Environmentalist Dr. Andrew Simmons has issued an urgent call for government intervention following the extensive destruction of rare mangrove ecosystems at Canash.
Speaking on location to SVGTV News, Dr. Simmons expressed deep dismay over the active land clearing, where industrial power equipment has been flattening the coastal site and stripping away vital vegetation.
The impacted location harbors two of the region’s rarest mangrove species—the red mangrove and the white mangrove, the latter of which is otherwise found only in small specimens at Brighton.
Beyond biodiversity loss, Dr. Simmons emphasized that mangroves serve as the coastline’s primary first line of defense against severe storms, hurricanes, and sea-level rise.
They provide essential support for marine ecosystems and help coastal communities adapt to climate change, making their destruction a long-term threat to the stability of the entire lagoon and marine park.
The development has taken over public beach space, where heavy equipment is constructing a structure shaping up like a jetty jutting out into the sea. Dr. Simmons publicly questioned whether the Physical Planning Board or any official authority had issued valid permits for the work.
He pointed out that site signage reading “Please do not destroy” was completely disregarded as machinery leveled the area. Highlighting substantial past investments in local conservation by international partners—including the German government and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (5Cs)—Dr. Simmons insisted that genuine development must balance growth with environmental protection rather than eradicating natural resources.
Warning that failure to act will lead to the total eradication of the marine park and lagoon, Dr. Simmons urged the government to order an immediate halt to all clearing activities and launch a full investigation into the permitting process.
