B.A.M. Bahamas Mangrove Planting

We’re back in the Bahamas again for some Bahamas mangrove planting… taking students and teachers to restore a local mangrove forest. It’s the final phase in a new mangrove education and restoration program called Bahamas Awareness of Mangroves (B.A.M.). Forty-five students from Abaco Central High School and Forest Heights Academy are visiting degraded sections of mangrove forests in Abaco to plant mangrove trees they have been growing all school year. Join us in our fun, excitement, and learning through the photo journey below…

Students at Abaco Central High School are excited to plant their mangrove seedlings after nurturing them for the past 7 months.
Before planting the mangrove propagules, student must wade out into the mangrove mud. This Abaco Central High School student generously carries the mangrove seedlings to their new home.
Abaco Central High School Biology students plant mangrove seedlings restoring an area near Camp Abaco.
Student from Abaco Central High School plants a mangrove propagule.
Students at Abaco Central High School and our Director of Education, Amy Heemsoth (center) celebrate restoring the mangrove ecosystem at Camp Abaco.
Red mangrove trees dominate the area around Camp Abaco where students participating in the B.A.M. program will plant their red mangrove seedlings.
FRIENDS of the Environment intern, Christian McIntosh helps to tag each of the mangrove propagules with orange so that we can monitor their growth and health.
The red mangrove propagules are all tagged with different colored tape, which represents the various types of media that they grew in: mangrove mud, pebbles, and sand.
The red mangrove progagules were well cared for by the students. They grew nice and tall over the past 7 months.
Red mangrove trees, like the seedlings the students have been growing, are often referred to as "walking trees" because of their large propped roots.
Abaco Central High School students prepare to plant their first mangrove seedling.
Abaco Central High School students spread out so that they give their mangrove seedlings a large area to grow.
Forest Heights Academy is ready to plant their mangrove seedlings.
Forest Heights Academy Biology teacher, Lindsey Borsz bounces into action, ready to plant the mangroves.
Marine Science students at Forest Heights Academy say goodbye to their mangrove propagules that they have been caring for the past 7 months.
11th grade Marine Science students at Forest Heights Academy are getting ready to plant their mangroves.
Forest Heights Academy student collects her and her friends mangroves and she is ready to plant them.
Forest Heights Academy 12th grader is excited to be on a fieldtrip planting his mangrove propagules.
Forest Heights Academy student tries to secure the squishy mud around her propagule to stabilize it.
Forest Heights Academy student plants her last seedling.
One of 135 red mangrove propagules that the students planted in the mangrove swamp during the B.A.M. program.
Forest Heights Academy student readjusts the position of her mangrove seedling in the mud, so that the lenticels that allow for gas exchange are exposed to the air.
Even after sinking in the mud, this Forest Heights Academy student is excited to plant her mangroves.
Forest Heights Academy Biology teacher, Lindsey Borsz helps students plant mangrove trees.
Even though this Forest Heights Academy student was hesitant about walking in the mangrove mud, she did it anyway and with a smile on her face!

[Show slideshow]