Before I applied to volunteer with the Projects Abroad Fiji Shark Conservation
I can honestly say that I had not even heard of mangroves. I’m from the
prairies located in the middle portion of Canada; a place where you definitely
will not find a mangrove. When I signed up for the project I read that I would
be working in a mangrove nursery, as well as going out and planting them. I
didn’t look too far into the whole “mangrove thing,” because I was so focused
on the shark aspect of the project. It was not until I arrived and had my
mangrove workshop that I realized how vital mangroves are, not only to our
marine ecosystem, but to us on land as well.
Mangrove forests can be found on the coasts of
tropical climates throughout the world. They can be a nursery to various marine
life, they also can help protect against tsunamis and storms, help keep the
water cleaner by filtering debris and dirt sentiments through their roots, and they
improve air quality by using carbon dioxide for the photosynthesis process.
Just to name a few of the many qualities that not only marine life benefit
from, but us as well when mangroves are around. The red mangroves are able to
produce new plants that hang off of their leaves which are called “propagules.”
They are so self-efficient that they eventually drop into the water where they
float along upright until they reach a spot where they can plant themselves. At Projects Abroad we go out during low
tide to find propagules that have not rooted themselves in the sand yet and we
bring them back to our nursery to plant them in recycled bottles. After a few
months in the nursery we pull them out and plant them along the coastline.
Volunteering here with Projects Abroad I have
had the opportunity to go out into the mangrove swamps and collect propagules, plant
the propagules into recycled bottles at our nursery, and then go out and plant
the propagules along the shore line. During the two months of my time here at
the project I took part in planting 5000 propagules. I now realize how
significant these plants are to both of our ecosystems and I think it is important
that people become aware of their significance and how special they are. While being a part of the project here, working with
mangroves was one of my favourite activities. I think this was the case, because
I realized how much we need them and how much the marine ecosystem needs them
as well. They have adapted to withstand the harshest of conditions and this is why I have given them the name: Mighty Mangroves. 