The Guyana Mangrove Action Project Mangroves Patched Now

For decades, Guyana relied primarily on a 19th-century concrete seawall for protection. However, with 90% of the population living on coastal plains that are up to 1.5 meters below sea level at high tide, this wall alone was insufficient. Mangroves—specifically the Avicennia germinans

Guyana’s coastline is at high tide, protected only by a fragile system of sea defenses. Mangroves provide: The Guyana Mangrove Action Project Mangroves

Concrete seawalls cost millions of dollars to build and degrade within decades. Nature, however, offers a cheaper, self-repairing alternative: mangroves. These salt-tolerant trees act as a living seawall. Their dense, tangled root systems trap sediments, dissipate wave energy, and actually build land over time. For decades, Guyana relied primarily on a 19th-century

To understand the importance of GMAP, one must first understand the enemy: the Atlantic Ocean. Guyana’s low-lying coastal plain, where 90% of the population lives, is technically below sea level at high tide. Without protection, the sea would swallow farms, homes, and the capital city of Georgetown. Their dense, tangled root systems trap sediments, dissipate

: Mangroves act as living buffers, breaking wave energy to prevent the destruction of homes and farms.

The Guyana Mangrove Action Project: Protecting the Coast and Communities