Delegates of the Caribbean Tourism Organization Conference which opensEU Commissioner learns about medicinal plants from tour guides Raymond Hinds and Avnel Brownein the city tomorrow would be touring the Mangrove Reserves from Golden Grove to Belfield on Tuesday. This is part of the delegation’s study tour.This is according to Chairperson of the Mangroves Action Committee, Annette Arjoon-Martins, who said thanks to communities within Guyana’s first mangrove forest reserve,Wholesale Jerseys China, nature lovers could now enjoy an exciting half-day tour facilitated by a team of trained guides from the communities.About 40 minutes from Guyana’s capital city, Georgetown, visitors are exposed to rich Guyanese heritage, a thriving mangrove forest managed by the local community, a wetland teeming with fish and coastal birdlife,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys, and a towering sugar estate house.The tour starts at the mangrove visitor centre located in the sprawling three-storey 160-year-old plantation house, which is 160 years old. This magnificent structure dominates five acres of land covered with tall stretching mango trees midst of an herbal garden.The house reflects an early grandeur in its hewn greenheart beams, pine floors and antique cast iron pillars. Supporting the front gallery of the building are pillars made from bricks brought to Guyana as ballast for sailing ships in colonial days.Displays telling the mangrove story in detail and a beautifully hand painted mural of the coastline depicting the rich birdlife of Guyana’s coastal forests are part of the permanent exhibit.She noted that visitors could sample the delightful products of the Mangrove Reserve producers, which comprise a group of vibrant women from the communities that are actively involved in agro- production.Some of the products are golden coloured mangrove honey, handmade beeswax candles, pepper sauce, green seasoning, tamarind balls, mango achar and fried breadfruit chips all attractively packaged. These homegrown village products are free of preservatives, full of natural flavor and 100 percent organic.The tour from the breezy Visitor Centre to the mangrove reserve could be done either by vehicle or by horse drawn cart, which is becoming very popular. Experienced cart men from Nabaclis village are providing this service. Apart from the open air and breezy ride it is amazing to see how the drivers communicate with their animals by sounds rather than the reins.A horse cart full of touristsThe next stop is at Victoria Village, the first village bought by freed slaves following Emancipation in 1838. The original hut where slaves collected their weekly pay packages is now a busy village shop, and vendors outside offer fresh coconut water.Visitors are then guided up the side dam passing near the Ashram where the beautiful temples offer a photo opportunity. Another attraction is the Dutch koker, which is invaluable in draining excess water off the rich agricultural lands in the back.Arjoon-Martins said that upon arrival at the Golden Grove/ Belfield Mangrove Reserve – the first community to own and manage mangrove reserve in Guyana,NFL Jerseys From China, visitors are guided along a trail where four species of? mangroves? – black, white, red and buttonwood are found within the first 100 footsteps.The view is fascinating with hundreds of fully grown mangrove trees, many of them over 20 feet tall, making a dense forest on the swampy foreshore, and now serving as a barrier to the Atlantic tides in the area.Along the trail in this area is an array of medicinal plants, used by Guyanese for generations such as “black sage” – a brew from the leaves helps to combat hypertension and diabetes, and the rigid stems of the plant make a toothbrush substitute.There is also “sweet sage” used to treat colds, “belly ache bush” that combats gum disease, and a brew from the “tulsi” plant that works to relieve flatulence.? The leaves of the “noni” plant are used to alleviate pain, and its fruit builds up the immune system.In front of a wide wetland area teeming with scarlet ibis,Cheap NBA Jerseys USA, snowy egrets and pelicans is a benab, perfect for visitors to relax and picnic. This has become a hot spot for bird watching.A unique part of the wetland is a shallow pond teeming with fish (tilapia,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, hassar, patwa,NFL Jerseys Outlet, and sunfish), ideal for recreational fishing and if the timing is right visitors could see local fishermen beating the water to chase fish into their nets.In the middle of the wetland is a small island of lush black mangrove where several hives are located as the nectar from the black mangrove blosso