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Farmers,Sandy Leon Team Venezuela Jersey, fishermen, students, leather men, sea defence employees and members of the community, were for the first time the recipients of an educational and sensitisation workshop which aimed primarily at the resuscitation and protection of mangroves.These plants, called courida,Gavin Cecchini Team Italy Jersey, assist in the prevention of erosion.The forum,Tanner Roark Team USA Jersey, the regional stakeholders’ workshop on mangroves restoration,Nolan Arenado Team USA Jersey, the first in a series of workshops to be held on the Coast,Silvino Bracho Team Venezuela Jersey, was conducted in the boardroom of the Anna Regina Town Council.Members comprising the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project, funded through the European Union, conducted the day’s session.In his declaration speech, Vice Chairman Mr. Vishnu Samaroo,Daniel Murphy Team USA Jersey, first commended the team for taking the opportunity of bringing the awareness,Scott Richmond Team Canada Jersey, while sensitising Essequibians on the importance of the regrowth of Mangroves which he divulged aids in protecting the sea defence which he notes can be costly.Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project Co-ordinator, Bissasar Chintaminie, gave an overall review of the workshop, which he noted “critically analysed the updated National Mangrove Management Action Plan.”He further reminded the audience that Guyana is a highly forested country with substantial Mangrove belts along the Costal region and river estuaries.According to Mr. Chintamanie,John Axford Team Canada Jersey, mangroves contribute substantially to sea defence by damping and protecting coastal banks. These trees on the sea shore were degraded by natural and artificial means over the past decades.He said that mangrove conservation is therefore a priority of the Government of Guyana, thus the introduction and implementation of the Mangrove Restoration Project.He added that the overall objective of the project is to abate climate change [Carbon Sequestration through restoration and forest preservation] and also to mitigate its effects [Sea Defence, biodiversity].Mr. Owen Bovell, a mangrove specialist, focused on the importance of these trees. He highlighted the three main mangrove species — red,Jeanmar Gomez Team Venezuela Jersey, black and white. He also alluded to the causes or reasons for the destruction of mangroves and urged that people stop grazing cattle in mangroves and desist from throwing garbage next to Mangrove trees.Paul Mc Adam, Community Development Specialist, highlighted the role the community has to play in the project. He noted that the efforts of the community would be recognised nationally as part of the efforts to protect the coastline.During the day’s session, there were five individual presentations that focused on strategies to resuscitate mangroves. |
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