Mangroves Recovery

Preliminary analyses show differences in recovery by mangrove typology (salt pond, fringe or basin forest), island, and species. Compared to St. Croix sites, St. Thomas and St. John mangrove forest plots had more structural damage with greater amounts of coarse and fine woody debris. Preliminary results also indicate that forests may be recovering differently. Fringe and basin sites had higher living canopy cover, compared to salt pond sites and mangrove sites on St. Croix tended to have greater living canopy cover compared to sites on St. Thomas and St. John. A comparison of repeat measurements of St. John sites since 2018, suggest those sites are recovering, as living canopy cover has increased, with the greatest increases observed at salt pond sites. Preliminary analyses of regeneration showed differences by island, habitat type, and species, as well. Most regeneration observed was Laguncularia racemosa and St. Thomas had almost twice as many more propagules and seedlings than St. Croix or St. John, for this species. Plots had minimal regeneration of Avicennia germinans; this likely reflects the low abundance of this species, territory-wide. Rhizophora mangle regeneration was low, though propagules were recorded across all three islands in both Year 2 and Year 3; saplings were in lowest abundance on St. John. Basin sites appear to have much lower natural regeneration, of any kind, compared to fringe and salt pond sites.

Growing plants for restoration

With the help of a dedicated team of graduate, undergraduate, high school, and middle school hands, the Grimes Lab continues to build on the 3000+ inventory of red, white, and black mangroves growing at the Orville E. Kean Campus, land-based nursery. Some seedlings are incorporated into experiments; others are merely a part of a general plant stock that will one day take root in forests in need of restoration across the territory.

Mangroves in the Classroom

A new project, “Mangroves in the Classroom,” funded in part by the Schmidt Ocean Coalition, brings researchers and UVI graduate and undergraduate students into classrooms at Charlotte Amalie High School and Ivanna Eudora Kean High School and deepens relationships with local partners, including local businesses (Virgin Islands Ecotours, The Hideaway at Hull Bay), non-profits (My Brothers Workshop, Virgin Islands Conservation Society), government agencies (Virgin Islands Department of Education, DPNR, Division of Coastal Zone Management) and others, like the Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Service and VI-EPSCoR. The project developed a new USVI-specific mangrove curriculum that has students grow and experiment with mangroves in the classroom, visit local mangrove forests and the mangrove nursery at UVI, and outplant mangroves for restoration.

MMES graduate student Laura Palomino Bloem says about the experience, “The Mangroves in the Classroom project has allowed me to combine my two passions - marine conservation and education. Through this project I’ve had the opportunity to create a mangrove curriculum alongside a local high school teacher and be in the classroom working with students. Working with the teacher and students has allowed me to develop new skills that will one day help me become an education and outreach coordinator.”

In The USVI, Approximately 90% Of Marine Debris Comes From Land-Based Sources

The community, government entities and private organizations have been hosting and participating in marine debris cleanups and awareness campaigns since the 1980’s. “The Tide Is Turning On Marine Debris In The Territory” provides an in-depth discussion of the problem and the actions taken to address it. This timeline also summarizes cleanup and other marine debris related efforts over the years.

The first annual Great Mangrove Cleanup took place in 2018 in the St. Thomas East End Reserve (STEER; Permit No. DFWCZM 17004T funded in part by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coral Reef Conservation Program and the NOAA Marine Debris Program). Since then, cleanups have taken place across St. Thomas each year and expanded to include St. Croix and St. John. These cleanups provide a unique opportunity to compare marine debris data across different coastal habitats. Our infographics summarize the data collected over the years and across locations.

The USVI Marine Debris Curriculum & Loaner Kit Program

Prevention and awareness are key to solving the marine debris problem. That is why we have worked in partnership with NOAA under the Marine Debris Program Prevention grant entitled“Pride in Our Seas, Pride in Ourselves: Preventing Land-Based Sources of Marine Debris in the US Virgin Islands through educational Transformation and Community Engagement”to create a Marine Debris Curriculum for the US Virgin Islands. This curriculum was co-created with input from USVI educators who participated in NOAA- and VI EPSCoR- funded Marine Debris Educators Workshops. Additional input was gathered following in-class use and from teachers who participated in VI-EPSCoR’s Summer STEM Institutes for Teachers. These workshops were led by the Virgin Islands Institute for STEM Education Research & Practice (VI ISERP).

We hope this curricula will be used and shared broadly to inspire coastal stewards of all ages to do their part in preventing marine debris and to care for the coasts we treasure here in the USVI. To download, print or share a copy of the Marine Debris Curriculum click on the link below.

Learn more about the Loaner Kit Program or loan a kit for free. Contact Zola Roper on St. Thomas/St. John or Kai Neilson on St. Croix

The USVI Marine Debris Action Plan

The USVI Marine Debris Action Plan is a living document created to protect the USVI coasts, people, and wildlife from the impacts of marine debris. The plan is a result of input and feedback from stakeholders at workshops held in 2020 and 2021.