Egmont Mangrove

Overview

Egmont is a sheltered bay on Grenada’s southeast coast, where mangroves grow along the shoreline as a fringing forest. Unlike basin mangroves that form in enclosed areas, fringing mangroves line the edges of bays and lagoons, where they are directly influenced by the tides. Egmont’s calm waters and tidal channels allow mangroves to thrive, even as the surrounding area faces development pressures.

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Ecological Monitoring

Surveys confirmed that all three Caribbean mangrove species are present: red (Rhizophora mangle), black (Avicennia germinans), and white (Laguncularia racemosa). Red mangroves dominate the shoreline with their dense prop roots, while black and white mangroves extend inland.

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In 2025, leaf and water samples were collected for stable isotope analysis. These tests will help reveal how much Egmont depends on seawater versus freshwater. Results are not yet available but will provide an important baseline for tracking environmental change.

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Archaeology and Cultural History

Archaeologist Dr. Jonathan Hanna’s predictive mapping shows that Egmont falls within areas that would have been attractive for settlement by Grenada’s earliest communities. His models suggest the bay may have been used more than 1,000 years ago, and possibly up until about 500 years ago, before Europeans arrived in Grenada. No excavations have yet been carried out inside the mangrove itself.

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For more on Grenada’s archaeological record, visit Dr. Hanna’s Archaeological Site Inventory of Grenada.

Significance

Egmont shows how fringing mangroves protect shorelines, provide nursery habitat for fish, and may also preserve evidence of Grenada’s earliest history. Its ecology and potential archaeological significance make it an important site for both conservation and heritage.