Belize: Mangrove Restoration Project

Global Warming Offset; Mangrove Research & Restoration

Mangroves save shorelines from erosion, and they protect coral reefs by serving as nursery grounds for important reef fishes and by trapping sediment to prevent coral reefs from suffocating. Yet, mangroves continue to decline worldwide, primarily due to clearing for commercial development. Furthermore, as oceanic storms increase in frequency and intensity as a result of warming oceans, both the importance of mangroves and the need for mangrove restoration is expected to increase.

Assist Oceanic Society’s scientific advisor Elise Granek with a project will help identify strategic mangrove geospacial areas, and develop improved methods for mangrove reforestation. We will examine erosion and wave impacts, and conduct a regeneration study. An experimental mangrove nursery will be created to determine which variables (nutrients, water depth, wave energy) are most favorable to seedling success.

Volunteers help with measuring erosion and wave energy, with surveys examining mangrove seedling leaf production and growth, and with experimental treatments in the nursery. You should be comfortable walking in the shallow water and in muddy substrate. Based at the Blackbird Oceanic Field Station in beachfront cabanas, there will be free time for swimming and snorkeling.

Itinerary:

Day 1:
Belize City/Blackbird Caye.

Day 2 thru 7:
Sea turtle monitoring activities.

Day 8:
Blackbird Caye/ Belize City.

Click for large Interactive Map

Researcher: Elise Granek

2009 Dates: to be announced

2009 Cost: $1,950

Maximum group size: 8

Detailed Trip Information

Information & Reservations

Please fill out an APPLICATION to sign-up for the BELIZE GLOBAL WARMING OFFSET expedition

Send E-mail regarding this specific trip: BELIZE GLOBAL WARMING OFFSET .