Debe-based NGO tackles flooding woes

MEMBERS of the Debe-based NGO the Sustainable Climate Resilience Initiative are actively involved in several projects to address extreme hazardous weather events like floods.

The group's projects include crop planting as well as a rainwater harvesting system, for home use and to feed a hydroponic system set up by young members.

On July 10, at a house at Picton Development in Debe, several youngsters spoke to Newsday about the importance of collecting rainwater, which would help minimise and possibly prevent flooding.

Ricardo Moodie, 17, said water can be collected instead of letting it wash down the drains and rivers. He showed the NGO's homemade water system, which collects water in a tank from a house gutter. It includes two filters to prevent debris from the roof from getting into the water tanks.

Brendan Boodoo, 16, said the system could be used domestically and otherwise, including hydroponic systems. Like another youngster, Zyane Dhansook, 18, Boodoo called for people to instal one in their homes.

NGO chairman Edward Moodie shared some other initiatives, like replanting vetiver grass on the riverbanks in Woodland to help prevent soil from failing along the South Oropouche River.

The youngsters got tips on how to set up a rice seed nursery using Moruga hill rice seeds.

The nursery will be planted in Woodland to provide food for wildlife, mainly wild ducks.

"We have not been seeing them as such. We are encouraging ecotourism, and we want the ducks to come back, and planting the rice will help them," Moodie said.

"We are also planning a cascadura production and rearing facility. We want to reintroduce at least 10,000 cascadura back into the lagoon because they were killed in the saltwater intrusion last year."

Moodie is also the president of the South Oropouche Riverine Flood Action Group.