AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Caye Caulker Mangroves: Food for thought

The mangrove forests of Belize are in danger. I have seen many areas of mangrove disappear on CC in the short time I have visited there. Here is a story of the effects of destroying mangroves in Thailand. The balance between the mangrove and the sea is no different in Belize.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0OG532oLsQ

Fortunately in a matter of years the mangrove forest CAN be restored:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuN-w_LSbLo&feature=plcp

Mike the mangrove being restored concept worries me.
I wouldn't want to discourage planting at all, however its not something we need to rely on.
For instance we had a developer state he would plant mangrove to replace what he was destroying... It will not regrow in our lifetime and never be restored. The protection the old mangrove provided is gone for the interim, a hundred years + of exposure to erosion and hurricane with absence of habitat critical to the survival of several species on the island.
The original mangrove should be considered sacred and the concept of replant dilutes the sanctity.That's probably the best way I can state it.
Trying to avoid a false concept of regrowth. It will really never be the same.GBE and other similar developments that bulldozed our mangal destroyed more than a 1000 years of pristine habitat lost to the island for all time. People please don't be pacified by thinking it can be replanted.

I'm not at all suggesting that destroying old growth is offset by replanting. Certainly conservation of old growth is essential in stemming the decline of mangrove. If you watch the videos the residents of Thailand clearly state the detrimental aspects of destroying natural mangrove forests.

Replanting is not the solution for our lifetimes, but will help future generations.

agreed

I have watched the beach in the Boca Del Rio area. I think they have planted there twice and even put up signs. Out of hundreds of plants only a handful have survived. What I see are kids playing in the sea and tugging on the plants - not intending to destroy them but doing so anyway.
A few lots down - in front of Abbey Marin's place - the plants are growing. This section of beach is not cleared of the sea grass and no one plays here.