Course Title
Mangrove Management and Restoration Techniques
Rationale
Mangrove biotopes are considered among the key habitats that support marine life in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. However, most mangroves in the region are under stress or threatened by various kinds of impacts such as overgrazing, cutting, pollution, physical modification of the coastal habitat, and land use change. Recognizing this, PERSGA has taken several steps towards mangrove resources protection and conservation in the region. An important initiative was developing regional Standard Survey Methods (SSM) for Inter-tidal and Mangrove Habitats, training regional specialists on these methods, conducting surveys and compiling countries and regional reports on the status of mangroves. Based on these reports a Regional Action Plan (RAP) for the Conservation of Mangroves, as well as National Action Plans (NAPs) for each particular country case, were developed. The major objectives of these plans are to impede the current degradation of mangroves, and to ensure restoration of the degraded areas and sustainable use of the resource.
In order to facilitate implementation of the developed RAP/ NAPs, PERSGA regularly carries out supportive activities such as training, regular monitoring, and implementing demonstration projects for restoration and sustainable use. In this framework PERSGA organizes the present workshop, which aims at training specialists on mangrove management and restoration techniques. The participants will form the nucleus of the regional mangrove team that will be involved in further training at national levels, and implementing future demonstration activities/ rehabilitation projects in PERSGA countries.
Objectives
The main goal of the workshop is to strengthen regional capacities for mangrove sustainable management. Participants will be trained on strategies, methods and techniques used in mangrove management and restoration. The specific objectives of the workshop include:
Understanding the role of mangrove ecosystem and impacts of their degradation on marine environment;
Realizing principles and scientific basis of mangrove management and sustainable use.
Recognizing methodologies and techniques used in mangrove management and restoration/ planting, their scientific basis, theoretical background to the approaches; with particular emphasis on Avicennia marina and Rhizophora mucronata.
Realizing data requirements and factors influencing successful mangrove management and restoration; restoration cost and benefits.
Understanding the concept and role of community-based participatory management with regard to mangrove management and restoration projects.
Find out and examine case studies on the subject.
Discuss the regional status and suggests suitable situations and sites for applying pilot restoration interventions, along with developing tentative plans for the approach, techniques and methodologies to be applied.
Conducting field activities to demonstrate practical aspects of the themes learned.
Participants
Participants of this workshop will be the national officials responsible for mangrove management, coastal zone management, or relevant stakeholders.
The total expected number for this course is not to exceed 25 participants.
Date and Duration
The duration of the workshop is four working days and will be conducted during May 11-14, 2009.
Location
PERSGA HQ, Jeddah, KSA.
Organizers
The Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden – PERSGA
Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO)
Language
The training language is English. Arabic will be used as supporting medium where appropriate.
Training Materials/References
Training will be based on the global approach including the common attitudes and methodologies developed in the field of mangrove management and restoration. These are available in the form of manuals, technical papers and other literature published by specialized agencies such International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems (ISME), FAO and UNEP. Several tools for the purpose are also available from scholarly publications based on scientific works and expertise, or particular case studies around the world.
Regional emphases in the course of the workshop will be based on PERSGA data base and literature on mangroves of the region, together with the inputs by the participants (national reports) that will be presented in the workshop.
Instructors/Keynote speakers
Prof. Peter Saenger (Centre for Coastal Management, School of Environmental Science & Management, Southern Cross University, Australia)
Dr Ahmed S. M. Khalil (The Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, PERSGA)
Workshop Program/ Agenda
Details will be provided later.