Mangrove propagation in full swing in Alaminos
ALAMINOS CITY—Mangroves’ propagation to protect marine biodiversity in this coastal city, the home of the famous Hundred Islands National Park, is in full swing with already about 50 hectares planted with these trees.
Arceli Talania, city agriculturist, said mangrove plantations have been undertaken in nine coastal barangays, based on latest record by the City Agriculturist Office.
With the help of the National Greening Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, plantations can be found in Pangapisan, Mona, Baley Ya Daan, Cayucay, Lucap, Bued, Sabangan, Pandan and Telbang.
The city has mangrove nurseries in Barangays Bued and Sabangan that produce 10,000 mangrove seedlings annually.
Talania said mangrove forests are important not only because they serve as home to a large variety of fish, crab, shrimp, and mollusk species but protect shorelines from damaging storm, strong wind and waves and help, prevent erosion by stabilizing sediments with their tangled root systems.
She said they also filter pollutants from the ocean.
The city government led by Mayor Arthur Celeste and the MPIF, the corporate social responsibility arm of the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, an investment management company, jointly put up a Mangrove Propagation and Information Center here that undertakes the development of mangrove nurseries, the multiplication and planting of mangrove trees in coastal estuarine areas and the rehabilitation of degraded mangrove ecosystem, among others.
The Mangrove Propagation Information Center is the venue where people would be informed about the importance and benefits of mangroves to conserve and protect the country’s coastal and marine biodiversity, Talania said.
Visitors come to the center to watch video presentation about the importance of mangroves.
Based on registration activity of city government, various fish species have been multiplying in the coastal areas since the project on mangrove reforestation started in 2005 yet.
“This is our city government’s way, through Mayor Arthur Celeste’s leadership, to care for Mother Nature,” Talania said. (PhilStar Wire Service)
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
