Not forgetting the science so that mangroves can continue saving lives
Super typhoon Yolanda turned out to mean many things for many people. The American institution National Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA said in 2013 that “perhaps it was the strongest ever recorded at landfall”; for the 15,078,181 individuals affected and the 6,300 dead as reported by the National Disaster risk reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Yolanda was a source of grief and devastation. Not to be facetious, but there are survivors from poor communities who are grateful for the assistance that came their way after the typhoon, reasoning that without its effects, they would not have been able to repair or rebuild their houses or explored other livelihood options on their own. The storm surge generated by Yolanda, the waves of which were estimated to have reached five to 10 meters, was also a wake-up call for many Filipinos on the importance of resources such as mangroves that help build resilience to hazards. This appreciation is perhaps best captured by the slogan “saving mangroves, saving lives”.
Scientists such as Tanaka (2009) and MacIvor et al (2012) cited the protective effects of mangroves and coastal vegetation when it comes to storm surges. Mangroves can contribute to the trapping of waves of water, and the reduction of their energy; humans can also escape rising waters by climbing mangroves or use the trees to soften landing. under the right conditions, mangroves can reduce wind or swell wave effects: 100 meters of mangroves can have a reduction effect of 13 to 60%, and 500 m of mangroves, from 50 to 99% (MacIvor et al 2012).
Thus it wasn’t a wonder that many groups immediately called for the rehabilitation of mangrove resources damaged by Yolanda. The philippine Government committed in November 2013 to replant 380 km of coastline, which translated to 1,900 ha of mangrove and beach forest, in the aftermath of Yolanda with a budget of php1 billion.
However, as discussed by Dr. Jurgenne H. primavera, Chief Mangrove Scientist of the Zoological Society of London or ZSL, the findings of a multi-stakeholder group composed of representatives from nongovernment organizations, the academe and government that conducted an assess--
of mangrove damage and recovery potential in 14 sites in eastern Samar and Leyte in January and March 2014 a few months after Yolanda provided a different perspective. Dr. primavera was one of the resource persons during the September 1 to 2, 2015 Second National Mangrove Conference held in Iloilo City.
For instance, the report of the Gen. MacArthur local government indicated the total devastation of mangroves along the coasts of the municipality and its islands Anahao, Capopocanan and Lalawigan. However, ground and satellite observations of Anahao Island indicated minimal damage. Dr. primavera’s presentation showed a comparison of sites in seven municipalities visited, in which only three sites indicated total damage in more than 70% of the mangrove areas; most of the sites endured no or partial damage.
On the bases of the findings of the multistakeholder assessment, participants to a workshop in March 2014 recommended alternative uses for the php1B allocated by government for mangrove rehabilitation in Yolanda areas. The participants recommended that the money instead be used to protect natural mangroves; establish community-based nurseries to support mangrove rehabilitation when it is needed; resettle vulnerable coastal communities; enforce no-build zones for greenbelts; establish 100-m coastal greenbelts; and enforce mangrove reversion of abandoned ponds.
Scientists like Dr. primavera and Dr. rene rollon of up Diliman later found out that many of the mangroves that seemed dead in December 2013 were found recovering a full year later, which raised concerns about post-disaster clearing operations in mangrove areas.
This was corroborated by findings from groups that undertook cash-for-work programs for mangrove rehabilitation in Yolanda-affected areas and who also presented during the Mangrove Conference.
prof. Margarita dela Cruz who heads the Guiuan Development Foundation, Inc. or GDFI noted that mangroves appeared “dead, brown and totally defoliated” after Yolanda but “less than a year after… natural mangrove forests have recovered fully but only about 10% of planted rhizophora recovered. However, seedlings and saplings are growing thus there is no need for replanting especially as these plantations are located on seagrass beds.”
ZSL’s own experiences in cash-for-work (CFW) initiatives related to mangrove after Yolanda pointed to learnings about the appropriateness and effects of CFW and the approaches it employs. Josephine Savaris, project Manager of ZSL, recommended that there be a distinction between cleaning and clearing activities in mangrove areas post-disaster. Cleaning entails picking up of waste materials, debris, dead and decaying foliage or branches without cutting trees, which could constrain the survival of trees and also kill seedlings.
It was also raised during the Second National Mangrove Conference that in some areas, cash-for-work programs drove up the cost of local labor, making it too costly for locals and negatively affecting labor availability. ZSL thus is of the view that cash-for-work approaches in mangrove rehabilitation could be part of early response to provide income for affected families but needs to be implemented in the context of coastal resource management, and hence should consider the environment and also be consistent with scientific protocols.
Dr. primavera observed that the wrong species of mangrove are planted, and wrong sites selected when planting is “by convenience, not by ecology”, which has detrimental effects. Data from Dr. primavera indicated that in Ivisan, Capiz 6.6 ha of mangroves that ZSL planted from 2009 to 2011 had a 50-80% survival, while those
of the 37.5 ha planted in the same area but more towards the seafront in mid-2013 under the National Greening Program (or NGP) only had 5% survival.
There are many species of mangroves in the country, with bakhaw (Rhizophora species), bungalon/apiapi (Avicennia marina) and pagatpat (Sonneratia alba) among the most common. Bakhaw is said to be the fastest and easiest to plant; it is also the local name for mangroves in Filipino and Cebuano-speaking communities. Perhaps these are why bakhaw was chosen for cash-for-work schemes post-Yolanda as observed by Ms. Savaris of ZSL
Prof. dela Cruz of GDFI reported that in Yolanda-affected areas the bakawan species, particularly those planted as plantations, were slow to recover. Other species like pagatpat, miyapi, saging saging, buta-buta/ lipata, and tabao were more resilient and fast to recover; and had more plentiful seedlings and saplings.
A number or mangrove planting events have been undertaken in the country, Dr. Primavera made note of the mangrove planting drive in Camarines Sur of the El Verde Movement in 2012, the Run for the Mangroves campaign of the Consular Corps of the Philippines in 2013, and the Back to Mangroves drive in Noveleta, Cavite in 2013.
Dr. Primavera urged mindfulness about the appropriateness of species for planting, and to avoid planting on seagrass beds. Her question “where’s the science?” that became a running theme during the Second National Mangrove Conference was a call to reflect on the effectiveness of mangrove rehabilitation approaches.
Mangrove rehabilitation can have numerous impetuses and significance. There are those who undertake it mainly to conserve and improve natural resource diversity, while others might support it more as a disaster risk reduction and climate change response strategy. A few might be motivated by the fun-oriented nature of events. Those being targeted for cash-for-work support might view mangrove rehabilitation more as a quick and short-term income-generating measure.
Resource rehabilitation initiatives can mean many things to many people, but let’s not forget the science so that mangroves can continue saving lives.
Email feedback to magszmaglana@gmail.com