How To Plant Mangroves

Presented By: Desiree Thurman and Triniti Wilde

Why Do We Need Nurseries?

Deforestation: Effects Hurricanes Have on Mangroves

Due to the change in climate, sea levels have been on the rise and natural disasters have been more previlent. Hurricanes have been proven to damage mangrove canopies, uproot trees, and obstuct drainage pathways. With such an intense increase in frequecy, it is posing a risk to the ecological resilience of these mangroves.

Deforestation: Commercial Use

Unfortunately mangroves have been deforested due to an increase in home construction and commercial use. Tourism has also played a role in that it has been paving a way for more buildings and boat ports to be built on or around mangroves.

Importance of Mangroves

Mangroves have been proven to protect coast lines against natural distasters, including hurricanes and tsunamis. Studies show that areas with more mangrove cover have less household damage or inner land damage. When mangroves were maintained in 1981 the amount of infustructure damage was reduced by a about 3%. This depicts how critical mangroves are to coast lines and the land being surrounded by them.

How to

1. Location

Setting up near tidal locations

It is reccomended to set up near the site where restoration is intended. Making sure the intended site isnt prone to flooding or pests.

2. Foundation

Building the greenhouse:

Set a foundation and support beams

Mesh netting is set over supports this helps provide shade while the pod is still vunerable and protects from bugs and other

3. Water Pumps & Bins

Bins can be created using waterproof material to make a makeshift pond

freshwater or saltwater can be used at the beginning stages to sustain the juvenile pod

to constantly filter water into and out of the bins, water tanks and pumps must be set up

Tide replication: some nursieres simulate the tide activity that the pods might have to go through by giving them mini waves this helps build resilience when they're planted in the wild

Example of final layout based on ISER

Note: Pod collection - These pods can be gathered at sites with mangroves such as beaches, boardwalks, boat ramps, and shorelines.

4. bag assembly

Materials

mesh bags
scooper
pods
mixture of sand, gravel, and soil

2/3 of the bag should be sand/soil mixtrure add the pod into the center then 1/3 of gravel to help keep the pod in place and upright

The bags with pods can now be placed in the bins where water will soon start to filter through

These two bins are at different stages of growth. the one further back is about two months old and the one in the front is younger only a few weeks

5. growing stage

Depending on the species of mangroves can affect how long it takes to grow

The red and white mangroves we were working with sprouted from the pods in about two weeks and would reach a strong root stage by three months.

6. Field Planting

After the three month period mangroves can be tansplanted back into he restoration site.

First dig out a small hole

gently place plant into the hole and place stake for support if needed

Congrats you're done!

confetti

Of course nurseries can be done differently this isn't a set guide but just a reference into how the ISER Caribe nursery in Puerto Rico is set up

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