In the town of La Sabana, located in the Caruao parish of La Guaira state, there is a strip or "patch" of mangrove that serves as an ecological transition between the river and the Caribbean Sea, which is going through a process of degradation that requires its recovery.
Unlike the large expanses of mangroves located in other areas of Venezuela, this coastal micro-ecosystem is made up of a small group or fragment of mangrove forest that grows in isolation in a small area of the mouth of the La Sabana River or also known as La Boca.
This patch of red mangrove (Rhizophora MangroveIt forms a small estuarine lagoon on the beaches of La Virginia and La Boca in the town of La Sabana. This micro-ecosystem is undergoing “severe ecological degradation characterized by hypersalinity and anoxia (or lack of oxygen), which puts this vital coastal ecosystem at risk,” said biologist Mayra García.
García, who is a member of the Biodiversity team of the project “Our Coasts, Our Future”, which is being carried out by the Metropolitan University, the organizations Vitalis AC and the Potabilis Foundation, in Caruao, explains that “the town of La Sabana has the only patch of mangrove in the state of La Guaira and it needs to be recovered.
According to the biologist, “this process of ecological degradation is a product of the interruption of the natural flow of fresh water due to the diversion of channels, deforestation and anthropogenic intervention in the basin, combined with water stagnation caused by sedimentation, the blockage of the marine mouth and soil compaction by the presence of off-road vehicles.”
He explained that "the lack of water renewal increases evaporation and depletes the dissolved oxygen in the sediments, which has caused the mangrove roots to suffocate."
He believes that an ecological restoration plan is essential, which includes hydrological reconnection, control of recreational traffic, and environmental sanitation, "to guarantee the recovery and resilience of the mangroves in the community of La Sabana."
García points out that the restoration process should focus on mixed reforestation. This would be a process that combines the direct planting of propagules, or structures of a plant, fungus, or bacteria that give rise to a new, identical individual, and that are collected locally, taking advantage of the red mangrove's natural rooting capacity.
Another option is the establishment of community nurseries for the cultivation and acclimatization of mangrove seedlings, "which will guarantee a more robust mangrove with a higher survival rate to then be transplanted in the areas most affected by hypersalinity and soil degradation," the biologist stated.
Functions of the mangrove.
Dr. Mayra García explains that mangroves are natural coastal shields against disasters and that their roots are able to slow the force of the waves, thus preventing coastal erosion.
According to studies conducted by scientists, mangroves are a protective barrier against the impact of hurricanes, storms, and rising sea levels.
“They can store up to four times more carbon than terrestrial forests, helping to slow climate change, filter polluting sediments that come down from rivers and function as nurseries where fish, mollusks and crustaceans are born and grow protected from predators,” the biologist notes.
In addition, mangroves are a refuge and breeding ground for marine species, as their intertwined roots offer safety and food to young fish, shrimp, crabs, and mollusks before they travel to the open sea.
Mangroves have been shown to retain sediments, trash, and toxic substances from the land, purifying the water before it reaches the reefs and the sea.
Training
The biodiversity team of the "Our Coasts, Our Future" project proposes that one of the actions to be taken, in addition to the biological aspect, is the training and education of the communities in the areas, so that they are protectors of the natural space.
Zoila Martínez, Biodiversity Management Leader at Vitalis AC, believes that local actors should be transformed into permanent researchers and protectors of the territory, "because we believe that when the neighbor, the fisherman or the innkeeper understands a risk situation and applies an immediate solution, we achieve real and sustainable environmental governance."
Very good article.