IN commemoration of the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, the University of Guyana’s Department of Biology, in collaboration with the UG Biology Club, hosted a successful mangrove cleanup at the Chateau Margot Mangrove Forest on July 26, 2025.
The initiative brought together faculty members, students, and key environmental partners in a unified effort to remove waste and raise awareness about the critical role mangroves play in coastal protection, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience. The cleanup reaffirms the University’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable ecosystem management.
A section of the mangrove area at Chateau Margot prior to being cleaned“Mangroves are vital to the health of our environment and coastal communities,” stated Mark Ram, Lecturer and Mangrove Ecologist with UG’s 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.”
Ram emphasised that while clean-up activities alone are not a solution to marine pollution, they serve as a powerful tool to raise awareness about the impact of plastic and other waste materials on fragile ecosystems.
More than 40 participants took part in the activity, including representatives from Jan De Nul, the British High Commission, the Protected Areas Commission, the Centre for the Study of Biological Diversity at UG, Ecotrust Society, and members of the UG Biology Club.
Together, they collected over 100 bags of garbage from the mangrove area, including tyres, snack wrappers, freezers, plastic bottles, and bags—demonstrating the sheer scale of pollution threatening Guyana’s coastal resources.
The Department of Biology extended heartfelt thanks to all participants and supporting agencies for their collaboration and dedication to environmental protection. The department also encouraged the wider public to take collective action to preserve Guyana’s rich and fragile mangrove ecosystems, which are essential to the country’s ecological and economic future.
