UWI Lecturers' Recognition

In a TEDxWorthington talk, Professor Mona Webber makes it clear that that rehabilitating coastal ecosystems is one way of building climate resilience for countries like Jamaica. She shares how innovative UWI research on replanting, restoring and protecting mangroves, seagrasses, and coral reefs is helping to achieve this.

Caribbean islands have seen their coastlines blanketed with Sargassum seaweed, every year since 2011. The phenomenon has posed significant challenges for the fishing and tourism sectors. Countries attempt to remedy the problem by raking the Sargassum and disposing of it in landfills, especially before it decomposes. However, this is a very expensive venture, estimated to cost some US$210 million in 2018.