Trinidad and Tobago Mangrove Clean‑Up Reflects Global Recovery

Volunteers, environmental groups and officials gathered at Cacandee in Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago, for a coastal clean‑up on International Mangrove Preservation Day. Organizer Navin Kalpoo and Mayor Faaiq Mohammed highlighted mangroves’ role in shoreline protection, marine life support and eco‑tourism, while Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Ravi Ratiram urged continued community involvement.

A recent global study shows that mangrove loss has turned into net gain since about 2010, with the total area in 2023 only 0.5 % below 1980 levels. The research notes that mangroves provide ecosystem services worth roughly US$894 billion, protect over 15 million people from coastal flooding and support millions of fishers worldwide. The study underscores uneven regional recovery but offers hope that natural regeneration can help climate mitigation and coastal resilience.