This planning grant focused on assessing coastal mangroves and seagrass beds to determine their rate of recovery from natural and anthropocentric impacts, between October 2006 and the present. The mangroves assessed were at Moya River, Pearls Airport, Calvigny Harbour and Woburn Bay. The assessments showed that there were significant recovery at Moya River and Pearls Airport, while the other two areas were in a worse state, thus making them the best candidates for assisted restoration. The site finally chosen for restoration was at Woburn Bay within an established marine conservation area. A full grant project proposal was develop to commenced restoration activities at this site and the project was approved for funding in July 2009. The new project ?BAR/SGP/OP4/YEAR2/CORE/09/08? is entitled ?Community Based Restoration and Management of the Mangroves of Woburn Bay MPA?.

During the planning stage meetings were held with several stakeholders who included officers from the Departments of Forestry and Fisheries, as well as with community groups and their Parliamentary Representatives. The grantee received valuable site information from all the stakeholders and a commitment to support the restoration initiative.

The grantee identified one lesson that was learned during project implementation, i.e., that communities are fully supportive of environmental initiatives if they are involved and consulted early in the planning process.