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Recovering a Key Coastal Defence

CSOs join forces to restore Bahamas’ 1st line of coastal defence – its mangrove forests

February 16^th, 2026

When storms inevitably roar through the active hurricane corridor of the Caribbean, coastal communities with intact mangrove forests witness the miracle of storm surges contained.

Mangrove forest in The Bahamas (Getty image)

The power is in the roots

Below water, a tough, lanky fortress of mangrove roots break the power of the surge, making the mangroves a natural ally for flood-prone communities.

It's why climate defenders of The Bahamas, a low-lying island nation located in the direct path of the hurricane corridor, are understandably nervous; they're witnessing climate change and manmade activities destroy this natural coastal defence.

The root system of the mangroves contain their surge breaking power - a critical defence against flooding

"Mangrove ecosystems are among the most important environments in The Bahamas. They form the foundation of our marine life, support livelihoods, and serve as our first line of defence when hurricanes and storms hit," says Jewel Beneby, Conservation Practitioner, The Nature Conservancy.

Jewel Beneby, Conservation Practitioner, The Nature Conservancy (left) planting mangrove seedlings (TNC Photo)

Jewel Beneby, Conservation Practitioner, The Nature Conservancy (left) with Nakira Wilchcombe, GEF Small Grants Programme Bahamas National Steering Committee Chair and Deon Stewart, National Coordinator

Above water, Bahamas’ native birds perch on their branches in a carnival of colour, from which they balance the mangrove eco system, pollinate flora, enrich biodiversity and diversify the eco-tourism offer. Birdwatchers visit from all over to observe natives like the herons, egrets, shorebirds, songbirds, and migrants like the yellow warbler.

Annually one to two percent of The Bahamas tourists visit for birdwatching. Another five to eight percent are incidental birdwatchers, engaging in the activity while on eco tours. (Jkraft 5 Image)

Humming Bird spotted in The Bahamas (Photo by Eli Helm/Getty Images)

29 000 football fields!: Size of the mangrove losses after Dorian

Mangroves represent food on the table, livelihoods and income that support families across the Bahamas archipelago. But all of this is at risk. The accelerating impacts of climate change are increasing the frequency and intensity of hurricanes, causing sudden, catastrophic damage to mangroves.

In 2019, the worst fears of environmentalists like Jewel were realized. In the wake of category five Hurricane Dorian, 40% of the mangroves on Abaco were damaged and destroyed and a massive 73% on Grand Bahama.

Here's some perspective:

Mangroves on Abaco and Grand Bahama stretched across the equivalent of 29 000 football fields or 80 000 acres combined – that’s 33 000 acres in Abaco and 47 000 on Grand Bahama.

Newly planted mangroves on Grand Bahama. (GEF Small Grants Prograame Bahamas photo)

Pre-Dorian, mangrove losses were five to 10 percent, driven by coastal developments, dredging and land reclamation, pollution, sea level rise and rising temperatures – the Perry Institute confirms.

But increasingly intense hurricanes cause far more damage in far less time, severely impacting lives and livelihoods within hours.

The combined loss of tens of thousands of acres on Abaco and Grand Bahamas removed coastal defences, destroyed seafood sources and fisheries on which livelihoods depend, and disturbed the delicate eco system.

Drone bird view of Exuma in the Bahamas with mangroves on the right. (Photo by 2Mmedia from Getty Images)

Mangrove Shoal (Photo by Matt_Potenski from Getty Images)

Bahamas aerial view (blueorangestudio photo)

Mangrove forest view underwater (Woraput from Getty Images Signature photo)

An army of 500 volunteers mobilize

In supporting a resilient recovery from Hurricane Dorian, the GEF Small Grants Programme implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) partnered with The Nature Conservancy to back the Mangrove Restoration Alliance in restoring a critical acreage.

With Perry Institute for Marine Sciences, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust and Waterkeepers Bahamas in the lead, a major Civil Society intervention targeted a damaged area covering 360 acres (146 hectares). Teaming up with an army of 500 volunteers from surrounding communities – a near equal number of men and women working side by side – they aimed to collect and replant 100 000 mangrove propagules.

Exceeding targets by 100%

The Bahamas Mangrove Alliance engaged countless communities across Grand Bahama Island and Great Abaco Island to source hundreds of thousands of mangrove propagules. They assisted partners in maintaining mangrove plant nurseries, and coordinating planting exercises frequently on each island," GEF SGP National Coordinator Deon Stewart revealed.

At the end of the project, the target was exceeded by one hundred percent. More than 220 000 mangroves were replanted across Abaco and Grand Bahamas marking a renewed start for mangrove forests in these impacted regions.

Distribution of educational and training materials including Bahamas mangrove kits and a website resource passed on critical knowledge in mangrove restoration. Today, nearby communities are empowered to steward the ecosystems that protect their homes, sustain fisheries, and shield coastlines from future storms.

2000 to benefit long term

More than 2000 persons are expected to benefit from improved livelihoods and wellbeing, a direct result of the restoration of mature mangroves, TNC reports confirm.

With new nurseries, enhanced youth engagement, and community driven monitoring, the initiative is rebuilding key wetlands while strengthening local resilience for generations to come (Source: organization: From devastation to restoration in the Bahamas, 2026).

With a total 1000 hectares of mangroves mapped, the project has set the stage for continuous monitoring in the years to come.

Mangrove View (Marlonie photo from Getty Images)

Sparking community action

"Helping mangroves recover from Hurricane Dorian produced significant results and exceeded all expectation through the hard work of community volunteers and unprecedented collaboration by various Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)", Stewart stated.

"With the overall engagement of hundreds of youths – male, and females from across the country – the BMA has sparked a sustainable community action that is invaluable and will pay dividends for generations of peoples to come”, Deon Stewart concludes.

Deon Stewart, GEF Small Grants Programme National Coordinator on location for mangrove replanting activities. (UNDP MCO in Jamaica/GEF SGP Photo)

Expanding local restoration efforts

“We are grateful for the collaboration with GEF SGP Bahamas that allowed the Northern Bahamas Mangrove Restoration Project partners to expand and accelerate their restoration efforts working with local communities,” says Marcia D. Musgrove, Director, Northern Caribbean Program, The Nature Conservancy. “By combining philanthropic and public funding we were able to mobilize more resources to places that needed it most to help nature recover and sustain livelihoods in tourism and fisheries that depend on healthy marine ecosystems,” she says.

Members of the Bahamas Mangrove Alliance (The Nature Conservancy photo)

Damaged mangroves. (The Nature Conservancy photo)

The Bahamas Mangrove Alliance prepare to plant mangroves in daaged areas. (The Nature Conservancy photo)

Underwater view of mangroves (Photo by UWPhotog from Getty Images)

Since 2009, the UNDP/GEF SGP in The Bahamas has granted more than 2.9 million USD to 44 local NGOs, with an equal amount in co-financing, for a total of 6.4 million USD to climate projects.

Since 1992, the GEF SGP has delivered $860 million in project funding globally, and mobilized $1,011 million in co-financing. Mangrove Shoal (Photo by Matt_Potenski from Getty Images)

WATCH: Motion graphic impact reel

Footnotes

Thanks to Deon Stewart, Bahamas National Coordinator, GEF Small Grants Programme implemented by UNDP. Text written by Gillian Scott, Communications Analyst, UNDP Multi Country Office in Jamaica.

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FootNotes

Thanks to Deon Stewart, Bahamas National Coordinator, GEF Small Grants Programme implemented by UNDP. Text written by Gillian Scott, Communications Analyst, UNDP Multi Country Office in Jamaica.

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