January 2009: 21,000 Reds Planted in Test Plots
In
January and February of
2009, Toby, Scott and Pamela returned with a handful of international volunteers
willing to trudge into the muck of the dead mangrove forest to plant
mangrove
propagules one at a time. We used GPS to locate 21 test plots in various
locations and planted each with 1000 propagules. These test plots will
help us
learn what works and what doesn’t and why. Thank you, Allie, Elizabeth,
Doug, Brandon and Fiona!
Scroll down the page to see lots of photos...
 Large prop roots characteristic of Red Mangroves, Rhizophora Mangle
 Sorting and counting propagules before planting   Local volunteer Ray, explains some tricks for successful planting 
 The small kayaks in the background are great propagule barges.  We are planting the propagules point down about 2 or 3 inches deep in areas where the high tide will cover them. The tidal height varies only 6 to 24 inches.
 One year old propagules planted earlier by local volunteer Ray.  North East Bight Kids.  International Volunteers from left to right: Pamela, Scott, Fiona, Brandon and Toby. |  Fiona picking Red Mangrove propagules from isolated areas of surviving mangroves. The propagules are seed like living plants growing viviparously on the parent tree until about 1 foot long.  Hard Work!  Brandon exploring a mature, living mangrove area. 
 Local volunteer Edwin helping out.  The propagules are planted one at a time by hand.  Toby planting from a kayak propagule barge. 
 North East Bight houses and dory.
 Chatting with Edgar, the past Environmental Manager who assisted a previous effort to survey the coral reef, plant pine trees and mangroves after Hurricane Mitch. |
