The Mangrove Rehabilitation and Conservation Initiative of ZSL in the Philippines

Mangroves is an important part our coastal marine ecosystems. It serves as habitat of the different mangrove-dependent species. For humans, mangroves serve as construction materials for our homes, livelihood, recreation areas,... [ view full abstract ]

Mangroves is an important part our coastal marine ecosystems. It serves as habitat of the different mangrove-dependent species. For humans, mangroves serve as construction materials for our homes, livelihood, recreation areas, protection from storm surges, and a good carbon sink.

In the Philippines, the mangrove has already shrunk from more than 500,000 hectares in 1920 to 120,000 hectares in 1994. The major reason for this was the conversion of our mangrove areas to fishponds, settlement areas, recreational areas, and road network.

 In 2011, the Philippine Government started to implement the National Greening program that aims to increase the forest cover of the country. However, there are concerns on the program as it does not follow the science-base protocol.

 The ZSL-Philippines is implementing the Mangrove and Beach Forest Conservation Programme with the following components:

• Capacity Building – we train conservation workers from government, non-government organizations, private sector, and academic institutions involved in mangrove and beach forest protection and conservation.
• Documentation. It covers data gathering in mangrove and beach forest trees in selected key biodiversity areas and to come-up with a protocol on how the seeds will be propagated, established in nursery, planted and maintained based on their specific environment.
• Knowledge Management. From the three manuals on mangroves, the abridged versions will be developed and written in a vernacular so that it will be easier to be understood by the community members.
• Policy Advocacy. The approval of a national policy will be advocated as part of a climate change adaptation strategy.