence Board.

Coastal engineering approaches applied through the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project to protect existing stands of man-groves and facilitate natural recruitment________________________________________Michael Giovannozzi/Ranata Robertson, Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project

Guyana’s intertidal zone is made up of long, slop-ing, ever-moving mud banks that originate at the mouth of the Amazon River. Huge deposits of fine silts and clays from the Amazon are carried north-west along the coast in slow moving “slings”. As these mud banks, which extend out from the shore

as far as three miles, progress along the coast, a pat-tern develops, where mud builds in one region as the crest of the bank passes, followed by a period of depletion as a corresponding trough follows. The high banks provide ideal conditions for mangrove forest growth, whereas the troughs appear to lead to erosion and depletion. Local experience is that a severe erosion period lasts for about three years at any one place. This is the situation under which the mangrove forest of the north coast of South Ameri-ca has evolved, and with which it can be presumed to have been in some sort of dynamic equilibrium. However, in recent decades, as the mangrove belt has been progressively depleted, the dynamics of the system seem to be overriding the forest’s ability to recover from an erosion cycle. The sea defence structures also probably play a role in the destabi-lization of the mangrove forest as they restricts the ability of mud banks to build up to a level pre requi-site for mangrove colonization and form a physical barrier for movement of mangrove propagules from mature forests located inland of the sea wall infra-structure to areas outside the sea wall. Sea walls also interrupt the normal wave-energy flow onto the land, and restrict the ability of mangrove stands to shift their boundaries as sea levels rise. Sea wall construc-tion has also been responsible for damaging healthy stands during the construction process.

Further, complications are possibly created when fresh water running off the land is interrupted by sea defence structures and channeled into drainage canals, thus altering the natural dispersion of fresh water into the mangrove forest.

SESSION 3: The Influence of Coastal Processes on Mangrove Restoration Efforts and the Potential for Application of Coastal Engineering Solutions

Chair: Jermaine Braithwaite


In the communities along the coast there is a strong feeling that allowing the groynes, originally con-structed by the Dutch, to deteriorate has accelerated the erosion of the mangroves. This is a subject of much discussion, as it is generally recognized by the engineering community that groynes – solid structures that run out into the sea perpendicular to the sea wall – are only effective in causing the de-position of heavy (sand) particles. They do not work with clays and silts. Nonetheless, their presence ap-pears to have some protective effect on mangroves down-current from them. The specific impacts of these situations are poorly understood.

The presentation includes discussion of the results of low-crest, low-cost structures geotextile tubes running parallel to the shore and acting as wave-force breakers, designed and constructed as an al-ternative to groynes and the project’s concept and detailed design for a series of brushwood dam struc-tures designed to assist in accretion of mud banks to allow for natural colonization of mangroves in different Regions of Guyana.

A synopsis of the hydrological and climatic conditions affecting Guyana’s coastline________________________________________Maurice Veecock, Retired Hydrologist, Senior Lecturer, University of Guyana

Guyana has an area of 215,000 square kilometers that is divided into five major geographical regions namely; the coastal lowlands, the interior plains, the western highland, the southern uplands and the south savannah. The coastal lowlands region, which has about ninety percent of the country’s total pop-ulation, occupies about ten percent of the country. The region varies from about eight to sixty-five ki-lometers in width and is below sea level. This strip of rich alluvial soil provides most of the agricultural

production in the country. An elaborate system of sea defences both hard (sea walls) and soft (man-groves) structures, along with irrigation and drain-age canals, is required to protect the area from flood-ing. This paper highlights the behavioral pattern of principal rivers in Guyana viz Essequibo, Cuyuni, Mazaruni, Pataro, Demerara and Berbice and pro-vides an indication of minimum and maximum flows. The Essequibo River, which has the largest flows to the Atlantic, is estimated to be 500,000 cu-secs. This particular flow has the largest effect on the coastline conditions. Rainfall figures of selected areas are also highlighted to show average run off curve of Guyana’s climatic conditions and its effect on mangrove migration along the coast.


Enhancing resilience of the coastline through removing stress, rehabilitation and mangrove planting________________________________________Sieuwnath Naipal, Anton de Kom University of Su-riname, Faculty of Technological Sciences

This presentation evaluates the results of mangrove planting on newly deposited mudbank as alternative option for coastal protection and as a possible adap-tation measure against the rising sea level. In combi-nation with human interventions within the coastal zone, such as impoldering of new land for housing and agriculture purposes, the rising sea level poses an increasing threat to the existing and newly estab-lished man-made and natural systems. Government’s effort to halt these adverse impacts is primarily fo-cused on constructions of sea dike’s and dams. In the last few years, the option “soft protection” is being considered. This option includes the enhancement of the resilience of the coastal system to withstand the threat from the sea through rehabilitation and mangrove planting, particularly at those locations where the natural resilience is weakened and where the coast experiences a persistent retreat. One such a location in Suriname is the Coronie coast, ideal for implementation of such an option. The initiative of the Government of Suriname to pilot the soft pro-tection technique therefore has been strongly sup-ported by the NGO’s, particularly by the Suriname Conservation Foundation. Resources have been set free by this NGO to produce plant and monitor the juveniles on an area of approximately two hectares land on new formed mudbank. The methodology used to enhance the resilience includes planting as well as improving conditions for natural regenera-tion of the mangroves. The process has been care-fully monitored and the weaknesses and strengths of this process identified and evaluated. The following sub phases of this strengthening process have been emphasized: production of the mangrove juveniles, it’s planting on the relatively soft mudbank, their

survive rate, interaction mudbank and mangroves. The set of criteria for planting and monitoring man-grove, derived from a number of documents, have been adapted and supplemented with new, specific features for the conditions of Suriname. Application of this set of criteria for the next following planting succession will drastically decrease the mortality of mangrove juveniles, whilst supporting the natural regeneration process at the same time. This article reveals that human action can enhance the resilience of the coast and therefore increase protection from the rising sea level and flooding.


Application of geotextile tubes for protection of mangrove coastlines, case studies________________________________________Nicolas Ruiz, Tencate

Mangroves are characterized by unique species of trees that fringe the intertidal zone and survive on muddy tidal flats along protected ocean shorelines with low energy wave climate. Mangrove ecosys-tems support important communities of plants and animals. Mangrove seedlings tend to form between the 30th north parallel and the 30th south parallel. Many countries show significant losses in mangrove habitats over the last 50 years . Additionally, climate change poses additional threats due to influence of projected rise in sea level due to global warming.Geotextile tubes are specifically engineered struc-tures manufactured from high strength Polypropyl-ene fabric, sewn in so that the fabric withstands high stresses during installation and serves as a mean to retain and confine solids. Geotextile tubes are placed into position by pumping a water/solids sludge into

the tube. The solids are retained and all excess water drains through the pores of the Geotextile tube.In 2000, the National Hydraulic Institute of Malaysia attempted a mangrove establishment project using mud-filled non-woven geotextile bags which proved to be useful to initiate plant regeneration.In July 2004, the pilot project was completed with the geotextile tube breakwaters placed almost par-allel to shore at a distance of about 20meters from the escarpment. It was observed that the breakwa-ters create a calmer water surface at the shoreward side of the breakwater. From observations in 2005, results indicate that substrate build-up has occurred.In the past, successful protection of mud shorelines has been achieved using rock and concrete revet-ments. The pilot project using geotextile tube break-waters to protect the mangrove coast of Tanjung Piai Johor National Park has proven the capability of geotextile tubes as a main component in erosion control. Positive results have already been noted at Tanjung Piai Johor National Park.


SESSION 4: Community Engagement and Partnerships in Mangrove Forest Management

Chair: Barbara Thomas-Holder

Barbara Thomas-Holder is a Lecturer with the Uni-versity of Guyana. She is presently the Coordina-tor of the University’s Social Work Unit and former Head of the Sociology Department. Barbara is a member of the Association of Caribbean Social Work Educators, the Guyana Association of Profes-sional Social Workers and the International Schools of Social Work. She is also a member of the Bux-ton/Friendship Mangrove Action Committee and Coordinator of the Buxton/Friendship Restoration Committee, which promotes social and educational activities within that community.

Residents Readiness to advance mangrove restoration in Buxton/ Friendship________________________________________ Barbara Thomas-Holder, University of Guyana

Cultural practices have contributed significantly to mangrove deforestation in Guyana. Mangrove for firewood, gardening, cattle grazing, dumpsites and even crab and bird catching remain hindrances to mangrove restoration. The necessity of engag-ing community members in restoration comes into question. Natural factors like erosion have added to the vulnerability of communities becoming exposed to the force of coastal waves. Residents need to un-derstand the benefits of mangrove restoration and their role in the process, hence the need for com-munity engagement - ownership and sustainability. The objective of this study was to:1. Identify the relevant knowledge, skills and at-titudes of residents to promote and sustain the resto-ration of mangrove.2. Determine the willingness of residents to modify attitudes and behaviour to promote mangrove resto-ration and sustainability.

3. Inform actions required to involve residents in the ownership and restoration of mangroves.An exploratory study with a sample of 125 com-munity members and 11 key informants, who re-sponded to a questionnaire and interview schedule, respectively was carried out. A descriptive approach presented the findings using measurement proce-dures and content analysis.

1. Respondents (78.8%) knew about mangroves but only 33% heard about the project in Buxton/Friendship.2. Residents readily identified destructive cultural practices that affect mangrove restoration and sea defence as a benefit.3. They knew how to plant (56%), when to plant (43.4%) and to protect mangrove. Additional pro-tective measures were identified as education, secu-rity employment and sanctions for defaulters. Com-munity skills for restoration were noted.4. Respondents (85%) felt that villagers would support mangrove restoration while some (87%) pledged personal support.5. Based on accrued community benefits all should support the project but infrastructural changes to strengthen sea defence must be in place.In conclusion, residents have much knowledge about mangroves but not the Guyana mangrove restora-tion project. They recognised detrimental cultural practices but believe that with education on project benefits, community members would be willing to change attitude and sustain the project.


Community surveying of perceptions of man-grove loss and options for management in Guyana, preliminary results and recommen-dations________________________________________Shanna Boodhoo, The Consultancy Group

Building public awareness of the importance of man-groves to Guyana as well as issues facing Guyana’s mangroves is an important aspect of the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project (GMRP), with signifi-cant effort expended in a program of TV and radio advertising, installation of billboards, education pro-gram in schools and facilitation of school camps and visits to the Mangrove visitor centre at Victoria. In preparation for future public awareness campaigns in new project areas in Regions 2 and 3, the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project in collaboration with The Consultancy Group (TCG) has conducted a base-line survey of public awareness in these two Regions to inform the design of a focused public engagement strategy. The baseline survey encompassed a litera-ture review, development of questionnaire materials and conduct of in-depth interviews to determine lo-cal communities’ level of knowledge of the: ecology, cultural significances, and environmental benefits of mangroves as well as the level of community buy-in to the implementation process of the project.Thirty eight questionnaires were pre-tested in a pilot process and 306 were administered after some rec-tification. Individuals, government officials, elected representatives and key community groups, were in-terviewed in offices, on the foreshore, in car-parks, markets, and schools in 4 potential sites for future work - Charity to Bounty Hall; Anna Regina to Dev-onshire Castle (Region 2); Vreed-en-Hoop to Wind-sor Forest and Leguan (Region 3). Participants were queried about their knowledge of mangroves, its value and its uses, the opportunities for eco-tourism development, their knowledge of threats and Climate Change, their sources of information and the roles of community members and other stakeholders manag-ing mangroves. Results of the baseline survey will provide the basis for follow up surveys to determine the effectiveness of planned public awareness strate-gies in the two region.

Development of a management plan for the Golden Grove-Bellfield Mangrove Reserve, lessons learnt in and potential for application to other mangrove reserves in Guyana and the region________________________________________Michelle Kalamadeen, University of Guyana

The Golden Grove Belfield (GGB) Mangrove Re-serve located within the Victoria/Bellfield area of Region 4 is Guyana’s first proposed mangrove re-serve. This area includes a shoreline approximately 3km, characterized by a mature mangrove forest and man-made wetland. The Guyana Mangrove Resto-ration Project (GMRP) recently commissioned the development of a management plan for the reserve to serve as a pilot for the creation and management of other coastal reserves in Guyana, and the Carib-bean.Key components of this plan included agreed management goals and objectives for the site; a de-lineation processes which included data collection and community resource use mapping and other socioeconomic data, biological data on the status of mangroves and fauna at the site, institutional ar-rangements for management of the site including sus-tainable financing and linkages to sources of finance for protected areas; and strategy for site management including mangrove restoration and protection and community engagement activities and economic ac-tivities at the site (e.g ecotourism), among others.This presentation details the process undertaken by the GMRP to develop the management plan for the area including biodiversity and social surveying and a comprehensive community engagement strategy including formulation of a community management group and community and technical workshops for community and government stakeholders. The man-agement plan process and lessons learnt through development of the plan provide useful lessons for future coastal protected area management initiatives in Guyana and the Region.


Developing Community Partnerships as a strategy for the sustainable management of mangroves in Guyana________________________________________Patrick E. Williams, WWF Guianas Throughout the world and particularly in develop-ing countries the management of mangrove ecosys-tems has been integrally linked to the livelihoods of millions numbers of people in local communities. These communities have been reliant on coastal and estuarine mangrove forests for a variety of uses that include fisheries, harvesting of honey and timber for firewood and other purposes. In Guyana, the close proximity to, and interaction of many coastal villag-es with mangrove habitats suggest that these com-munities are not only likely to have a multiplicity of benefits from these ecosystems but that they can also play a significant role in their sustainable man-agement. However, while efforts have been made level to protect and manage the mangrove ecosys-tems at the policy level through donor investment in mangrove restoration projects, education and aware-ness, mobilization of community support and such

instruments as the National Mangrove Action Plan, it is quite evident that enough has not been done to engage key stakeholders into a more holistic and in-tegrative manner to develop and common strategy to support a long-term approach to the management of Guyana’s mangrove forest. The primary objec-tive of this research paper is to propose a strategy for greater community involvement in support of the sustainable use and management of the coastal man-grove ecosystems in Guyana. Preliminary research data obtained from two regions in Guyana suggested that of the 80 households interviewed 35%, 45% and 15% indicated that land tenure arrangements, lack of engagement on the part of the state agencies, and insufficient knowledge of mangrove habitats were limiting factors for their involvement in mangrove management respectively while 5% described “other factors”. In response to their willingness to support initiatives designed to improve mangrove manage-ment through community involvement, 75% of the respondents responded in the affirmative but felt that dialogue between the communities and the authori-ties needs to be improved.


SESSION 5: Institutional Arrangements for Mangrove Management Including Protected Area Management

Chair: Professor Rory Fraser

Rory Fraser has a doctorate in Forest Resources Management and is Professor of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at Alabama A&M Uni-versity where he specializes in research into forest economics, management and policy including re-cent research into change in land cover associated with agricultural development and community for-estry on private land. Rory was visiting Professor, University of Guyana periodically from 2009-2011.

Institutional issues affecting the sustainable development of Guyana’s mangroves, pre-liminary findings and recommendations________________________________________Professor Rory Fraser, Alabama A&M University

Clearing of mangroves on private and public lands in Guyana is inadequately addressed by current leg-islation and there is no clear process in place which defines the role of the Mangrove Project Unit, the Mangrove Action Committee and each government department in assessing the impact of their infrastruc-ture development work on mangroves, issuing per-mits, implementing appropriate mitigation measures after infrastructure development and monitoring of the outcome of mitigation measures. Case studies are used to quantify the area of mangrove land: lost historically to development for agriculture (e.g. Ma-haica Abary Mahaicony development, Housing and other infrastructure development); quantify the area of mangroves at threat from future infrastructure de-velopment; and highlight potential implications in terms of Government of Guyana REDD+/MRV tar-gets and Sea Defences Policy. Legal and institutional reviews of laws relating to mangroves and shoreline

management and Environmental Impact Assess-ment in Guyana as well as comparative review of legal/ institutional structure in other countries are the bases for discussions with the relevant agencies and their legal officers in developing recommended changes to legislation/ policy/ agency mandates and revisions to NMMAP. These findings can be used in developing: new policies and formalized agree-ments between agencies responsible for any aspect of enforcement; guidelines for each government agency’s developing infrastructure or land in the mangroves; and mechanisms for ensuring the code of practice for mangrove harvesting by the private sector include consideration of economic-ecological services trade-offs, prior to issuance of permits.


Land tenure issues as a constraint to the sus-tainable management of Guyana’s Mangroves________________________________________Linda Johnson-Bhola, School of Earth and Envi-ronmental Science, University of Guyana

The protection of coastal mangrove wetlands in many parts of the world is a major coastal zone man-agement issue due mainly to the threats that the sea presents to the low-lying areas and livelihood activi-ties that are undertaken there. In Guyana, almost the entire coastline was once inhabited by mangroves which provided valuable defence for the coast and supported a rich ecosystem. Over time, however, considerable portions of the forest have been de-stroyed resulting in large areas of the coastal zone being exposed to erosion by waves especially dur-ing spring tide periods and impacting not only set-tlements but sizeable tracks of agricultural lands located in close proximity to the sea shore. Many policy documents and instruments identify a num-ber of key issues related to mangrove management and the benefits obtained by prudent management of mangroves. The National Development Strat-egy, the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan and the National Mangrove Restoration Programme for example, show that there still exist unregulated socio-economic activities and land tenure problems that are likely to impact any attempt to protect man-groves. Thus, equally important as replanting man-groves along protected coastlines and fresh water input, developing mangrove seedling nurseries and determining the site-specific needs of mangroves at each restoration location, is the need for managing and regulating human activities and dealing with land ownership issues. The aim of the research is to provide a strategy for dealing with conflicts that arise from land tenure arrangements in an attempt to bet-ter manage mangrove forest along the coast. A mixed method approach including interviews and question-naire surveys was used for acquiring data for this re-search. Descriptive statistics was the main technique used for analysing the data obtained.

Blue Green Carbon: Do Legal frameworks exist for the payment of ecosystem services of Guyana’s mangrove ecosystem?________________________________________Alana Malinde S.N Lancaster, Faculty of Law, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus

Concern about the loss of mangroves has led to in-novation in mangrove conservation and restoration efforts, including the use of payments for ecosystem services to create incentives to protect, instead of destroy, these coastal ecosystems. However, an es-sential element in determining the requirements for, and feasibility of, payments for mangrove ecosys-tems will be an examination and analysis of existing laws, regulations, policies and institutional frame-works pertinent to the initiative. This Presentation analyses the regulatory and institutional framework, with a view to identifying the prospects of realising “green” payments for mangrove ecosystem services as a coastal blue carbon resource and sink, as well as supporting Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). The LCDS hasbeen widely put forward as a tool for combating and managing the effects of climate change nationally, regionally and internationally.

Guyana’s ecosystem types consist of marine envi-ronments, including a coastal zone largely shielded by a fringe of mangrove forests. This ecosystem plays a role as a natural attenuator of high energy waves, ensures the stability of beaches, act as a buf-fer and stabilising system for land based pollutants, a habitat for birds, rich biodiversity and a nursery and habitat for fish and shellfish populations. Guyana’s mangrove ecosystem therefore can be considered a significant reservoir of biodiversity, and is important to the environmental and economic survival of Guy-ana.


However, the ecosystem is threatened with various forms of destruction. This exceptionally diverse ecosystem has over the years been devastated by deforestation, land reclamation, unsustainable plan-ning and development practices, decimation of its fauna, and by human encroachment. At present, very little is known of the country’s aquatic and marine diversity, but what is known indicates that it is equally as diverse as its terrestrial component. The complex interrelationship with the extensive wetland systems provide vital biotic and abiotic dy-namics that sustain the natural resource base. For this reason, Guyana’s coastal marine environment has the potential to provide the main base and plat-form towards development in a sustainable manner.While Guyana has made efforts at maritime ad-ministration, management and conservation, there remains much work to be done. Fortunately, under policy initiatives such as the LCDS, the adoption of integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) and mangrove management strategies, and the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project are steps in a positive direction. Additionally, Guyana’s participation in treaties such as the 1982 Montego Bay Convention, the Ramsar Convention, the Revised Treaty of Cha-guaramas – along with the Liliendaal Declaration, the Cartagena Convention and its three Protocols will provide the basis for a strong legal framework to manage and conserve the marine environment. Finally, national legislation – such as the 1996 En-vironmental Protection Act and the 2009 Forestry Act, indicates that Guyana has made provisions for both the sustainable exploitation and conservation of natural resources. However, achieving sustain-able development of Guyana’s coastal and oceanic resources requires an appreciation of the value of these natural resources and the environment, and the further development of policies and appropri-ate legal and institutional systems to support this effort.

Management of coastal protected areas in Suriname________________________________________Minu Parahoe, Suriname Coastal Protected Ar-eas Management Project (SCPAM), Ministry of Physical Planning, Land and Forest Management

The project goal is to safeguard Suriname’s globally significant coastal biodiversity. The project objec-tive is to promote the conservation of biodiversity through improved management of protected areas along the nation’s western coast. The objective will be achieved through two components: (1) improv-ing the management effectiveness and efficiency of coastal protected areas; and (2) increasing and di-versifying coastal protected area funding.

Suriname’s coastal system is a regionally unique and globally important biodiversity refuge. Nearly 373,000 hectares of the coastal zone is designated as a protected area. The intact mosaic of wetlands, mangrove forests, and mudflats host millions of mi-gratory birds each year. A variety of unsustainable anthropogenic activities threaten these multiple-use coastal areas including over-harvest, infrastructure development, farming, and oil production. Coastal protected area managers are ill-equipped to address existing and emerging conservation challenges due to two interrelated barriers: insufficient manage-ment capacity and inadequate financial resources. Proposed interventions are designed to remove these barriers and improve the conservation capac-ity of three target coastal MUMAs and three Nature Reserves (NR) encompassing 226,000 hectares of land and sea scape. Nearly the entire coastline of Suriname falls within the country’s protected area system.


Suriname has 16 protected areas, entailing approx. 13 % of its territory. Only a section near the east-ern coast border and the highly urbanized central coastal area surrounding Paramaribo are excluded. Four MUMA’s (245,000 ha) and six Nature Re-serves (128,000 ha) are situated along Suriname’s coastal zone. Each protected area is roughly divided between terrestrial and marine systems, extending approximately 5 kilometers into the interior and 2 kilometers into the sea. Bigi Pan, North Coronie, and North Saramacca are on the western coast. North Commewijne – Marowijne is on the eastern coast. Bigi-Pan is a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) site and a proposed RAMSAR site. Coppename-Monding NR, located within North Saramacca, is an important RAMSAR and WHSRN site.

The project follows the guidance of GEF’s Strategic Objective One and Strategic Program One. Project activities will help build the capacities required to secure the long-term financial sustainability of Suri-name’s coastal protected area system by: (i) harmo-nizing management practices to secure effective and efficient conservation, (ii) building capacity for stra-tegic conservation and financial management, and, (iii) establishing additional and innovative income sources for protected area management and biodi-versity.

The Guyana Protected Areas Commission and its role in sustainable mangrove manage-ment in Guyana________________________________________Denise Fraser, Protected Areas Commission

The purpose of the presentation is to outline the leg-islation that establishes the Protected Areas Com-mission, set out the functions of the Commission, its current focus and its role in sustainable mangrove management. Protected areas are critical to biodiver-sity conservation and perpetuity of ecosystem servic-es. They have demonstrated promising contributions to socioeconomic development across the globe, and are among the most important tools for attaining the objectives of Convention of Biological Diversity and Millennium Development Goals. The history of protected areas in Guyana is fairly long, begin-ning in 1929 with the establishment of Kaieteur Na-tional Park. However, it is only very recently that a protected areas system has been established with the recognition of the important role of Protected Areas in sustainable development. To date, four protected areas and three urban parks in Georgetown comprise Guyana’s Protected Areas System. These Protected Areas come under the purview of the Protected Ar-eas Commission (PAC) and now have to be managed in keeping with the objectives of the Protected Areas System. The presentation finally examines the newly established Shell Beach Protected Area (SBPA) and its role in conservation of mangrove ecosystems as part of Guyana’s Protected Areas System.


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Dr. Stephen Crooks is a wetlands restoration prac-titioner connecting project implementation to land-scape management and climate change response policy development. He is a co-founder of the IUCN-CI-IOC Blue Carbon Initiative, Co-Chair of the Blue Carbon International Scientific Working Group and a member of Blue Carbon International Policy Working Group. He is a member of the IPCC Expert Working Group on Supplement to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines on National Greenhouse Gas In-ventories: Wetlands. Stephen is also a member of the Technical Working Group that assisted the VCS with drafting of the updated AFOLU requirements to include the Wetlands Restoration and Conservation as an eligible project activity and is currently work-ing on a global wetlands restoration methodology covering tidal wetlands (marshes, mangroves and sea grasses). Stephen is currently working on good practice guidelines for carbon projects incorporat-ing coastal wetlands.

Application of the concept of Blue Carbon to sustainable mangrove management in Guy-ana________________________________________Dr. Stephen Crooks, Senior Wetland Scientist/Geo-morphologist, ESA PWA

Coastal Wetlands (mangroves, marshes and sea-grasses) sequester carbon dioxide from the atmo-sphere or water column and store it within living bio-mass and accumulating wetland soils. Destruction of these ecosystems can result in the rapid release of carbon that built up over hundreds to thousands of years. Blue Carbon is a concept that is being widely used to recognize the importance of improved man-agement of coastal ecosystems in terms of climate

change mitigation. Linking carbon finance to coastal wetland conservation projects through Blue Carbon initiatives provides one attractive solution to two overlapping challenges in the coastal environment: the historic and continuing loss of coastal wetlands to human and natural causes, and the anticipated impacts of climate change including sea level rise. Globally, there are now activities to expand the sci-ence of carbon cycling in coastal systems, along with informing policy development to include financial and non financial frameworks to improve coastal ecosystem management and support sustainable livelihoods. A network of collaborators and poten-tial demonstration projects is building. There is an opportunity to examine how developing blue carbon mechanisms (e.g. carbon financing, extension of REDD+, or NAMA development) may be applied in Guyana in support of national actions on man-grove conservation and climate change adaptation. The presentation will introduce the concept of Blue Carbon, case studies from around the world and dis-cuss how it could potentially be applied in the Guy-ana context as a means of introducing a sustainable means of financing to support ongoing and future efforts to manage and restore Guyana’s mangroves.

Support to Country REDD+ Readiness and FAO work in Mangrove Ecosystems________________________________________Serena Fortuna, Untied Nations Food and Agri-culture Organisation

SESSION 6: Emerging Areas in Mangrove Research Related to Sea Level Rise, Carbon Sequestration Potential of Mangroves

Chair: Stephen Crooks


Estimating carbon storage capacity of mangrove species (Avicennia germinans, Laguncularia racemosa and Rhizophora mangle) in Guyana________________________________________Sirpaul Jaikishun, University of Guyana

Mangrove forests are one of the primary natural fea-tures of the coastlines throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Mangroves are in-dicated by the presence of trees that mainly occur in the intertidal zone, between land and sea, sedimen-tation and tidal currents. Guyana’s coastal zone for-est is 22, 632 ha of mangroves with region one (1) having the highest coverage of 1, 0161 ha or 44.90 % of 22, 632 ha of mangroves. Guyana’s coast is be-low sea level and most of this area is protected from the rising sea waters by the existence of mangroves along the shores and banks of the rivers. Over 500 mangroves were sampled in this study with average DBH of 24.45±8.14 across the six coastal regions. The study area of 140m x 14m was selected and then ten plots of size 14m x 14m were demarcated for each region. Three 14m x 14m plots were selected and all the mangrove trees with DBH > 10cm were measured and recorded. In addition, two trees from each sample plot were destructively analysed to test the validity of the equation used in the calculations.

Results indicate that sample plots in Region one had the highest mean DBH of 50.35±8.58cm2 while sam-ple plots in Region five had the lowest mean DBH of 15.6±4.65cm2. The above ground biomass of sam-pled was calculated for each of the regions with Re-gion one indicating the highest, 10,596. 69 ± 603.97 kg/ha and region five with the lowest at 2528.42 ± 66.80 kg/ha while the estimated carbon stored in Regions one and two is 3390. 94/ha and 809.09/ha respectively. To enhance a higher degree of accuracy a larger and multiple study area should be selected and obviously more plots. Also more than two trees need to be destructively analysed to better assess the validity of the equation.

Vulnerability assessment of Guyana’s mangroves________________________________________Colis Primo, Environmental Protection Agency Guyana

Research has shown that Guyana is particularly vul-nerable to climate change impacts because of its ex-tensive low-lying coastal zone that hosts just about 90% of the country’s population and mangrove eco-systems as well as areas essential in terms of liveli-hoods and economic activities along with essential infrastructure for the country. Guyana’s coastal zone is threatened by sea-level rise, increase in storm surges and changes in rainfall patterns. As such, any impact on the coastlands will have consequences for the country’s economy, basically sustained by the sectors of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing, which are economic activities highly sensitive to changes in climate. Mangrove ecosystems are important coastal resources in that they act as a protective buffer to wind and wave energy and improve near-shore water quality. They also serve as a major carbon sink as well as a source of wood, and sustain fishery resources that provide many coastal communities with a pri-mary source of their daily protein intake. Mangroves are, however, one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world. Mangrove ecosystems are also sensitive to climate change impacts, particularly to associat-ed relative sea level rise. These threats will impose severe social and economic constraints on Guyana, and will need to be addressed with adaptation poli-cies and measures.


Individual mangrove forest areas are not equally vulnerable to the effects of climate change but vary significantly through exposure factors such as tidal range and sediment supply, sensitivity factors in-cluding forest condition and growth, seaward edge retreat, reduction in mangrove area, elevations with-in mangroves, sedimentation rates, adjacent ecosys-tem resilience and strength of protection legislation and adaptive capacity factors including availability of migration areas inland from mangroves, commu-nity management capacity and degree of stakeholder involvement in mangrove management. Climate Change Vulnerability assessment for Mangrove Eco-systems is a methodology developed by the WWF and USAID for assessing the vulnerability of man-grove ecosystems to climate change to help those forests (and the people living around them) better adapt to climate change impacts in the future. The presentation introduces the application of the Vul-nerability assessment methodology through interna-tional case studies and provides preliminary recom-mendations on the applicability of this methodology to the Guyana context using datasets from the Guy-ana Mangrove Restoration Project.

Emerging technologies for mangrove moni-toring and management________________________________________Valrie Grant, GeoTech Vision Enterprise The Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project has eval-uated the requirements for GIS and remote sensing technology in Mangrove Monitoring and Manage-ment. Potential applications were defined against the requirements for Mangrove Monitoring includ-ing the requirement for the project GIS system to provide inputs into the MRV system being devel-oped for the REDD+ initiative. A gap analysis was done to identify which of the partner agencies have a vested interest in Mangrove Mapping and how best to collaborate with these agencies in develop-ing the GIS database that is being created for the project. Further, a strategy for GIS implementation

was developed which includes having a dedicated GIS Analyst, training at different levels across the organization, acquisition of satellite imagery, data-base design and development and the establishment of web map services as part of an enterprise GIS so-lution. The presentation will look at the process for geospatial technology implementation within the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project and provide an overview of these technologies with respect to mangrove monitoring and management. It will high-light some critical areas in which the technology has already positively impacted the business processes of the project and demonstrate information products that have been created for the project to date. It will further detail the benefits that are anticipated as a re-sult of employing of these technologies.


SESSION 7: Future Directions for Mangrove Restoration, Research and Management in Guyana.

Chair: Jamie Machin

Panel: Owen Bovell, Phillip DaSilva, Robin Lewis, Stephen Crooks, Hazel Oxenford

This session will focus on the future of mangrove restoration and management in Guyana and seek to answer the challenging questions:

• What gaps in knowledge and approach to mangrove management in Guyana have been iden-tified through each of the 6 technical sessions and what are recommendations to policy makers to ad-dress these gaps and maintain the momentum of the GMRP post EU funding?

• What is the potential for research and man-agement collaboration amongst mangrove research-ers/ managers in the region in order to develop the next generation of mangrove researchers and man-agers?


VICTORIA, EAST COAST DEMERARA

• Tour of proposed Golden Grove/Belfield mangrove Reserve• Visit site of detached offshore geotextile breakwater

WOODLEY PARK, WEST COAST BERBICE

• Site for proposed hydrologic restoration

VILLAGE # 7, WEST COAST BERBICE

• GMRP restoration site - successes and challenges • Participants planting of spartina barsiliensis

Field Trip

Saturday, 13th AprilFrom 8:30 hrs to 17:00 hrs

Documents

BOOK OF ABSTRACTS - Mangrove restoration · BOOK OF ABSTRACTS . ... Anton de Kom University of Suriname, Faculty of Technological Sciences 15:15hrs/15:30hrs (15’) Nicolas Ruiz Application