A call to protect Trinidad and Tobago’s mangrove ecosystems brought volunteers to Cacandee in Chaguanas, for a coastal clean-up exercise.
The initiative commemorated International Mangrove Preservation Day, while raising awareness about the vital role mangroves play in protecting coastlines, supporting marine life, and filtering pollution.
Volunteers, environmental groups, Government officials, and members of the public, gathered at Cacandee in Chaguanas for a coastal clean-up aimed at removing garbage and highlighting the importance of preserving the country’s mangrove ecosystems.
Spearheaded by Kalpoo’s Caroni Bird Sanctuary, organizer Navin Kalpoo said the area has become a collection point for waste, flowing from surrounding communities.
“This Cacandee is really an eyesore, it’s a high area to collect garbage as it links so much, in the Cunupia area coming down. Mangrove is one of our natural filter, it traps all that solid waste, all those bottles.”
Chaguanas Mayor, Faaiq Mohammed said protecting mangroves goes beyond environmental conservation, noting that preserving the ecosystem helps safeguard marine life, while creating opportunities for community development.
“It’s about protecting marine life as well and keeping our environment as clean as possible. What we want to do as well as we are going to have discussions with those involved to promote eco tourism and marine tourism around here. This area is known for a lot of fishing and it’s also a cremation site as well. We want to bring more to the community and think outside the box now.”
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Ravi Ratiram welcomed the strong public response, describing it as a sign of growing environmental awareness.
He said partnerships among environmental groups, tour operators and volunteers will be essential to sustaining conservation efforts in the years ahead.
“Right away you can see this morning, just this initiative alone of assisting in cleaning up our mangrove. You can see how many persons came out here this morning to support this initiative this is something that we will encourage several NGO’s and environmental groups to join the initiative and assist us, at the Ministry and through the different tour agencies as well to encourage persons to come and lend their support.”
he Minister also urged citizens to look beyond the scenic appeal of mangroves, emphasizing their importance in protecting coastlines, and serving as a natural defense against the impacts of climate change.
“Plenty of us will just see the mangrove as a swamp and we will see it as a place that we will just go and have a nice boat cruise, a little boat cruise and enjoy the flora and fauna and the ambience but beyond that and from a technical standpoint Mangroves plays an extremely important role.”
International Mangrove Preservation Day is observed annually on July 26th, promoting the conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of mangrove forests around the world.