Environmentalists plant 4,500 mangrove seedlings
LINGAYEN–Another set of 4,500 mangrove seedlings were planted by more than a hundred environment advocates from various government and non-government agencies at the mangrove forest of the Provincial Mangrove Nursery at the Bolinao Farm foreshore area last December 15 to bolster Pangasinan’s Coastal Resource Management Program.
The tree planting spearheaded by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist was participated in by provincial government employees, students from the Bolinao School of Fisheries, members of the barangay council of Arnedo, Bolinao, Barangay Health Workers, members of the Pangasinan Federation of Non-Government Organizations and the Kaisahan ng mga Samahang Alay sa Kalikasan (KAISAKA), an organization of farmers also in Bolinao.
The newly-planted seedlings within the Bolinao Farm mangrove forest will replace those damaged during the various typhoons that recently hit Pangasinan.
The mangrove propagation, which is part of Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr.’s advocacy to save and preserve the rivers, and water systems of Pangasinan under the provincial government’s “Ilog Ko Bilayen Tan Aroen Ko program,” seeks to enrich the existing mangrove forest in the Bolinao Farm Foreshore area as intervention for eco-tourism development.
The activity is also aimed to encourage the involvement of LGUs, students and NGOs in mangrove planting as an essential undertaking in managing our coastal resources and ultimately to mitigate the effects of climate change.
As this developed, Bolinao residents hailed the provincial leadership for the mangrove propagation since the plant, having medicinal, economic, and ecological effects, has contributed a lot to the improvement of the Bolinao community.
Alvin Soriano, Aquacultural Technologist from OPAG, said the mangrove serve as a buffer zone against storm surge. It also provides a breeding ground for fish and gives livelihood opportunities for marginal fishermen.
To date the provincial government has already planted 12,500 seedlings since last year.
“Malaking tulong po ito sa aming community lalo na sa mga fishermen dahil mula ng maalagaan ang mangrove forest ay umusbong na ulit ang iba’t-ibang yamang dagat na napapakinabangan ng mga maliliit na mangingisda.” Said Jesem Gabaten, president of the KAISAKA farmers organization.
Janet Romero, a teacher of the Bolinao School of Fisheries, was also happy about the program noting that aside from the benefits obtained from the mangrove foreshore farm, the program has also increased awareness of the people as well as the students on the importance of caring for the environment.
A student from the same school, Junel Jimenez, who also planted seedlings, said, “bilang isang estudyante, naintindihan ko ang kahalagahan ng environment at ang proyektong ito ay nakatulong sa mga tao dito sa bayan ng Bolinao lalo na sa mga mangingisda dahil nagbigay ito ng kabuhayan sa kanila.”
Rolando Celzo, station manager of the provincial mangrove nursery, said the program has “really increased awareness among the LGUs, students, farmers and especially the fisherfolks.”
He noted that requests for mangrove seedlings for propagation in the various areas of the municipality has increased. (PIO)
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