The “bakhaw” species is commonly used in mangrove planting projects. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
One more voice is calling for the removal of mangroves planted on seagrass beds along the coast of Bantayan town, northern Cebu.
William Villaver, Cebu Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 to heed the call of concerned residents to remove mangrove propagules planted on seagrass in two barangays of Luyong Baybay and Doong in Doong Island because it disturbs marine life there.
“Knowing that mangroves and seagrass beds are separate, important, and very productive ecosystem in the coastal environment, the planting of mangrove propagules in the seagrass beds is definitely a big misguided activity,” he said in his recommendation, which he also presented during a dialogue with DENR 7 in Bantayan earlier this week.
A budget of P89 million was set aside by the DENR for massive mangrove reforestation in northern Cebu towns in the aftermath of typhoon Yolanda.
Residents are paid P10 per propagule planted, a cash-for-work program that may backfire on the community, mangrove expert Jurgenne Primavera had earlier warned.
More than P700,000 was set aside for the project on Doong Island, covering planting materials and salary for participating local residents.
Seagrass beds are the habitat of “danggit” and crabs, which Bantayan is known for.
In a resolution, the Bantayan chapter of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) asked the DENR 7 to “restore the integrity of the sea grass areas around the coast of the municipalities of Bantayan Island, Cebu which were inappropriately planted with mangroves” of the Rhizopora species locally called bakhaw and tongke.
The DENR’s aim was to protect the island from storm surges by planting “tongke” (Rhizophora) and “bungawon” (Avicenna marina) seedlings.
Residents were told by DENR that planting mangrove propagules is discouraged in areas where there is abundant growth of the “big” leaf seagrass (Enhalus acoroides). In Villaver’s report, it was mentioned that DENR encouraged planting on seagrass beds that are of small, sort, and round leaf variety.
According to a report from the chamber, which was also submitted to the Office of the Governor, 12 hecares of barnagay Luyong Baybay’s coastline with seagrass beds have been planted with tongke as of September 2 and three more hectares will be planted in November.
Seagrass ecosystems have very high primary productivity as these become a source of nutrients once they die and decompose.
Planting “tongke” there deprive danggit and crabs of their habitat, said Villaver.
He said this activity volates DENR’s own technical guidelines.
Eddie Llamedo, DENR 7 spokesman, said the office has yet to receive a copy of PENRO’s recommendation. Once it does, the agency will study it first.