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The Need for a Clear Rehabilitation Roadmap for Manila Bay Coastal Ecosystems: A Microcosm of Climate Emergency in the Philippine Context

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Climate Emergency in the Philippines

Part of the book series: Disaster Risk Reduction ((DRR))

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Abstract

Manila Bay is plagued by various environmental challenges. This chapter revisits the changes in mangrove occurrence and distribution relative to the spatio-temporal changes and history of the 200 km coastline of the entire Manila Bay. Using topographic maps, brackish water ponds, and toponyms, we found that about 75,000 to 90,000 hectares of mangroves apparently existed in the 1900s, comprising ca. 10 percent of the river basin. At present, only barely 1 percent (<1,000 ha) is left, reflecting massive deforestation largely due to conversion into brackish water fishponds, salt pans, and rice paddies as well as development into residential and industrial settlements. Knowing the bay’s history, it is imperative to protect the ecological integrity of Manila Bay and to restore former mangrove areas as the government moves forward in its rehabilitation programs, projects, and activities. The Manila Bay story seems to be a microcosm of national and global significance, exemplifying how we deal with development projects which transform our coastal ecosystems into other uses. We stress the need for more environmental scientists looking through broader spatio-temporal lenses in our work toward conserving the Philippine coastal ecosystems. This chapter discusses specific policy recommendations in setting a clear rehabilitation roadmap for Manila Bay Coastal Ecosystems considering present and projected climate scenarios.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the two research programs whose collective effort made this contribution possible: (1) the CHED-PCARI project entitled “Developing Information Infrastructure for Managing Antibiotics and Endocrine Disrupting Substances in Pampanga River Basin and its Coastal Environs: Maps, Transport Models and Bioindicators of Ecological and Public Health Risks,” and (2) the DOST-PCIEERD JICA-JST collaborative program on the “Integrated Assessment and Monitoring of Blue Carbon Ecosystems for Conservation and Adaptive Management” (IAMBlueCECAM) Program and the “Comprehensive Assessment and Conservation of Blue Carbon Ecosystems and their Services in the Coral Triangle” (BlueCARES) Project. Specifically, we thank IAMBlueCECAM Project 6 entitled “Suitability mapping for guiding mangrove replanting (SuitMaPs).” We also thank Dr. Cesar L. Villanoy for allowing us to use his laboratory’s CastAway-CTD, which was instrumental in generating Fig. 7.4f.

We also acknowledge the UP Resilience Institute (UPRI) for the Research and Creative Writing (RCW) Grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines

    Rene N. Rollon, Giannina Marie G. Albano, Green Ann A. Cruz, Maia Patricia D. Garcia, Kristine Camille V. Buenafe, Anisette Monique G. Albano & Betty May R. Villamayor

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  1. Rene N. Rollon
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  2. Giannina Marie G. Albano
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  3. Green Ann A. Cruz
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  6. Anisette Monique G. Albano
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Correspondence to Rene N. Rollon .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. National College of Public Administration and Governance, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines

    Kristoffer B. Berse

  2. Department of Social Forestry and Forest Governance, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Los Baños, Philippines

    Juan M. Pulhin

  3. College of Law, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines

    Antonio G. M. La Viña

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Rollon, R.N. et al. (2024). The Need for a Clear Rehabilitation Roadmap for Manila Bay Coastal Ecosystems: A Microcosm of Climate Emergency in the Philippine Context. In: Berse, K.B., Pulhin, J.M., La Viña, A.G.M. (eds) Climate Emergency in the Philippines. Disaster Risk Reduction. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-7804-5_7

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