Caribbean Regional Mangrove Symposium

This regional workshop will share new science, examples & lessons learned from the implementation of mangrove restoration in the Caribbean.

Time

Beginning at 10:00 Atlantic Standard Time (AST) each day

Organisers:

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), British Virgin Islands (BVI) Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, Jost Van Dyke Preservation Society (JVDPS), the University of New Hampshire (UNH) Coastal Habitat Restoration Team (CHRT), the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF), the Global Island Partnership (GLISPA), and the Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA). This event is supported by The Darwin Initiative.

Format:

Virtual

About the event

This regional workshop will share new science, examples, and lessons learned from the implementation of mangrove restoration in the Caribbean, with a view to highlighting post-disaster restoration initiatives in the wake of Hurricanes Maria and Irma. The workshop objectives include: (1) sharing new scientific developments, in both ecosystem assessment and in mangrove management and restoration practices, including nursery and planting techniques, specific to Caribbean island contexts; (2) highlighting lessons learned and results of the collaborative restoration work in the British Virgin Islands; and (3) accelerating the uptake, resourcing and implementation of Caribbean mangrove restoration, harnessing the best of science and nature. 

Programme:

The detailed event programme is available here. (Subject to change.)

Session Background 

In 2017, the British Virgin Islands were hit by Hurricanes Irma and Maria (both category 5) within weeks of each other. Outside of the initial impacts of the disaster and damage to human well-being and infrastructure, the ensuing ecosystem degradation continues to impact the islands. With substantial impacts on ecosystem services including damages to key coastal ecosystems (i.e. corals, mangroves, beaches and seagrass beds) and other environmental infrastructure assets, losses were estimated at GBP 3.1 million. 

Preliminary estimates indicated that over 90% of red mangroves were lost or badly damaged. The sheer amount of degradation created a compounding problem for natural regeneration, as the mangrove seed banks were largely wiped out by wind, tidal energy, and a storm surge that lasted days after the hurricanes abated. However, in the following years, a collaboration of actors and projects have come together to restore and protect mangrove ecosystems in the British Virgin Islands, modelling new scientific techniques and best practices that can be shared across the Caribbean.

Mangrove ecosystems play a vital role in the Caribbean by providing a multitude of ecosystem services such as prevention of coastal erosion, protection from wave energy and storm surges, carbon storage, water filtration, and key nursery habitat for many local and commercial fisheries. Post-hurricane damage also has the potential to impact tourism by affecting the natural beauty of coastal ecosystems and beaches in addition to decreasing water quality and impacting fisheries. Mangroves not only directly benefit the communities who live near them, but also local and national economies. 

The climate crisis is both leading to increased incidence of natural disasters and exacerbating their impacts. Low-lying islands, including those in the Caribbean, are particularly vulnerable to these effects. However, the restoration and sustainable management of natural ecosystems (also known as ecosystem-based adaptation) can increase resilience to climate change at both local and national scales.

Investment in these Nature-based Solutions —from reforestation to natural barriers that protect coastal communities from sea level rise and storm surge—is key to delivering sustainable growth that addresses climate change and its impacts. To unleash its full potential, nature-based solutions for climate adaptation and risk reduction need to be integrated in the planning, design and implementation of projects for the replication and up- scaling of proven practices.

Anticipated outcomes of this event include: 

• sharing scientific best practices and techniques for mangrove restoration in Caribbean island contexts;
• promoting new long-term resourcing and financing mechanisms for the protection and restoration of mangrove ecosystems in the Caribbean; and
• building new partnerships among national, regional, and global actors. 

Contact

Contact Kelli Palaka (Kelli.Palaka@iucn.org) with any questions. 

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you at the regional workshop and scientific symposium!