This project aimed to restore seagrass and mangrove habitat in front of an actively eroding 2m high muddy cliff face. Around 4000 mangrove seedlings were tranplanted, 5000 mangrove seeds planted and 0.25ha of seagrass transplanted. Mangrove seedlings fared the best, with 1666 plants surviving, while only 816 seeds germinated, potentially due to high wave energy and crab predation. All seagrass transplanted was lost due to smothering by fine silt. There is variability in erosion rate at different sites, however where a sloping beach has been formed, erosion seems to have stopped. The results of this project indicate mangrove seedling transplantation is a cost effective method of shoreline protection. Seagrass transplanting will not be further investigated for the area.

Mangroves

Method: Planting: direct seeding, Planting: nursery reared

Mangrove species: Avicennia marina

Seagrass

Method: Transplantation were these seeds or rhizome fragments?

Seagrass species: Zostera spp.

Planting density: 0.25ha transplanted