Long Walks,
Mangroves and the morbid REALITIES

The Experience and the Observation:
On a recent walkthrough of the Golden Grove Estate via the Buccoo Beach, we couldn't help but notice several things. The one that stood out the most was the interesting saturation of stagnated water in and around the mangroves that run just behind "No Man's Land" and also border the Bon Accord Lagoon. The real question remains, how did the dense mangrove area reach to this stage of degradation and why? 

Development?
A point to note is that in due course of developing lands surrounding the general estate and areas outlying in relation to the mangrove, much dredging, filling and clearing was done. Just as in any developmental project with a view of lands being sold for residential development, this comes at a cost to the natural environment that exists in and around such environmentally sensitive areas. Geographically speaking the area is flat, so if runoff is not properly planned, executed and infrastructure not built to reflect this need, as we would say in the local parlance "crapaud" smoke yuh pipe". 

Having said that, we come to the facts that are distinctly "mangrove". This represents a very valuable ecosystem rich in biodiversity, which are comprised of diverse, salt-tolerant trees and other plant species which thrive in inter-tidal zones of sheltered tropical shores and estuaries. The roots of mangroves contain many small breathing pores, called lenticels. These allow oxygen to diffuse into the plant, and down to the underground roots by means of air space tissue. Some mangrove species actually can exclude salt from their systems, others actually excrete the salt that is taken in via their leaves, roots, or branches. In salt excluding mangrove species , the mangrove root system is so effective in filtering out salt that a thirsty traveler could drink fresh water from a cut root, though the tree itself stands in saline soil. Saltwater is not necessary for the survival of any mangrove species, but it does give mangroves a competitive advantage over other plants that do not tolerate salt.

So how did the mangroves bordering "No Man's Land" and the Bon Accord Lagoon come to such evident ruin? A simple terminology comes to mind. "Dieback" is a major contributor to what we would have witnessed in the mangrove. This degradation is even further evident as a result of water that originates from the Bon Accord Area and environs (waste water and sewage) having a runoff via the Golden Grove area into the mangrove. This stagnated water would serve to be detrimental along with the backfilled and clogged areas in and around the mangrove (As a result of residential development and piling of earth and mud used in said clearing for development) A slow, sure and steady way to die one might imagine, but the bottom line is that it is a reality that exists. A silent reality that is unseen to the general public and the fun seekers that enjoy the frontline spaces such as "No man's Land".

Imagine having a high end vehicle with lots of features and aesthetic values, but on popping the hood, you recognize that the engine is rusting and very much on it's way to a complete breakdown. This would be a fitting description as to what is occurring. Death, clearly is inevitable. It's left to be seen what the agenda is and what the authorities intend to do about this.  That is if they are even aware of the morbid reality that exists. Chances are they are very much informed about this, but perhaps there is another underlying factor that contributes to the non-action in this regard. It's left for us to see what transpires next......