“Mangrove forest ecosystems as of 2005 covered 15.2 million ha of the tropical and subtropical shorelines of the world (FAO, 2007 quoted in Spalding et al., 2010). Giri et al., 2011 reported somewhat lower numbers for 2000 coverage (13.8 million ha). These figures represent a decline from 18.8 million ha in 1980 to 16.9 million ha in 1990 (FAO, 2007). These estimates represent about a 2% loss per year from 1980 to 1990 and 1% loss per year from 1990 to 2000 and are currently estimated at an annual loss of 0.66% (Spalding et al., 2010, p. 36). Therefore achieving a goal of no-net-loss of mangroves worldwide would require the successful rehabilitation of approximately 100,000 ha year−1, unless all major losses of mangroves ceased. Increasing the total area of mangroves worldwide would require an even larger-scale effort.
An example of documented losses includes combined losses in the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia of 7.4 million ha of mangroves (Spalding, 1997). These figures emphasize the magnitude of the loss and the magnitude of the opportunities that exist to rehabilitate mangrove forests at the landscape scale, represented by the vast area of abandoned, disused, and unproductive aquaculture ponds in Southeast Asia (Stevenson et al., 1999).”
Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780444638939000241
“I learned that mangroves are habitat for fish and protect us from strong waves. I am a fisherfolk from Hagonoy and I don’t usually have the time to plant mangroves but I do take part in protecting them. I encourage other fisherfolks to do the same and not to throw garbage in the river”. – Nazario, 44-year-old fisherfolk, Hagonoy
FEED offers community-based mangrove reforestation programs in collaboration with local fishing cooperative partners in Bulacan, La Union and Davao, all of whom work with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL)’s community mangrove reforestation guide.
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In 2015, the Philippine government submitted to the United Nations the country’s commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The country committed to reduce its carbon emissions by 70 percent by 2030. The carbon dioxide reductions will come from the sectors of energy, transport, waste, forestry and industry. Join us! Help us reverse the Earth’s “hothouse climate” tipping point.
Tree-Planting with FEED
Contact us at FEED for more details, to join our regular activities or to design your own tree-nurturing event: info@feed.org.ph or call/text +63 (0)917 552 4722.
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