Martinique is one of the five territories involved in the REMAR regional project, launched in April 2026 to support the restoration and sustainable management of mangroves. With a budget of 5.5 million euros over five years, the initiative combines Caribbean cooperation, scientific knowledge, and the participation of local stakeholders. The Commission of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) officially launched the REMAR project on April 11, 2026, in partnership with the French Development Agency (AFD) and the French Global Environment Facility (FFEM).
Martinique will participate in this program alongside Guadeloupe, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The goal is to restore degraded mangrove sites and improve their long-term management.
Regional Cooperation in the Face of Common Risks
Caribbean Mangroves face pressures that extend beyond their territorial borders. The OECS statement specifically cites climate change, hurricanes, floods, certain unsustainable human activities, and the growing impact of Sargassum blooms.
In the face of these common threats, REMAR should promote the sharing of knowledge and methods among the five regions. The OECS Commission will coordinate the program at the regional level and plans to establish a network dedicated to mangroves and swamp forests.
At the local level, site managers and community stakeholders must participate in the planning of restoration efforts, based on ecological and socioeconomic assessments tailored to each region.
Natural Coastal Protections
Mangroves play a vital role in maintaining the balance of coastal areas. They help limit erosion and mitigate the impact of storm surges. They also provide habitats for many species and support fisheries resources.
Their role is not limited to biodiversity. These ecosystems also contribute to improving water quality and carbon sequestration. As such, they can be considered true natural infrastructure, capable of protecting coastlines while fulfilling several ecological functions.
According to the Executive Director of the OECO, Didacus Jules, their restoration is therefore a development issue: «Protecting and restoring mangroves is not just an environmental choice; it is a development imperative.»
Three Strategies for the Sustainable Restoration of Sites
The REMAR project is based on three main areas of focus:
- Community-Led Restoration of Degraded Mangroves, by involving site managers and local stakeholders in the planning of interventions.
- Improving scientific knowledge and data sharing on the condition of mangroves, their changes over time, and the pressures they face.
- Institutional Capacity Building to better manage and preserve these ecosystems over the long term.
The program’s success will therefore not depend solely on any plantings that may take place. It will also depend on the quality of the assessments, local involvement, and the ability to ensure long-term monitoring of the sites.
Further details are still pending for Martinique
Although Martinique is officially listed as one of the beneficiaries of REMAR, the specific details of how the program will be implemented in the territory have yet to be worked out.
The launch press release does not specify the sites in Martinique involved, the area to be restored, the timeline for the initial operations, or the portion of the 5.5 million euros that will be allocated to the island. Nor have the organizations and communities expected to participate locally been identified at this stage.
NOTE nevertheless marks Martinique’s integration into a regional initiative focused on coastal resilience. The challenge going forward will be to translate this ambition into measurable actions on the ground, with goals and resources tailored to the realities of Martinique’s mangroves.
Source: OECO Press Release
