Assisted by recent donations,
Guanaja Mangrove Restoration directors Scott and Toby traveled in August to Guanaja Island to take advantage of peak
mangrove propagule season. During this two week long field trip we collaborated
with the island community and picked and planted 38,000 red mangroves,
initiated a high school student volunteer program and firmed up plans for a
mangrove biology curriculum, teacher training workshop to be held in October.
August is peak season for
mangrove propagules and we hoped to find easy picking in The Canal area. We
were not disappointed. With help from 4 groups of local school students totaling
41 kids and with help from 2 local volunteers we found the prime picking spots
and collected 38,000 propagules. We then planted these propagules in Manawar Bay and NE Bay. We focused on perimeter
regions where the red mangroves should naturally be dominant and will contribute
the most to fish populations.
These picking and planting days proved to be a good learning experience
for the student volunteers. Students learned a few basics about mangrove trees
and how they grow. They learned the relation between forests, carbon dioxide
and global warming. While picking propagules we also found numerous birds nests
and schools of baby fishes in living mangrove areas. Students returned to class
bringing with them buckets of muddy, mangrove soil and lots of Red, White and
Black mangrove propagules to share. 120 students are now each growing one
mangrove tree at school. This is the beginning of a mangrove nursery to be
expanded soon.
Collaborating with local school director Rigo Dawkins, we firmed up
plans for an October teacher training workshop. The curriculum training will be
taught by Martin Keeley, educational director for the Mangrove Action Project
(MAP) non-profit organization. Martin specializes in development and teaching
of his mangrove-ecosystem-based, biology curriculum which will become a
component of the local school district’s programming. Included in the
curriculum is a component on the use of microscopes.
To go along with this we are now seeking donations to fund the purchase
of 10 microscopes.
Thank you to our recent
donors! Your contributions made our August trip possible. Our next trip is
planned for this winter with goals to develop a nursery program, review
previous test plots and plant more mangrove trees. Donations are essential and
always welcome!
Student volunteers collecting with Guanaja Environmental Manager, Edgardo (right)
Toby with local volunteers Calleja and Raphael and a boat load of propagules!
Scott and Toby with student volunteers having just planted 5,000 propagules.
