Mangrove restoration by Rotaract Phoenix
- About Rotaract Phoenix
- What is Rotaract Phoenix doing to protect mangroves?
- Why is it so important to protect mangroves?
- How to help
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, mangrove forests are in decline. However, the rate of loss is slowing. Mangroves are tropical species found on sheltered coastlines and estuaries in the tropical and subtropical areas of the world. The plant covers less than 1% of all tropical forests worldwide.
The main threat for mangroves is land conversion for other uses such as agriculture, aquaculture, urban development, and infrastructure. Between 1980 and 2005, the world lost an alarming 20% of mangrove areas. How can we protect remaining mangroves? How do we reverse human-driven loss of mangroves? What are the consequences of mangrove loss?
About Rotaract Phoenix
Rotaract Phoenix is a fun and dynamic team of around 20 members working together on projects based on the areas of focus of Rotary International. Shama Bisnauthsing, President of Rotaract Phoenix speaks to Ocean Innovators® about the club and its efforts in mangrove restoration.
In 2020, Rotary International included the environment as one of its areas of focus. Rotaract Phoenix was chartered in May 2012 and operates alongside Rotary Club of Phoenix in a lot of community projects. They see this opportunity to include the environment as one of the strategic plans of the club. Consequently, they have planned a few projects revolving around the environment in our community. The aim really was to raise awareness on each project and its impact on society, specially with the youth. They have projects like the river clean up and talks on the use of plastic and its effect on our environment. Additionally, Rotaract Phoenix has teamed up with the Reef Conservation Mauritius to have sensitisation campaigns in schools in the Phoenix region.
What is Rotaract Phoenix doing to protect mangroves?
The partnership with Reef Conservation Mauritius goes beyond sensitisation campaigns. Reef Conservation Mauritius has an ongoing research and monitoring program in the north of the island where they study coral reefs and biodiversity. Mangrove restoration is part of that project. After a few joint sensitisation campaigns, the team decided to join with two other Rotaract clubs for a more impactful project being the planting of mangroves.
The area is a nursery where the team grows mangrove seedlings. They are then transferred to other areas around the island to promote the growth of the aquatic forest. Rotaract Phoenix has planted about 100 seedlings in the nursery which will eventually be transferred to other areas. This in-depth project in the north is to really study the health of the Mauritian lagoons. The local community is integrated with the project as they are engaged as a stakeholder for the project. Rotaract Phoenix is raising awareness for them to develop a more sustainable way of living, in harmony with nature.
Why is it so important to protect mangroves?
Mangroves play a very important role for the environment as Mauritius is an island and have very important qualities. They are the breeding ground for a rich biodiversity and act as carbon sink to help us fight against global warming. Mangroves provide protection against the increasing number of frequent and violent natural calamities, specially for Mauritius, an island nation. Furthermore, they protect shores from land erosion and are a source of livelihood for our local fishermen. Swamps or wetlands which are also vital for the marine ecosystem and to have a healthy lagoon surround the mangroves. All these operate together. The wetlands are known to be a very productive ecosystem but unfortunately, people often treat them as dumping grounds. Similarly for the mangroves, some people are very indifferent to their protection.
Shama quotes David Attenborough who says in the documentary, A Life on Our Planet: “Our imprint is now global. Our impact is now truly profound. Our blind assault on the planet has finally come to alter the very fundamentals of the living world. This world is a unique and spectacular marvel and yet the way we humans live on Earth is sending it to a decline.”
This goes to show that human activity has a great impact on species such as mangroves and we need to take action.
How to help
Rotaract Phoenix aims to make society conscious of the reality and the degradation of the environment. Shama mentions that the term sustainability is becoming very mainstream these days and gaining a lot of momentum. However, people also need to walk the talk and act accordingly. Rotaract Phoenix wants to showcase the impact of our actions on the ecosystem, which is alarming for Mauritius. Being an island, it is devoid of natural resources and highly vulnerable to external shocks and global trends such as Covid-19. The club seeks all global partnerships and expertise to cope with these eventualities. By being on an international platform, it can create more awareness on all the different issues at hand. You can learn more by visiting Rotaract Phoenix’s website or social media platforms on Facebook or Instagram.
