Caribbean mangrove conservation

On 24 July 2026 volunteers, environmental groups and officials gathered 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 the nation’s agriculture minister urged ongoing community involvement. The event was framed against a recent global study that showed mangrove loss turning into a net gain since 2010, with the total area in 2023 only slightly below 1980 levels and ecosystem services valued at roughly US$894 billion.

Three days later, on 27 July 2026, Guyana’s Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha reported a 31 % rise in mangrove coverage between 2020 and 2025, attributing the growth to nearly $1 billion in investment, eleven green‑grey infrastructure projects and waste‑management initiatives. In Antigua and Barbuda, the Environmental Awareness Group marked World Mangrove Day by urging residents to protect mangroves, promoting educational activities such as field trips and a floating‑classroom programme. Together, the snapshots illustrate a regional wave of mangrove restoration and public‑engagement activities across the Caribbean and northern South America during World Mangrove Day.