FEATURE Mangrove Action Day Photography Voting Continues
TITLE: Door to Air conditioned heaven ! // // Naveen Mathew // India
GLOBAL – MAP's recent call for photographs for World Mangrove Day 2019 is raising awareness of the important connections people have with mangrove forests. In July 2019, we asked for and received 250 stunning photos from 30 countries around the world that highlighted mangrove ecosystems and their important contributions to communities and the environment. The theme for this year was #MangrovesMatter. We would like to thank each and every person who contributed to this project! Winners will be announced in late August and there is also a People’s Choice Award that is given out to the photo with the most votes. Enjoy the photos below and vote for your favourite!We had our most impressive photo contest with 250 submissions from 30 different countries around the tropics. Voting for the People's Choice Awards seem to be coming in thick and fast also. Be great to keep the energy up on this. VIEW PHOTOS
AFRICA
Mama Tamba Youth Empowerment Association Plants 5,000 Mangroves
GAMBIA – The National Coordinator of Mama Tamba Youth Empowerment Association of Illiasa of Upper Baddibou has underscored the significance of enormous contribution and commitment the beneficiary communities on the storation of loss forest cover. Tamba Jammeh was on Wednesday in Illiasa at preparatory meeting to discuss with farmers ahead of massive mangroves planting exercise along the Baobolong wetland schedule for Saturday. He noted the initiative is part of Global Environment Facility dubbed Youth Empowerment on Environment on the restoration of Baobolong wetland area of Upper Baddibou. Tamba hailed the alkalolu, Village Development Committees, women and youths for their support and solidarity towards the restoration of forest cover. Chief Ebrima Ansu Tamba Jammeh of Upper Baddibou commended the youth’s association for the foresight of working with communities in building their capacity on importance of tree planting, soil management, poultry keeping, bee keeping and agroforestry, with the ultimate aims of mitigating effects of climate change. READ MORE
The man helping to save Senegal's mangroves
SENEGAL – With the help of the local population, Haidar el Ali has led a program that has planted 152 million mangrove buds in the Casamance Delta of southern Senegal over the past decade. The reforestation project in southern Senegal has become one of the largest of its kind in the world. Mr el Ali, who served as Senegal's Minister of Environment, says the mangroves are vital to help cope with the effects of climate change, as well as contributing to the local economy. Video journalists: Nick Loomis and Louise Dewast. VIEW SOURCE
AMERICAS
Placido Bayou homeowners lose bid to build
USA – The owners of seven Placido Bayou properties had their hopes dashed Wednesday evening when the Development Review Commission denied their request to build docks accessed by boardwalks through a mangrove preserve. The homeowners in the gated community off 47th Avenue NE had proposed constructing pathways that would rise above the mangrove roots and lead to private docks behind their homes. But commissioners, several citing environmental concerns, unanimously declined to modify two conditions in a 1983 City Council resolution that established the 80-acre preserve and permitted the Placido Bayou development to proceed. READ MORE
ASIA
No safeguards for mangroves in Kerala
INDIA – Four years ago, the state government tried in vain to protect mangrove vegetation in the state under private ownership by notifying them under the Kerala Forest (Vesting and Management of Ecologically Fragile Lands) Act. A bill to amend Kerala Promotion of Tree Growth in Non-Forest Areas Act, 2005, with clauses to protect mangroves, was also moved in 2015. The bill was faced with opposition from environmentalists and was referred to the subject committee after lawmakers highlighted several loopholes in it that would have facilitated felling of trees without proper safeguard. Mangroves are considered to be one of the most productive ecosystems in the world. But, the state does not have laws that would offer them at least some protection. They are now mostly confined to a few areas in the northern districts. The remaining patches are facing increasing threats, especially from new industrial and infrastructure development projects including tourism and housing, the bill said. READ MORE
How citizen groups in Kerala are planting mangroves as the first line of defence against coastal flooding
INDIA – After his fishing is done for the day, Murukesan TP, a fisherman from Malipuram near Vypeen, waits for the tide to recede. He then steers his small rice boat along the coastline, towards the exposed mud flats, and plants mangrove saplings; something he has been doing for the past five years, since the tsunami made him realise that mangroves were the first line of defence against flood waters or a hungry sea. On Sunday, he will assist a group of cyclists and nature lovers to plant 200 saplings along the shores of North Mulavakkad, an island near Goshree Bridge. Last month the Kerala High Court Advocates Association requested him to plant 100 saplings on the Chathiyath waterfront to fortify the embankment and 30 members joined him. Murukesan is in great demand for his traditional knowledge and expertise and employed by the Social Forestry Department to create this green protective layer of several species of trees. READ MORE
Sri Lanka to rehabilitate mangrove lands used for aquaculture and salterns
Sri Lanka plans to rehabilitate state mangrove lands that have been abandoned after using for shrimp farming and salterns as part of a project to increase the extent of mangrove lands by 10,000 Hectares. The cabinet of ministers has approved a proposal made by President Maithripala Sirisena in his capacity as the Minister of Mahaweli Development and Environment, to take back the state mangrove lands that were given on lease for aquaculture and now abandoned. In order to conserve the existing mangroves the President has also proposed not to release the mangrove lands which are being administered by the Department of Forest Conservation and the Department of Wildlife Conservation for other development activities. The President has proposed to take a decision to release the mangrove lands identified for aquaculture farming after a proper study made by a Committee comprising of the representatives of the relevant Ministries, Departments and other Institutions. READ MORE
Sta. Cruz community replace mangroves destroyed by monsoon waves
PHILIPPINES – BIG WAVES caused by the southwest monsoon, which has been prevailing for weeks, destroyed the seawall, breakwaters, houses and mangroves in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur last week. Over the weekend, the coastal community came together to plant more mangroves to replace those destroyed and as part of an ongoing tree-planting program. The project is led by San Miguel Brewery Inc. (SMB), which has a facility in the town, together with the local government and residents. SMB Davao Human Resources Manager Jovic Bernardo said most of the mangroves destroyed were part of the 2,500 they planted last year under the Trees Brew Life-Buhayin ang Kalikasan Project, which is now on its 10th year. She narrated that they have recorded a survival rate of up to 90%, until last week. “But our contribution to the success of this program is miniscule compared to the threat of climate change and global warming now in our midst. READ MORE
Gorai to get ₹25-crore mangrove garden
INDIA – In an attempt to provide ecological protection to the mangrove forest in Gorai, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Friday laid the foundation stone of a mangrove garden in the area, scheduled to be built before Diwali 2021 at a cost of ₹25 crore ($3.47 Million USD). This will be the first-of-its kind project in Maharashtra. The project has a variety of goals, such as restoring the mangrove ecosystem, spreading awareness of mangrove and coastal biodiversity, generating livelihood opportunities, all of which will strengthen the bond between Mumbaikars and mangrove forests. The park area will be spread across eight hectares. Mr. Gadkari said that environment preservation is of the highest importance, and the initiative is aimed at tackling climatic and environmental problems. He said, “The mangrove project addresses these problems and provides an ideal solution. READ MORE
Bombay High Court orders razing of buildings on mangrove
INDIA – The Bombay HC on Tuesday ordered that all constructions which have come up on land which used to be originally mangroves in Mumbra-Diva area, be pulled down immediately. The division bench of Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Justice Bharati Dangre also directed that the mangroves be replanted and action be taken against violators under the Forest (Conservation) Act. The court directed that the order be complied with by January 19, 2020. The petition concerned the mangroves in the coastal area of Mumbra creek and Desai Khadi of Ulhas River. As per an affidavit filed by the Tehsildar, Thane, the land which is both privately owned and government land consists of structures such as the Mumbra police station, Mumbra Shikshan Prasarak Mandal, which is on lease on the land and a huge housing complex. Much of the private land is owned by developer Aditya Goyal. READ MORE
Indonesia proposes joint commitment on mangrove restoration
INDONESIA – Indonesia has invited five countries that have mangrove forests — Australia, Kenya, Mexico, Jamaica and Ghana — to make a joint commitment to restoring and rehabilitating mangroves as an effort to overcome the adverse effects of climate change, according to a ministry official. The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry’s anti-illegal fishing task force led Indonesia’s delegation at the fifth Sherpa meeting for the High Level Panel (HLP) for a Sustainable Ocean Economy in Amsterdam last week. The High-Level Panel was initiated by Norway and consists of 14 countries: Norway, Indonesia, Australia, Canada, Chile, Fiji, Ghana, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, Namibia, Norway, Palau and Portugal. In addition to representing a combined 60 percent of the world’s total sea area, they also represent about 30 percent of the world’s mangrove areas. READ MORE
EUROPE Protesters and police block stock exchange
U.K. – Dramatic protests took place at the London Stock Exchange today as scores of police blocked off both entrances to the LSE with barriers and police lines in an attempt to stop protesters entering the building. The protesters, wearing all black, held a vigil outside the blocked entrance in commemoration of the massacre of three teenage boys during a non-violent protest against AIM listed Global Coal Management Resources plc (GCM) by communities around a proposed coal mine in Phulbari in 2006. Further protests are being held in Bangladesh on the official Phulbari Day on Monday 26th August. The UK protest was organised by the Phulbari Solidarity Group and the UK Committee to Protect Natural Resources in Bangladesh with a coalition of other organisations. Protesters echoed calls in their letter to Chief Financial Officer of the LSE, David Warren, demanding that GCM is investigated and de-listed from the London Stock Exchange for fraudulent and criminal activities. READ MORE LAST WORD Dear friends,
With huge thanks to all of you for your great supports, we observed Phulbari Day in Bangladesh and London.
- In London we held a Black vigil and blockaded the entrance of the London Stock Exchange’s headquarters for five hours – starting from the morning 7am ending just before 1pm last Friday on the 23rd August – demanding LSE must de-list GCM immediately.
- Under the Phulbari Solidarity Coalition more than 50 of us from 14 climate justice groups have protested against the London-listed company, GCM’s, fraudulent business. We raged and paid tribute with Red and White roses to Amin, Salekin and Tariqul who were killed in GCM’s inflicted coal shooting on 26 August in 2006. Loudest groups at the London protest include Bangladesh National Committee’s UK branch, Christian Climate Action, Extinction Rebellion International Solidarity Network, Extinction Rebellion Youth, Fossil Free UK, Foil Vedanta, Decolonising Environmentalism, The Green Party, London Mining Network, Phulbari Solidarity Group, the Socialist Party of England and Wales, and 350.org.
- We’ve put notice on the LSE’s chief financial officer to investigate GCM’s unethical business and to delist the fraudulent company. A coalition of 12 organisations demanded that the LSE must delist GCM over the evidences that we detailed in a letter handed over to David Warren by both the City Sprint courier and the police at the LSE.
- In Phulbari thousands have attended rally and paid tribute with colourful round bouquets of flowers to the memorial of the lost lives on Phulbari Day, Monday 26 August. The local National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports in Bangladesh and other community organisations in Phulbari vouched they will not sleep until the day coal mining is banned in Bangladesh.
- Our actions in London and Bangladesh have created pressure on authorities such that Bangladesh government is now considering litigation against the fraud GCM, whilst the City of London police reiterated that they were facilitating the protest, rather than preventing protesters from entering the London Stock Exchange!
Here is a short film by Jason Parkinson who attended the protest at LSE last Friday
VIEW VIDEO
Our press release is available on PSG blog
We will share a more full write-up and a complete film on this year's Phulbari Day protests with you soon. For now, you can get some Phulbari Day updates from our Facebook, Twitter and blog which are full of great photos and video clips.
We will be back in touch with plans for next step.
Thanks and in solidarity,
Bishwazit & all from the Phulbari Solidarity Group
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Giving could never be easier | ACTION ALERTSLAST CHANCE TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE PHOTO Mangrove Action Day Photography Voting underway. CLICK HERE 69 million tons of carbon stored thanks to mangrove restoration, as demonstrated by the new Mangrove Restoration Map VIEW MAP HERE Keep loggers out of Selous Game Reserve!
Tanzania’s government is moving ahead with its plans for a hydroelectric dam in Selous Game Reserve. A huge swath of the UNESCO World Heritage site and habitat of iconic African wildlife would suffer irreparable damage. 1,500 km2 – an area the size of London – has just been opened to logging. Please help us protect Selous. SIGN PETITION Don't trash coral reefs for the cruise industry! – TAKE ACTION Sea turtles or condominiums?
Sand mining and construction work would wipe out a marine biodiversity hotspot and destroy the livelihoods of local people, who have not been consulted. Please SIGN! Save Penang! Reject the 3-Islands Reclamation!
The lack of public consultation and detailed information about the project is shocking in view of the size of proposed reclamation which is 4,500 acres or 7 square miles
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Restoring The Natural Mangrove Forest
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Community Based Ecological Mangrove Restoration in Rufiji Delta VIEW VIDEO Video: Mangroves for the Future – A look bacK. As the latest phase of Mangroves for the Future (MFF) draws to a close, this video highlights some of the project’s most successful initiatives – from local women supporting national park management in Viet Nam to an island in the Maldives that has become a model for waste management, and everything in between. View Here Making the case for Emergency Climate Change Action  
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