Guyana Mangrove Coverage Up 31% Since 2020 But Plastic Pollution Threatens Gains | carboncredit.io

Guyana's mangrove coverage grew from 19,616 hectares in 2020 to 25,644 hectares in 2025, a 31% increase driven by nearly GY$1 billion in restoration investments. Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha highlighted that mangroves are a key part of the country's Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030, providing coastal protection, biodiversity support, and carbon storage. However, the 2026 coastal assessment found visible waste at 53 of 60 surveyed locations, with plastic packaging at 51 of those sites. Mustapha warned that restoration efforts cannot succeed if plastic pollution continues to smother young mangroves and block water flow. He called for households to reduce single-use plastics and use approved waste services, and for businesses to improve waste management. The article underscores the tension between successful nature-based carbon projects and the ongoing threat of pollution that can undermine those gains. For carbon market participants, this case illustrates that mangrove carbon credits depend not only on planting but also on sustained pollution control and community behavior change. The Guyana Mangrove Information System (GuyMIS) is being used to monitor changes and guide restoration, offering a data-driven approach that could support verified carbon crediting.