In observance of the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, the University of Guyana’s Department of Biology, in collaboration with the Biology Club successfully hosted a mangrove cleanup exercise at the Chateau Margot Mangrove Forest on July 26, 2025, reaffirming the University’s commitment to environmental stewardship and coastal conservation.
Faculty members, students, and several key partners came together to remove debris and raise awareness of the critical role mangroves play in protecting Guyana’s coastlines, preserving biodiversity, and reducing the impacts of climate change. The effort forms part of the Department’s broader outreach and research initiatives aimed at fostering ecosystem health and sustainability.
“Mangroves are vital to the health of our environment and coastal communities,” said Mark Ram, Lecturer and Mangrove Ecologist in the Department of Biology. “They act as natural barriers against storm surges, provide habitat for marine life, and store significant amounts of carbon. This exercise not only contributes to restoring this essential ecosystem, but also educates the public on the urgent need for conservation. While clean-ups do not solve the problem alone, they are crucial for raising awareness about the impacts of plastic pollution on marine life,” he added.
More than 40 participants representing agencies such as Jan De Nul, the British High Commission, the Protected Areas Commission, the Centre for the Study of Biological Diversity at UG, Ecotrust Society, and the University of Guyana Biology Club joined the clean-up effort. Together, they collected over 100 bags of trash, including plastic bottles, tyres, freezers, snack wrappers, and plastic bags, highlighting the scale of waste impacting these vulnerable habitats.
The Department of Biology extends sincere thanks to all participants and partners for their support and encourages the wider public to take action in protecting Guyana’s rich and fragile coastal ecosystems.
