Freeport, Grand Bahama – A Mangrove Action Project (MAP) training team recently concluded a week-long training exercise at The Rand Nature Center in Freeport covering mangrove conservation, restoration and sustainable management practices. Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) invited the MAP team back in partnership with Waterkeepers Bahamas (WKB) as part of continued mangrove restoration efforts.
MAP is a US-based nonprofit which collaborates with stakeholders at all levels to preserve, conserve, and restore our world’s mangrove forests. Teams have carried out mangrove restoration projects and trained community leaders worldwide, including in the Philippines, Thailand, and the Cayman Islands. The first Bahamas mangrove training took place in April 2022.
L-R Nina Sanchez (BTT); Justin Lewis (BTT); Jim Enright (MAP); Rashema Ingraham (WKB); Dr Laura Michie (MAP); Dr Dominic Wodehouse (MAP)
The programs manager for MAP, Dr Laura Michie, said, “It is wonderful to be back and see just how much education work has been done, how many community members are involved and the ongoing commitment to the work.”
Mangrove forests, which play a critical role in maintaining coastal ecosystems and supporting local communities, are constantly threatened by climate change-fueled storms and deforestation. The training addresses these challenges and offers solutions to ensure the long-term survival of mangrove forests throughout the islands.
In 2020, BTT and WKB collaborated with partners to kickstart the recovery of mangroves in Grand Bahama and Abaco due to damage caused by hurricane Dorian in 2019. The two groups have planted 48,000 red mangroves between the two islands.
Justin Lewis, BTT, presenting at MAP’s training session held at the Rand Nature Centre in Freeport
Justin Lewis, Bahamas Initiative Manager, BTT, explained that while BTT and Waterkeepers are doing a great job spreading the message, training is crucial to take community involvement to the next level. “We thought it was important to bring the training team back for an even more comprehensive session and reach a wider variety of people. He continued, “We were able to bring in more government officials, community members and high school students so that the message will spread about the importance of mangrove conservation and restoration.”
The training covered various topics, including essential mangrove biology/ecology, zoning, community engagement and monitoring.
Justin White, Forestry Department, observing water salinity at the Dover Sound mangrove planting site
as part of MAP’s training.
Waterkeepers Bahamas Executive Director Rashema Ingraham, speaking on the importance of collaboration and training, said, “Last year’s training helped us pause before going out and doing large plantings – understanding what we needed to do to yield higher success rates. Understanding the dynamics of mangroves and involving the community in an educational component is essential to equip them with the necessary knowledge regarding harvesting to establish a local seed source and planting for restoration that leads to conservation.”
In addition to training, the MAP team also provided recommendations to the local restoration team on the best approaches to restoration.
Jim Enright of MAP engages participants from NGOs, schools and government agencies as part of mangrove restoration training.
The success of the mangrove projects has relied on critical collaborations with stakeholders, including The Bahamas National Trust, Forestry Unit, The Nature Conservancy, Department of Marine Resources, Earthcare, bonefish guides, schools, community groups, and volunteers.
“This workshop allows me to expand my mangrove knowledge so that I can be more effective in the field and also pass on this knowledge to others,” said Lor-don Rolle, a volunteer working on mangrove restoration with BTT. “Encouraging more people to become involved is important, and I can lead by example.”
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Bonefish & Tarpon Trust’s mission is to conserve bonefish, tarpon and permit – the species, their habitats and the more extensive fisheries they comprise. We pursue this mission across the southeastern US, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean through science-based conservation, education and advocacy. Through science-based approaches, BTT is working to protect and enhance healthy, functioning flats fisheries and habitats in the Western Hemisphere and restore those in decline. This work is being done in collaboration with other institutions and governments.
Waterkeepers Bahamas is a Bahamas-registered Non-Profit Organization focused on community-based initiatives to ensure the waters of the Bahamas are safe for swimming, fishing and drinking for future generations. It is an accredited member of the Waterkeeper® Alliance, the largest and fastest-growing global nonprofit solely focused on clean water. Its network of more than 300 organizations and affiliates in over 45 countries is on the frontlines of the global water crisis, patrolling and protecting more than 2.6 million square miles of rivers, lakes and coastal waterways on six continents.