Upgraded mangrove information system to strengthen coastal protection efforts
The government has relaunched the Guyana Mangrove Information System (GuyMIS) to strengthen the monitoring of mangrove ecosystems and support restoration and coastal protection planning.
The upgraded platform allows users to access information through interactive maps, project records, research reports, photographs and educational resources. It provides a centralised repository for mangrove-related data, including mangrove distribution, restoration activities, coastal changes and areas vulnerable to erosion.
The system is developed by the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) with support from the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI).
During the ceremony, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha said GuyMIS would also support the Ministry of Agriculture’s planning and decision-making. This includes the ministry’s data centre, which President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali is expected to commission within a month.
Minister Mustapha emphasised the importance of mangroves in protecting Guyana’s low-lying coastline, noting that these natural barriers help reduce wave energy, trap sediment, stabilise vulnerable coastal areas and support biodiversity.
He explained that mangrove restoration is not simply an environmental activity, but an investment in food security, farmers’ livelihoods and the country’s resilience to climate change.
Since 2020, more than $592 million has been invested in mangrove restoration and coastal protection initiatives, with $285 million budgeted for 2026.
These efforts have contributed to the expansion of Guyana’s mangrove cover to more than 23,000 hectares by the end of 2025.
The agriculture minister believes that improved access to data would help the ministry plan future interventions and take a more proactive approach to addressing environmental challenges.
Research Officer in geographic information systems and remote sensing, Kim Chan-Bagot, demonstrated the platform’s features, noting that it brings together environmental information, spatial data, restoration activities and monitoring tools in one accessible system.
The platform can be accessed at mangroves.gov.gy, providing students, researchers, community members and other stakeholders with information on Guyana’s mangrove ecosystems.
GGGI Country Representative for the Eastern Caribbean and Guyana, Daniel Smith, urged agencies to contribute their relevant mangrove data to strengthen the system and improve coordination among institutions.
Smith said the platform’s long-term success would depend on continued collaboration and regular information-sharing, allowing agencies to identify priority areas for protection and restoration and better guide future investments.
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