Over 200 people from different sectors came together to plant mangrove seedlings in barangay Inoburan, City of Naga in celebration of the World Environment Day yesterday.
“We are doing this to send a message and to be good advocates that planting mangroves is beneficial for everyone,” said Isabelo Montejo, director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas (DENR-7).
Montejo said that mangroves serve as anchors on the soil, absorbing and dissipating the energy of waves by 70 percent thus slowing their passage inland and preventing significant damage to coastal communities.
The World Environment Day carries the theme “Raise your voice, not the sea level”, putting an emphasis on the heightening effects of climate change to the sea level, which is apparently harmful, as seen during the ire of supertyphoon Yolanda, said Montejo.
Montejo said he recognizes the ability of human beings to adapt to the changing conditions in the planet but is not so sure up to what extent.
“Since we do not know until what point we can adapt, it is better that we take measures that would mitigate the effects of climate change like planting trees and mangroves,” he said.
Among the 10 coastal barangays in Naga, Inoburan houses the largest protected mangrove plantation covering at least 40 hectares of land area.
Montejo said that mangroves help clean the air and water along coastal zones and provide food security and livelihood to the communities.
He said that fish catch is assured as for every one hectare of mangrove trees produces up to 3.6 tons of plant litter annually and one hectare of healthy mangrove ecosystem produces about 1.08 tons of fish per year. Mangroves provide nurseries for fish, prawns and crabs, and also support fisheries production in coastal areas.
These are also carbon dioxide trap and produces more oxygen than the trees on land. Teodulo Selim, president of the Selim United Mangrove Planters Association (SUMPA) Multipurpose Cooperative, said ever since mangroves were first planted in the area some 25 years ago, they have seen how much marine life has thrived.
He said they have seen increase in the number of shells, crabs and other sea creatures.
SUMPA has protected and maintained the mangrove plantation in Inoburan for almost 25 years. At present, they have six forest patrols making regular rounds everyday.
Attending the activity were DENR personnel, members of the local government unit, students, people’s organizations and other private stakeholders. The mangrove planting was simultaneously done in five other coastal areas in Region 7 including Argao, Pinamungajan, Carmen in Cebu, Loon, Bohol and Ulo in Siquijor.
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