In 2019, Hurricane Dorian, an extremely powerful Category 5 hurricane, hit the northern Bahamian islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama with 185-mile-per-hour winds and storm surges up to 20 feet. This devastating storm brought massive destruction to island communities and their surrounding ecosystems, including the mangroves. Dorian’s slow march over the islands completely defoliated vast areas, affecting 36% of the mangrove forests in Grand Bahama (over 17,000 football fields) and 21% of the mangroves in Abaco (nearly 12,000 football fields). Without leaves, these mangroves could not survive nor provide habitat and nesting areas for birds such as herons, egrets, and cuckoos. Additionally, without fruit, these mangroves could not reseed themselves. Islands of nothing but root systems have provided somewhat of an underwater refuge for the diverse array of marine species that depend on them, but these roots are now starting to rot and break away, leaving huge areas of sediment vulnerable to erosive forces.

Our immediate restoration efforts focus on planting propagules to restore these critical habitats. As part of The Bahamas Mangrove Alliance, we aim to plant 1 million mangroves across 1,000 hectares, anticipating these propagules will mature and reproduce within five years. This large-scale effort not only enhances coastal protection but also boosts biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. These initiatives are part of our broader strategy of mangrove reforestation.