DENR plants mangroves in Olango

CEBU, Philippines - More than ten thousand mangrove propagules were planted yesterday within the 1,028-hectare Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Lapu-Lapu City by 100 DENR-7 employees, students, and other government officials.

DENR-7 regional executive director Maximo O. Dichoso in a statement said the planting aims to ensure the integrity of coastal resources. Complementing mangrove plantings are coastal cleanups, he said.

The sanctuary is the Philippines' first wetland of international importance for waterfowl and covers a vast mangrove forest.

According to DENR 1995 statistics, conversion to fishponds, prawn farms, salt ponds, reclamation, and other forms of industrial development has reduced the mangrove area to 117,700 hectares, from 450,000 hectares in 1918.

Dichoso said that out of 70 magrove tree species in the world, 34 are found in the Philippines.

Mangroves provide nursery grounds for fish, prawns and crabs, and support fisheries production in coastal waters; protect the environment by protecting coastal areas and communities from storm surges, waves, tidal currents and typhoons; produce organic biomass (carbon), and reduce organic pollution in near shore areas by trapping or absorption. 

Mangroves contribute 1,800-4,200 grams of carbon per square meter per year (approximately the contribution of the tropical rain forest and 10 times higher than primary production in the open ocean.

Dichoso added "we want to convey the message that mangroves provide shelter for local and migratory wildlife and serve as roosting and foraging grounds that is why we really have to protect them".

From September to November, thousands of shorebirds migrate to Olango and farther south to Australia and New Zealand after breeding in China, Russia and Alaska following the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. 

Soon after winter, from March to May, the shorebirds begin their northward migration and thousands of them pass by Olango en route to the breeding areas in northern hemisphere.

The most notable shorebirds found in Olango are the Asian Dowitcher, Chinese Egret, Eurasian Curlew, Whimbrel, Black-tailed Godwit, and Red Knot, among others.

The mangrove tree planting and coastal cleanup is one of the features of the environment month 2011 celebration with the theme: "Forests: Nature at your service." – THE FREEMAN