Mangrove management in the Philippines

Abstract

The Philippines is an archipelago composed approximately 7,100 islands stretching more than a thousand miles in length. It is bounded in the east by the Pacific Ocean and in the west by the China Sea. Bridging the gap between the land and the sea are the wetlands which blend both the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Such wetlands are composed of mangroves which serve as nursery grounds for many organisms. They are the sources of food and nutrients for aquatic life and therefore would affect the productivity of marine resources. In addition, mangrove areas have been known to retard soil erosion and flooding. Likewise, the forest cover provides housing materials, firewood, and charcoal. There are therefore, competing demands for this resource: the forester wants to utilize the trees; the fish farmer wants to convert it into fishponds; and the environmentalist wants to conserve the area for breeding and ecological stabilization.(Proceedings, 1977).