Earth Restoration Project

Ecosystem: Mangrove, which includes mangrove forests, mud and salt flats, sea grass beds and coral reefs.

Significance: Mangrove forests are vital for healthy coastal ecosystems. The forest detritus, consisting mainly of fallen leaves and branches from the mangroves, provides nutrients for the marine environment and supports immense varieties of sea life in intricate food webs associated directly through detritus or indirectly through the planktonic and epiphytic algal food chains. The shallow inter-tidal reaches that characterize the mangrove wetlands offer refuge and nursery grounds for juvenile fish, crabs, shrimps, and mollusks. Mangroves are also prime nesting and migratory sites for hundreds of bird species. In Belize, for instance, there are over 500 species of birds recorded in mangrove areas. Additionally, manatees, crab-eating monkeys, fishing cats, monitor lizards, sea turtles, and mud-skipper fish utilize the mangrove wetland

Description: Over half the world's mangrove ecosystem has been lost. Only 16-18 million ha of mangrove forest remain. Shrimp farming is a leading cause of mangrove loss, as is tourism, urban expansion, the oil industry, charcoal production and logging.
Start Date: 3/1/1992

Course of action: MAP via the expertise of 30 year veteran of restoration, Robin Lewis, is planning restoration projects worldwide, including in Florida, the Caribbean, Asia, Africa and Latin America. MAP is promoting what is known as hydrological restoration techniques. MAP also does small-scale, volunteer restoration projects.

Full Time Workers: 2-3
Volunteer Workers: several

Valued Skills: Help with physical labor in planting directly or preparing the site for nsatural restoration to take place. Good physical condition of volunteers required for working in muddy terrain in the heat of day!
Achievements: Restoration work in Florida is being designed, in Indonesia restoration is already in progress near Tiwoho village in n. Sulawesi. Other restoration nows in planning stage for Mexico's Yucatan in January. Also, projects are being thought out for Cambodia, Malaysia and Thailand 

Goals: Partnering with mangrove forest communities, grassroots NGOs, researchers and local governments to conserve and restore mangrove forests and related coastal ecosystems, while promoting community-based, sustainable management of coastal resources. To use the Florida restoration work as a showcase to get other nations to learn from this experience and adapt it for use on their own local issues. MAP wants to set up active Mangrove Restoration Teams in each region, where local expertise can be further developed.

Sponsors: Foundation Support, some Major Donor help as well.
Part of Exchange Program: Yes
References: See website.
Related Projects: Go to: http://www.mangroverestoration.com/

Other Information: English for work in US or Caribbean, Spanish or Portuguese  for work in Latin America. Volunteers must take care of own needs--travel, food, lodging, etc. Anywhere from 10 days to a month, depending on project and location.