Barbuda Codrington Lagoon Mangrove Restoration Project

To support the recovery of the Codrington Lagoon mangrove habitat, Team Antigua Atlantic Rowers (TAAR) provided a grant to Marine Ecosystems Protected Area (MEPA) Trust.

On September 6, 2017, Hurricane Irma devastated Barbuda including the natural environment. It caused severe destruction and mortality among the critical nesting habitat of the magnificent frigate birds in Codrington Lagoon. Immediately following the storm, a rapid assessment demonstrated that most of the foliage was torn from the mangroves, as well as mangroves ripped from their roots with substantial mortality. It is essential to restore this crucial habitat. Mangroves provide a suite of ecosystem services above and below the water. Above the water, they serve as nesting sites of one of the largest frigate bird colonies in the Caribbean. Below the water, the provide habitat for juvenile and adult fish and invertebrates. They also protect the people of Barbuda serving as a buffer against storm surge.