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UNESCO: In July 2023, you visited Providence Island, which had been severely impacted by Hurricane Iota in November 2020. What was your initial impression upon arrival? 

Meenakshi Poti: The island has around 5,000 inhabitants, who make their living from tourism, fishing, and agriculture. After visiting from the Colombian mainland, I was stunned by the high cost of living – everything was two or three times more expensive! The islanders work multiple jobs just to get by. 

In conversations with locals, the impact of recent hurricanes was obvious. Hurricane Iota was brought up frequently; the disaster is still fresh in people's minds and hearts. People were describing exactly how they experienced that day or night on 16 November 2020. 

UNESCO: And what stood out to you most about the environmental impact? 

Meenakshi Poti: The islands are vulnerable to extreme weather events. I read a ​​study by last year which estimated that 26 major storms could hit San Andres and Providence by the end of this century, with a 28% chance of these being a category 4 or 5 hurricane. Hurricanes pose a real threat to the livelihoods of the islanders. You can hear the concern in their voices when they talk about surviving future storms. 

It was shocking to see the scale of the damage first-hand. Hurricane Iota destroyed 98% of houses on the island. Although they rebuilt much of the infrastructure quickly, some of it clearly wasn't designed for the island context. For example, many of the new showers do not function properly. 

But what really struck me was the devastation to the mangroves. I've studied mangroves in other parts of the world, but I hadn't seen anything like this before. The hurricane just ripped through them, affecting approximately 70% of the mangrove cover. ​​Studies have shown that the mangroves played a critical protective role on the island, acting as coastal barriers during the hurricane. 

UNESCO: Can restoring the mangroves help to protect the islands from future storms? 

Providence only has four mangrove species so, in some ways, restoration there is less complex than at other sites where I've worked. It's relatively more feasible to determine which species should be replanted and where – for example, whether to replant Rhizophora mangle (red mangrove) in fringe forests that bore the brunt of the hurricane. 

Considering the importance of mangroves and the increasing vulnerability of the islands to extreme weather, I believe that mangrove restoration needs to be a top priority moving forward. 

UNESCO: Can you describe some of the mangrove areas you visited that will be studied by the MangRes Project?

Meenakshi Poti: I visited two mangroves during my stay, starting with Old Providence McBean Lagoon National Natural Park. The impact of extreme weather is starkly visible through uprooted and drying mangrove trees and broken branches.  But there's another issue too – a lot of plastic waste has accumulated in the lagoon. ​​Studies show that the majority of this marine litter is transported into the area by ocean currents from .

I also visited the mangroves in Southwest Bay that had also been heavily impacted. 

I had a chance to see mangrove restoration efforts first-hand at different sites around the islands. There is a lot of interest in restoration, especially since the hurricane. The regional organization CORALINA, which is responsible of managing the UNESCO Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, and the Colombian National Parks Authority are conducting major projects funded by international organizations, among these UNESCO.  

For instance, starting this month, UNESCO is teaming up with the Providence Foundation as part of the MangRes project. They will be studying mangroves in the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve to understand how climate change affects the inhabitants, the environment, and the local leadership. The key is that this project will involve the local Raizal people. The goal is to learn about the problems and possibilities these communities face in relation to climate change. UNESCO will then be able to support their efforts to become more resilient to climate change, including through adaptation. The locals I met were highly knowledgeable thanks to their daily involvement in hands-on restoration work. 

UNESCO: What do you think could be done to build on these restoration efforts? How can scientific monitoring and research be an asset in restoring mangroves on the island of Providence? 

Meenakshi Poti: I found the mangrove restoration efforts in Providence to be a genuinely collaborative process. The Colombian National Parks Authority has worked hand-in-hand with the police, navy and even local schoolchildren. It was great to see so many stakeholders coming together for this cause. 

That said, I definitely think there is room to take things to the next level, especially in terms of research. The locals with whom I spoke have been restoring mangroves day in and day out since the hurricane hit and have accumulated substantial experience. However, more scientific monitoring could really help to quantify the success of these efforts. As of now, there is no systematic way to collect and analyse data on the restored sites. 

We need to start comparing restored areas to natural regeneration zones, looking at differences in parameters such as plant growth, biodiversity, plastic pollution, etc. Ideally, this monitoring should take place on a regular basis, enabling us to build up a solid baseline understanding of the local mangrove ecosystems. This data could then be leveraged for master students' theses, shedding light on new areas of study.  

UNESCO: Can you tell us more about your thoughts on the potential of masters’ thesis projects on Providence and San Andres Island? How could this enhance collaboration between scientists and local communities? 

Meenakshi Poti: I believe there is a significant opportunity here. Thesis projects focusing on these locations would be highly valuable, especially if conducted annually to monitor and capture new insights over time. Comparing different sites within Providence and conducting a comparative analysis between Providence and San Andres Island could lead to fascinating discoveries. These islands offer so much richness and diversity to explore that students would find endless possibilities for meaningful thesis work, contributing to our understanding of these communities.

UNESCO: Can you tell us about the drawings you made with the children and how art can help raise awareness about the importance of restoring mangroves? 

Meenakshi Poti: When I visited a class in Providencia, I initially struggled to engage the children with the subject. However, once I started doodling on the board, it was like magic. They became completely absorbed in the process and engaged with the topic through their own drawings.  

Creating art is an excellent means of presenting scientific research results visually. It enables us to raise awareness about the importance of mangroves, helping children understand their role in caring for the environment and teaching them to live in harmony with nature. 

As I finalize my doctoral research, I have joined a weekly comic book and illustration workshop. This has enabled me to explore fully and leverage this technique to convey awareness-raising messages to a broad audience, particularly children. 

In the future, I would like to continue using comics and drawings to support mangroves restoration activities.