A multi-sectoral group leads the rehabilitation of mangrove areas in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte. (Lei Adriano photo) |
Staff Reporter
BACARRA, Ilocos Norte—At
least 1,000 saplings of mangrove species were planted on in the coastal Brgy. Natba,
in this town to rehabilitate its few remaining mangrove forest.
Participated by various
multi-sectoral groups composed of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas,
church, government and non-government organizations, the mangrove tree planting
activity is just one of the series of activities that forms part of the
information and education campaign of concerned stakeholders in the province to
protect the environment from further degradation.
According to the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources, mangroves protect shorelines from
damaging storm, hurricane winds, waves, and floods. Mangroves also help prevent
erosion by stabilizing sediments with their multi-root systems. They maintain
water quality and clarity, filtering pollutants and trapping sediments
originating from land.
At Brgy. Natba, “The newly
planted mangrove species when fully recovered is expected to attract birders
and a habitat for crabs, fish and endangered marine species. As a
catch basin, the presence of a dense mangrove plantation here serves as a
natural protection from strong typhoon and flooding,” said forester Juan delos
Reyes, provincial environment and natural resources officer of Ilocos Norte.
According to the local
government unit of Bacarra under the administration of Mayor Nicomedes dela
Cruz who initiated the project, the initial planting of about 1,000 mangrove
saplings here is just a first phase of the project, next to several tree
planning activities to be undertaken this upcoming environment month
celebration this June.
In May 2000, the DENR Region
1 conducted a study at the Mangrove Forest of Davila in Pasuquin town to assess
the monthly litterfall production of mixed mangrove species there. A
total of 11 species were recorded from the experimental plots. The
dominant species are bakauan babae (Rhizopora mucronata), malatangal (Ceriops
decandra) and pagatpat (Sonneratia alba).
The least dominant are tabao
(Lumnitzera littorea), buta-buta (Excoecaria agallocha) and putat (Barringtonia
racemosa roxb. 1826).
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