Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) and community partners celebrated the completion of a goal to plant 100,000 mangroves during a special event held on December 7. The occasion marked a major milestone in a five-year restoration project launched by BTT in the wake of Hurricane Dorian.
“Mangrove forests benefit Bahamian communities, acting as natural barriers against storm surges, supporting critical fish nurseries, and absorbing carbon to help mitigate climate change, all of which underscore the urgency and importance of this work,” said BTT President and CEO Jim McDuffie. “BTT congratulates the Bahamian volunteers, students, fishing guides, lodges and all who rallied to restore their communities and safeguard their fisheries following the devastation of Hurricane Dorian.”
The Bahamas Mangrove Restoration Project is the largest mangrove restoration effort in Bahamas history and helped to jump-start natural recovery from the environmental destruction wrought in 2019 by Category 5 Hurricane Dorian, the most powerful storm to ever strike The Bahamas.
After the 100,000th mangrove was planted at Dover Sound, Grand Bahama, BTT hosted a gathering at the Grand Bahama Sailing Club, where the organization honored restoration partners, government agencies, bonefish guides and lodges, planting crew members, and participating schools. The celebration also showcased artwork and projects by local youth, illustrating the critical role of mangroves in sustaining Bahamian biodiversity and protecting coastal communities.
“Today we celebrate not only this achievement but, most importantly, the people who made it possible,” Rashema Ingraham, BTT’s Caribbean Program Director, shared at the celebration. “This milestone of 100,000 mangroves planted over five years is not just a testament to our commitment but a reflection of what we can achieve together-restoration partners, guides, schools, volunteers, and the government united for a rich future. Today, we celebrated in Grand Bahama, but this work was also done in Abaco with partners like Friends of the Environment, schools, fishing guides, and many others. Tomorrow, BTT is on to our 100,001th mangrove planted, and we are thrilled to co-lead the Bahamas Mangrove Alliance in planting 1,000,000 mangroves by 2026.”
Among those recognized were fishing guides from Grand Bahama and Abaco who have worked with the project since its inception, including Leroy Glinton, a bonefish guide and community leader in East Grand Bahama.
“With the mangrove planting, it’s going to help the Bahamas 100 percent – because why? You are nurturing and taking care of your fish,” said Leroy Glinton, a respected bonefish guide and community leader of East End Grand Bahama. “When you get to the mangroves, the mangrove is a nursery or home for most of the sea species, like bonefish, conch, lobsters, and even groupers and hog snappers who come into the shoreline to spawn, then go back off to sea. If we lose mangroves completely, we might as well say we lose our fish habitat. Without mangroves, you have nothing to protect you from cold fronts or storms. So I would encourage a lot more people to get on board.”
BTT’s commitment to mangrove restoration is poised to expand through the recently established Bahamas Mangrove Alliance (BMA)—a coalition founded by BTT, the Perry Institute for Marine Science, and Waterkeepers Bahamas, and with new member organizations including Friends of the Environment and Cape Eleuthera Institute. The BMA has pledged to plant one million mangroves by the end of 2025. Through the BMA, BTT and its collaborators are also mobilizing support, building resilience, and securing funding to advance these restoration efforts across The Bahamas.
Click here to learn more and support BTT’s Bahamas Mangrove Restoration Project.
