Nat Re Replacement Planting Add 400 Mangroves to Baroro River

10 May 2024, Baroro River, Baroro, La Union. Nat Re’s 65 enthusiastic Earth Keepers arrived in San Juan La Union on ay 10th at 630 am to participant in a part of FEED’s ECOSURF program, which typically includes mangrove/coastal planting, beach cleanups, and surfing 101 – but due to the extreme heat (37C), we opted to only carry out a part beach clean up at the mangrove planting site itself, along the Baroro river mouth, along the  manmade dike, where the local fisherfolks launch and dock their bangkas during fishing season.  The closest landmark of the site is the Baroro Bridge, located at (Google Maps): P86V+MHQ, Bacnotan, La Union

The following fisherfolk were led by Manong Jessie to help deliver mangrove propagules from their own backyard nurseries, a social and community based forestry approach that enables them to earn extra income from diversified sources. They were also paid to guide us throughout the planting of 400 Bakawan Babae and Bakawan Lalake, in order to support Nat Re’s successful planting, by carrying out the site preparation, hole digging, beach cleanup for hazardous and toxic wastes (both from upland and seaside) and the actual planting itself, including the final quality control.

Thank you to our super professional fisherfolks for enabling an efficient and effective coastal planting!

1. Alicia Arquitola
2. Jonibel Cabagbag
3. Sherwin Esperon
4. Renato Gaerlan
5. Dominic Andaya

Thank you also to Nat Re for listening to the EcoTalk carried out by FEED Ambassador Celso H. Jucutan, who is also an environmental lecturer at FEED’s academic and technical partner, the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University in Bacnotan, where FEED has supported various scholars in the past, and where thanks to Nat Re, we will again support a new scholar this year in Blue Carbon Sequestration potential and value of La Union’s mangrove forests.

May the Forest be with you all always!

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Photo Collage

Additional Pictures (FEED):

Taking Climate Change Action

Thank you to NAT RE for supporting the community’s livelihood, and our protection and conservation programs in place to protect the Sierra Madre mountains!FEED’s Climate Change Action Programs are community-based landscape to seascape planting interventions ranging from:

  • Watersheds: Upland agroforestry sites (protected rainforests managed by Bantay Gubat/Forest Guardians/AFP Jungle Warriors), to
  • Mid-land: food forests (for and by public schools and remote areas far from market-access roads); and
  • Coastal & Sea: Lowland mangrove and coral plantings (in coastal areas with trained Bantay Dagat/Fisheries Cooperatives/La Union Surf Club, Inc.).

These Ridge to Reef programs endorse the management of waters from source to sea; “healthy and well-managed river basins and coastal areas where people and nature thrive, is the vision behind the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) initiative”.

Status of Mangroves in the Philippines (As of 2022)

Source: Chat GPT

the status of mangroves in the Philippines remains a topic of concern due to various threats. Here’s a summary with some references:

  1. Threats to Mangroves:
    • Deforestation: Mangrove forests are often cleared for development, agriculture, and aquaculture.
    • Conversion to Aquaculture: Mangrove areas are converted into shrimp farms and fishponds, leading to habitat loss.
    • Pollution: Industrial pollution, sewage, and solid waste pose threats to mangrove ecosystems.
    • Climate Change: Rising sea levels, increased temperatures, and extreme weather events threaten mangrove habitats.
  2. Conservation Efforts:
    • Government Initiatives: The Philippine government has implemented laws and policies to protect mangroves, including the Philippine Clean Water Act and the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act.
    • NGO Involvement: Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as Haribon Foundation and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines are actively involved in mangrove conservation projects.
    • Community Engagement: Local communities are engaged in mangrove restoration and conservation efforts through initiatives like community-based coastal resource management (CB-CRM) programs.
  3. Research and Monitoring:
    • Scientific research and monitoring programs provide valuable data on mangrove health, biodiversity, and ecosystem services in the Philippines.
  4. Challenges and Future Outlook:
    • Despite conservation efforts, mangrove loss continues due to various factors, including poverty, lack of enforcement of environmental laws, and inadequate resources for conservation.
    • Climate change poses an increasing threat to mangrove ecosystems, requiring adaptive management strategies.
    • Continued collaboration between government agencies, NGOs, local communities, and other stakeholders is essential for the sustainable management and conservation of mangroves in the Philippines.

References:

  1. Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
  2. WWF Philippines – https://wwf.org.ph/
  3. Haribon Foundation – https://www.haribon.org.ph/
  4. Primavera, J. H., Esteban, J. M. A., & Blanco, A. H. (2014). A decade of mangrove rehabilitation in the Philippines: Approaches, outcomes and lessons. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 84(1-2), 119-128.
  5. Alongi, D. M. (2008). Mangrove forests: resilience, protection from tsunamis, and responses to global climate change. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 76(1), 1-13.

These sources provide insights into the status of mangroves in the Philippines and efforts to conserve them. For the most recent updates, I recommend checking the latest reports and publications from relevant government agencies, NGOs, and research institutions.

About Blue Carbon Potential

Source: Chat GPT

Blue carbon refers to the carbon captured and stored by coastal and marine ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes. These ecosystems play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in biomass and sediments.

The Philippines is endowed with extensive coastal and marine resources, including vast mangrove forests and seagrass beds, which contribute significantly to blue carbon storage. These ecosystems are essential for maintaining coastal resilience, providing habitat for various marine species, and supporting the livelihoods of coastal communities.

Studies have shown that the Philippines has considerable blue carbon potential, with its mangrove forests alone estimated to sequester millions of tons of carbon dioxide annually. However, despite their importance, these ecosystems are under threat from various human activities such as coastal development, aquaculture expansion, and pollution.

Efforts to conserve and restore mangroves and other coastal ecosystems in the Philippines are crucial not only for biodiversity conservation and sustainable fisheries but also for climate change mitigation. By protecting and restoring these habitats, the Philippines can enhance its blue carbon potential and contribute to global efforts to combat climate change while simultaneously providing numerous co-benefits for local communities and ecosystems.

“Healthy ecosystems are ecological life-support systems. Lands and waters that function to provide goods and services that are vital to human health and livelihood are natural assets that are increasingly referred to as ecosystem services. These services can include clear air, high quality water, carbon sequestration benefits, and habitats that support a range of economically and ecologically valuable resources.” (Source: US Land Trust Alliance)

Social forestry (SF) can be a part of a sustainable forest management (SFM) strategy to achieve environmental, economic and social objectives. “SF and SFM can be compatible because both recognize the importance of community participation in achieving sustainable use of forest resources. However, there is a gap in translating the SF concept to activities within the SFM approach and a lack of continuity. To strengthen the role of local communities in SFM through SF, there is a need for a platform enabling open discussion among relevant stakeholders, increasing awareness about the benefits of SF and securing adequate funding to conduct SF activities.” (Source: https://www.cifor.org/knowledge/publication/7647)

These are the holistic approaches FEED and partners adopt as a science-based, proven method towards enhancing community participation in all planting programs, whether from ridge to reef, up to and including nursery and forest establishment, protection, maintenance, (GPS) monitoring and reporting to ensure at least 85% survival of all species planted, as well as community empowerment in the conservation of our natural resources.

Thank you again to all Earth Keepers!

NATURE IS SPEAKING (Narrated by Julia Roberts)

What can I do to stop climate change?

“As the world warms, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense, sea levels are rising, prolonged droughts are putting pressure on food crops, and many animal and plant species are being driven to extinction. It’s hard to imagine what we as individuals can do to resolve a problem of this scale and severity.

The good news: We are not alone. People, communities, cities, businesses, schools, faith groups and other organizations are taking action. We’re fighting like our lives depend on it — because they do.

In a world of more than seven billion people, each of us is a drop in the bucket. But with enough drops, we can fill any bucket.” –  David Suzuki

About National Reinsurance Corporation of the Philippines (Nat Re)

Nat Re provides life and non-life reinsurance capacity, and, in relation to this, consultancy, technical, and advisory services. We cater to independent insurers and multinationals operating in the Philippines, and to (re)insurers abroad who aim to diversify their portfolios.

At Nat Re, providing reinsurance capacity isn’t our only business. We believe that what we do ultimately entails giving greater protection to the insuring public and helping them recover financially after natural disasters and other crises. We also believe in caring for the environment by promoting a culture of awareness on environmental sustainability within the organization itself.

This is why we value forging meaningful relationships with private and public sector partners in the sphere of disaster risk financing and insurance. By leveraging our combined resources and know-how, we can create effective and affordable solutions for a more disaster-resilient public.

For more details on Nat Re advocacies, visit: https://www.nat-re.com/about-us/advocacies/

Contact FEED

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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