MANGROVES PLANTING PROJECT

Mangroves Planting Project
Rotary Club of Mactan

Mangrove trees have continually been cut over the years and have despoiled fisheries resources. In 1918, the Philippines had an estimated 450,000 hectares of mangrove cover. After 75 years, over 310,000 hectares of the country’s mangrove cover has been lost due to cutting, conversation of mangrove swamps to fishponds, and in general, poor management by communities and local governments.

Mangroves play an important role in maintaining the ecological balance of the coastal ecosystem. Mangrove forests act as sieves in the coastal zone, preventing the damaging effect of upland sediments that wash down to the coasts on sea grass beds and fragile coral reefs. Aside from promoting clear water for the growth of corals and sea grass, mangrove roots serve as hiding places for young animals and fishes, the branches and leaves provide shelter for birds and wildlife. Mangrove leaves fall and decompose into microscopic detritus that serve as food for animals and fish in the mangrove areas. Aside from this, the crown and stem of mangrove trees serve as physical barriers that absorb the force of winds and waves that can cause damage to the coastal communities.

Most of the Cebu Province’s mangroves have been lost to land reclamation, fishpond development, industrial pollution, and other related causes. The decline in mangrove ecosystems has caused a decline in fish production and overall catch in municipalities. For every hectare of mangrove cut down, approximately 1.08 tons per hectare of fish catch per year is reduced.

For Rotary Year 2007-08, the Rotary Club of MACTAN, together with its Interact Clubs, is taking a step to rehabilitate our mangroves habitat and conserve what is left after all the destruction.

We are looking for an International Rotary Partner who can help us fund the planting of 10,000 mangrove seedlings. One mangrove seedling is P/ 15.00 or US$ 32 cents or HK$ 2.40. Your club, club members can contribute individually or collectively.

The Rotary Club of Mactan will gather the funding. It will organize trips to help plant seedlings in the nurseries, or to plant in identified mangrove reforestation areas. We will make reports about the progress of the project as well as the financial reports.

Let us help our beloved mother earth. Remember, it can take many years before a propagule will grow into a mature mangrove tree, but only a minute to cut it down. Join our MANGROVE PLANTING PROJECT today !

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