Bonefish & Tarpon Journal - Fall 2020

The First Line of Defense

Mangrove Restoration Set to Begin in Northern Bahamas

BY ASHLEIGH SEAN ROLLE

"I’d never seen anything like it,” Dr. Michael Steinberg of the University of Alabama said, recalling the moment he saw the state of the mangroves in East Grand Bahama following Hurricane Dorian. “You’re used to seeing palettes of green and blue, but I’ve never seen so much gray stretching for miles in what should have been a vibrant ecosystem.”

In September 2019, Hurricane Dorian swept through the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama leaving behind complete devastation. With a hurricane of that magnitude, the first and justifiable priority was ensuring the safety of a population that had seen its fair share of storms—but nothing on the level of a Category 5 storm like Hurricane Dorian.

Dorian destroyed most of the Abaco chain of islands and stalled over Grand Bahama for 48 hours. The immediate needs in the midst and aftermath of this disastrous hurricane were damage control and basic human necessities. Governments, local aid organizations, and community groups worked to ensure that people had food, access to clean water and shelter, and were reunited with loved ones. Yet, on the periphery of this very real human tragedy was the environmental destruction that couldn’t be ignored: mangrove deforestation. Mangroves play two important roles in the Bahamas. They sustain biodiversity, and also are key to preventing erosion caused by waves from storms.

“Mangroves are a collection that refers to an assemblage of tree species that are saltwater tolerant,” explained Dr. Steinberg. “They provide structure for biodiversity. If you’ve ever snorkeled through a mangrove, you see the trees and roots above the water, but when you get below the water you see hundreds of species ranging from juvenile fish and crabs, sponges to starfish and seahorses.” The underwater wonderland of mangroves described by Dr. Steinberg forms the foundation of the coastal ecosystem upon which bonefish and many other species depend.

Dr. Mike Steinberg and Dr. Jordan Cissell conduct groundtruthing to inform their maps of mangrove damage from Hurricane Dorian.

Justin Lewis

In addition to serving as a nursery for juvenile species, mangroves play a key role in protecting the mainland from the full impact of storms that hit island nations like the Bahamas and coastal communities around the world. Their intricate root system also acts as what Dr. Steinberg calls “a stabilizing force,” keeping sediment in place and preventing shoreline erosion. In an era of rising sea level and more active hurricane seasons, mangroves are an increasingly important shield protecting shorelines and creek systems from stormdriven waves.

BTT Bahamas Initiative Manager Justin Lewis collects red mangrove propagules for planting in nurseries in preparation for restoration.

Justin Lewis

With over 70 percent of mangroves in Grand Bahama and 40 percent in Abaco damaged or destroyed as a result of Hurricane Dorian, environmental stakeholders Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT), Bahamas National Trust (BNT), Friends of the Environment and MANG knew that action needed to be taken.

Launching the Northern Bahamas Mangrove Restoration Project is one way that these stakeholders have proven their commitment to the Northern Bahamas.

“Being that storms are going to be present for a long time, I think we really need to have a more hands-on approach from humans,” says Kyle Rossin, the cofounder of MANG, which is one of the key partners in this monumental undertaking. MANG was founded by Rossin and his twin brother Keith. MANG’s sole purpose was to create mangrove camouflage clothing that would in turn fund the planting of mangroves around the world. With a mission of planting one million mangroves by the year 2021, it’s apparent why a mangrove restoration project in the Bahamas would be in their wheelhouse.

A project of this scale and magnitude has many moving parts. “Mangrove restoration has been done in the Bahamas before, but not at this scale,” explained Justin Lewis, BTT’s Bahamas Initiative Manager. “There is a total area of 67 square miles of damaged mangroves between Abaco and Grand Bahama—that’s a huge area! But we are up to the challenge. We are going to need to plant thousands upon thousands of mangroves in order to start mangrove recovery. The purpose of this restoration is not to replace every mangrove that was lost, but instead plant as many saplings as we can in areas where they can grow to be adult size, successfully reproduce, and have their propagules (seeds) dispersed over a vast area to reseed surrounding areas where mangrove damage occurred.”

So how exactly will it be done? Mangrove propagules will be collected throughout the Bahamas and Florida, and planted in small pots in nurseries that will be set up in Grand Bahama, Abaco, and Florida. Research has shown that just planting propagules results in a high failure rate, so the nurseries will be used to grow the propagules into seedlings, which have a much higher survival rate. Seedlings grown in Florida will be transported to Grand Bahama and Abaco once they reach appropriate size. These seedlings will be placed in nurseries in Grand Bahama and Abaco until teams begin the restoration process.

Red mangrove propagules planted in a nursery on Grand Bahama are growing into seedlings, which will be transplanted as part of the restoration project.

Justin Lewis

“We’re in for the long haul. I don’t foresee myself working with anything other than mangroves for the rest of my life,” said Rossin. His statement isn’t one of hyperbole; it’s rooted in realism. A project of this undertaking is not one that can just be started and forgotten about in a year’s time. This restoration is projected to have a timeline of five years, which means all hands need to be on deck.

There will be an education component to the project as well. “School groups and The Bahamas National Trust’s Discovery Club will all be educated about the important role these ecosystems play in our communities, with flats fishing guides helping to lead the charge of educational and environmental activism,” said Lewis. “These groups will not just learn about the structure of mangroves and their importance, but they will also be taking an active role raising and planting the mangroves.”

According to Dr. Steinberg, who led the study that mapped the extent of mangrove destruction, “mangrove deforestation rivals or is higher than the tropical deforestation that tends to get most of the press.” This project represents an incredible way for humans to make a positive impact on coastal ecosystems while drawing much needed attention to the fact that mangroves are necessary, not just for the safety of the hundreds of organisms that create life within them, but for our own safety as well.

In five years’ time the stark gray that Hurricane Dorian left in its wake will hopefully be a distant memory as we gaze out at the rich green that will replace it. Until then, there is much work to be done and Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, The Bahamas National Trust, Friends of The Environment, and MANG are keen to get started.

Ashleigh Sean Rolle is a Bahamian writer who calls Freeport, Grand Bahama, her home. She writes for the site 10th Year Seniors, where she regularly shares her opinion on everyday Bahamian affairs. She is a contributor for Huff Post. Her work has also appeared at CNN.com.