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Approximately 700 mangrove
seedlings were planted along the Palisadoes Strip by the National
Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) in collaboration with the
Port Royal Marine Laboratory of the University of the West Indies.
The activity was the second such event done as a part of the
activities for International Year of the Reef (IYOR) 2008 in which a
total of 1,400 mangrove seedlings and coastal plants were planted
along the Palisadoes Strip.
Mangroves are important for the
protection of coral reefs, as they filter out pollutants and trap
sediments from land runoffs which could kill the reef. They also act
as a nursery for many of the fishes that live on the reef, and help
to stabilize the shoreline, thus reducing erosion. They are also
among the most productive ecosystems in the world, and absorb carbon
dioxide, a greenhouse gas that is fueling climate change.
“The Palisadoes Strip was
chosen for this activity because it had suffered major vegetation
loss in recent hurricanes. It is also an area of ecological
importance as it lies within the Palisadoes/Port Royal Protected
Area which has been designated a Ramsar site, signifying that it is
a wetland of international importance,” says Ainsley Henry, Manager
of the Ecosystems Management Branch, at NEPA.
Mr. Henry further stated, “The
planting of the mangroves will improve the aesthetics of the area,
as well as increase its ecological value by increasing the amount of
habitat available for wildlife such as fish, crabs and birds. It
will also help with the stabilization of the Palisadoes Strip.”
NEPA will be coordinating several activities in
the Palisadoes/Port Royal Protected Area on February 2nd, World
Wetlands Day, to increase public awareness about the importance of
the wetlands and mangrove forests in the area which are protected
under the Ramsar .
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