BUILDING OCEAN RESILIENCE
A healthy and resilient ocean is one that is readily able to return to a healthy state following disturbance events or even resist the impacts of the disturbance depending on its severity. For example, healthy mangrove forests can effectively reduce the damages of severe storm surge because the thick interconnected root systems stabilise the shore and reduce wave and wind forces. The same root systems create a well-protected refuge for nurseries. Real estate, homes and properties inland are protected by mangrove forests. When healthy forests are damaged, their density might still sustain the habitat and its hydrodynamics as well as provide for regrowth. Similarly,...
Marine Science Contributions to a Sustainable Future from our Female Scientists at the IMA
In an interview with the IMA, Ms. Alison Clausen of the Paris Office of the United Nations Educational Scientific Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), noted that the UN is creating a framework to galvanise global support for championing the health of our oceans. Ms. Clausen states that science has for decades documented the demise of our oceans but now the global scientific community must use science to provide solutions – and that scientific community includes women....
Status of mangrove forests in Trinidad and Tobago
This project was done in collaboration with Dr. Rahanna Juman, head of the Environmental Research Programme (ERP). The goal of the project was to establish a baseline for mangrove forests in Trinidad and Tobago from which to predict the response to sea level rise and climate changes. High resolution IKONOS satellite imagery together with extensive ground surveys were used to map all of the mangroves around Trinidad and Tobago. GIS software was used to develop the maps and give an estimate of the total square area of mangrove existing in the region. The project was completed at the end of 2009. The results are...
