Preventing the loss of vital mangrove forests

Located in the Caribbean, much of Guyana’s population lives below sea level. With climate change causing higher sea water levels, the country has been
facing increasingly frequent coastal flooding events. 

DHI developed an integrated management system that works with nature to regenerate mangroves and help Guyana combat the flooding. In so doing, we enabled Guyana to protect its coast, businesses and communities more effectively.

Challenge

Mangroves protect about 60% of the Guyanese coast from floods, thereby playing a vital role in defending the people and businesses from rising sea levels.

However, over the years, degradation and loss of mangrove forests have resulted in increased coastal flooding and saltwater inundation of agricultural land. The saltwater inundation could also contaminate Guyana’s freshwater supplies, in addition to have a devastating effect on the country’s agriculture industry. To prevent this, the government has invested heavily in cost-intensive artificial sea defences.

Under the EU’s Global Climate Change Alliance, the Guyana Mangrove Restoration Project (GMRP) supports Guyana’s policies on sea defence, climate change and mangrove management. As sea levels continue to rise, the GMRP is examining ways to shield its people and economy and improve flood protection using mangroves.

Solution

DHI developed an integrated management system to help the Government of Guyana understand mangrove loss, implement solutions like protection and restoration, and create a comprehensive monitoring system to evaluate intervention effectiveness.

Together with the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute, we consulted with stakeholders to set priorities and worked with GMRP staff to implement the project activities.

Improving mangrove protection

DHI reviewed GMRP's mangrove restoration efforts, inventoried species and assessed protection methods and impacts from illegal activities. Based on this, we developed and implemented a new rehabilitation strategy, recommending cost-effective measures such as alternative restoration techniques and fencing to manage grazing, instead of expensive sea walls. We also created a GIS-based monitoring system and conducted a biodiversity assessment to serve as a baseline for future management plans.

Results

The project successfully led to the re-establishment of mangroves along Guyana's coast, significantly enhancing flood protection. The introduction of alternative restoration methods, such as planting coastal grasses and constructing protective fences, proved effective in accelerating mangrove recovery. These measures, combined with hydrologic restoration, reduced reliance on costly sea walls and provided a more sustainable solution for coastal protection.