Dr Camilo Trench: Protecting Jamaica's Mangroves for Carbon Storage and Coastline Defense

Dr Camilo Trench has spent over 20 years working on mangrove conservation in Jamaica. Mangroves are critical for carbon storage, storm protection, and water filtration. Jamaica has only about 14,000 hectares of mangrove forest left, under pressure from development and pollution. Trench's work includes leading a strategy to preserve 95% of mangroves at The Pinnacle development in Montego Bay, using a nursery program for seedlings. His research has attracted over US$4 million in grants from organizations like the World Bank and The Nature Conservancy. Mangroves store carbon at a rate few other ecosystems can match, making them important for climate goals. Replacing their services artificially would cost millions. Trench authored Jamaica's National Mangrove and Swamp Forest Management Plan. His approach focuses on younger seedlings, as mature mangroves over half a meter tall have lower survival rates when moved. The goal is to achieve a net gain in mangrove coverage at development sites.