Importance of Mangroves in the Philippines

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importance of mangroves in the philippines
Importance of Mangroves in the Philippines | @denrcalabarzon

Importance of mangroves in the Philippines

What are mangroves?

It is a type of forest, growing along tidal mudflats and along shallow-water coastal areas, extending inland along rivers, streams and their tributaries where water is generally brackish.

What are it’s functions? (Importance of mangroves in the Philippines)

  1. Defense and buffer against strong waves and storm surges.
  2. Help prevents soil erosion.
  3. Help minimize water pollution.
  4. Serves as water catchment areas that reduce flooding.
  5. Sustains and improve fisheries production.
  6. Provides conditions for nutrient recycling storage of a vast amount of carbon.

Mangrove planting for natural mangrove forest

  1. Site preparation – removal of debris and undesirable materials before planting.
  2. Staking – use bamboo stake as tree guard with 2m x 2m spacing.
  3. Hole digging – dig a hole at least 1 foot in diameter and 1 foot in length to have enough space for root development.
  4. Hauling – use plastic crates or sacks in transporting the plantable seedlings in the planting site carefully.
  5. Tying – tie the seedlings into the bamboo stake to hasten the root development and help the seedling to stand still against wave and wave action
  6. Planting – place the seedling in the hole and cover with soil up to root collar only and do not compact the soil. If propagules are used as planting materials, direct planting is required and a maximum depth of 1/3 of the length of the propagules should be burrowed beneath the soil.

Mangrove Planting for Established Mangrove Plantation

  1. Site preparation – removal of debris and undesirable materials before planting.
  2. Fencing – Use bamboo poles in protecting the plantation from outside factors.
  3. Establish navigational lane – provide free access for small boats to pass thru so that newly established mangrove plantation will not be an obstruction to their fishing activities.
  4. Staking – use bamboo stake as tree guard with 2m x 2m spacing against wave and wind action.
  5. Hole digging – dig a hole at least 1 foot in diameter and 1 foot in length to have enough space for root development.
  6. Hauling – use plastic crates or sacks in transporting the plantable seedlings in the planting site carefully.
  7. Tying – tie the seedlings into the bamboo stake to hasten the root development and help the seedling to stand still against wave and wind action.
  8. Planting – place the seedling in the hole and cover with soil up to root collar only and do not compact the soil. If propagules are used as planting materials, direct planting is required and a maximum depth of 1/3 of the length of the propagules should be burrowed beneath the soil.

Suggested Mangrove Species per Zonation

Zonation
1. Seaward Landward:
Species: pagatpat, bungalon, bakawan bato, tinduk-tindukan

2. Middleward to Landward:
Species: Tangal, Malatangal, Piapi, Api-api, Saging-saging, Pototan, Busain, Potokan lalaki, Langarai, Dungon-late, Tabigi, Piagau, Bakawan Lalake

3. Riverine-upstream:
Species: Pedada, Nipa, Bakawan babae

Plantation Care and Maintenance

The success and sustainability of any plantation rely on different activities to be done after planting. Care and maintenance are needed to ensure that sustainability is at least years.

  1. Regular removal of debris and garbage in the plantation.
  2. Regular patrolling and repair of fences.
  3. Replant dead planted seedlings during low tide of the planting season.
  4. Monitor the plantation against pests and diseases.
  5. Monitor the growth and development of the plantation.

Areas not recommended for mangrove planting

  1. Seagrass beds.
  2. Areas damaged by algal blooms.
  3. Areas with high garbage disposition.
  4. Areas with unstable and unsuitable substrates.
  5. Mudflats/tidal flats.

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