Vital Mangroves
Mangroves come in great varieties with estimates ranging from fifty to more than one hundred different species (Conservation International). Worldwide stands are covering an area of 137,000 sqkm with Indonesia having the biggest area in Asia. The Philippines had mangrove cover of 400-500,000 ha in 1920 (Primavera 2000) but has lost 75% of its Mangroves in the last century and has nowadays only estimated 120,000 hectares under good cover. A further 130,000 ha are claimed to have been replanted. However, without proper monitoring and protection at hand those remain threatened. In addition, many replanting programs suffered from a lack of scientific basis to choose the right mangrove species for the selected habitat resulting in high rates of loss.
GMAIs stipulated goal is to protect and rehabilitate 5,000 hectares of mangrove forest areas in Surigao del Sur as mangroves are a vital part of the marine ecosystem. Their rugged roots are the preferred environment for hundreds of species of fish ranging from tiny gobies to 3m sharks to lay their eggs. They are home to many birds and their muddy environ shelters various species of crabs and shrimps. Growing on these solid foundations the mangroves form a natural barrier against waves and storm surges and are a natural protection for coastal communities. In the Philippines a huge 62% of the population inhabit these areas and many of those in low lying areas need protection from nature’s destructive forces. Studies (McIvor et. al. 2012) have shown that a 500m wide corridor of mature Mangrove forest can reduce impact of strong winds and waves/ storm surges from 50% to 100% while a 100m wide corridor could reduce them by 13% to 60%. The impacts of Supertyphoon Odette last year in Siargao Island were reduced in areas where the mangrove forests were wide and intact. They were damaged, but the properties sheltered by them were spared.
In addition to that, their impact reaches farther than the protection from the results of climate change. They are actually vital in combating climate change. Their foliage plus their root-systems that stretch deep underground have excellent carbon storage and sequestering capacities which are tenfold bigger than those of rain forests, making them an excellent target for investment for blue green carbon initiatives.
On the other hand, immediate action is required: the very communities who are poised to reap the largest benefits from healthy mangrove forests are also those whose behavior lead to their ongoing destruction. They are cut for firewood and large areas are converted into fishponds or shrimp farms. The use of antibiotics and industrial feeds in them often make rehabilitation difficult even if these activities have already stopped.
Even so rehabilitation of old mangrove areas is preferable to planting new areas as the damaged habitat already had shown its suitability to mangrove growth before. Such, the activities of various government and non-government stakeholders to repopulate the stands of mangrove damaged after Typhoon Odette are likelier to yield good results than well-meant plans to grow mangroves in newly selected areas.
In previous works, like in Damayuhan, Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental, planting of Mangroves in tidal flats which weren’t established mangrove areas proved difficult with losses up to 50% (though also due to a typhoon that struck just months after the planting).
In view of all GMAI will focus its conservation and restoration work in Surigao del Sur on old fishponds and otherwise converted mangrove stands. Its extensive network and trusted contact to local people organizations and government agencies and personalities are strong predictors of a successful conservation effort.