Growing mangroves is part of the restoration process. Red mangrove seedlings are collected and reared in recirculating sea water tables at the University of the Virgin Islands' Center for Marine and Environmental Studies. These seedlings, once reaching a height of 60cm are then transplanted back into the environment where they are given number tags. This enables our team to track each mangrove's health metrics over time.
There are three main species of mangroves found in the USVI: 1) Rhizophora mangle (Red mangrove), 2) Avicennia germinans (Black Mangrove), and 3) Laguncularia racemosa (White mangrove). While all three are offered some protection through the Virgin Islands Code, they have suffered extensive loss since the late 1950's. Through the efforts of the projects listed below, you can volunteer to assist with the replanting of mangroves, collecting seedlings, assessing mangrove health and much more! Click any of the projects below to learn more.
Corals in the US Virgin Islands have been negatively impacted by stressors such as disease and increased sea water temperatures. The Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) was first observed in the USVI in 2019 and affects a majority of the reef building corals found in this region. The VI Reef Response Program and the Virgin Islands Coral Disease Advisory Committee all focus on coral health monitoring and restoration with an emphasis of better understanding diseases and disease outbreaks like SCTLD. Interested volunteers can assist with cleaning coral nurseries, assisting dive teams with monitoring corals for disease, and reporting any diseased corals or coral bleaching through the use of apps
Marine debris has become one of the world's most pervasive problems but did you know that about 90% of all marine debris in the USVI comes from land-based sources? Beach and other shoreline cleanups are a great strategy at removing coastal debris before it can enter surrounding waters, thus affecting the health of wildlife. Recent efforts in the USVI have resulted in additional strategies to ensure that specific types of waste are diverted away from already stressed landfills. See how you can get involved to help reduce the impact of marine debris.
Below you can find a list of smartphone apps you can download to start collecting and reporting environmental data in the USVI:
| Phone | Social Media | |
|---|---|---|
| 340-693-1672 | howard.forbes@uvi.edu jendahye.antoine@uvi.edu |
