Mangroves provide a wide variety of services, not just to the environment, but also to people. Their submerged roots serve as a haven for a plethora of marine animals.
Likewise, their trunks, leaves and branches provide a home for tree-dwelling mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds. Furthermore, the closely knit roots of mangroves prevent coastal soil erosion just as their branches and leaves form a natural wind-barrier that protects coastal communities from strong gusts of winds, especially during storms.
Apart from their capacity as natural barriers and biodiversity hubs, the most impeccable feature of mangroves is their ability to capture and store carbon. Like most plants, mangroves capture carbon from the atmosphere. What makes them special, however, is the fact that the sediments where they are usually located also have the capacity to act as carbon sinks. This makes mangroves effective in carbon sequestration, making them highly valuable assets in climate change mitigation.
In the Philippines, mangroves are recognized as highly protected nature-based solutions to climate change. This prompted the development of several mechanisms aimed at the protection, preservation, and rehabilitation of Philippine mangrove systems, which includes legislations and key documents. Initial statistics estimate that the Philippines had 450,000 hectares of mangrove forests in 1920. By 1990, this decreased to 317,500 hectares and in most recent statistics, it decreased further to 311,400 hectares.
Despite the significant reduction of mangrove forest coverage over the past century, the Philippines remains home to numerous mangroves sites. Various areas across the country have become focal points for ongoing efforts to protect, preserve and rehabilitate these vital ecosystems.
The rich mangrove ecosystems found throughout the Philippines contribute uniquely to the nation’s ecological and socio-economic well-being.
They all play a crucial role in coastal protection, biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration.
Their contribution to the ecosystem underscores the need for more robust initiatives and efforts from various stakeholders, including the government, local communities, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector, to ensure the sustainable management and rehabilitation of the country’s mangrove ecosystems. CCC News
