Iloilo, ZSL-Philippines team up for coastal protection

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Mangrove and beach forest rehabilitation, marine protected area management, and blue carbon initiatives are among the priorities under a new partnership between the Iloilo provincial government and the Zoological Society of London-Philippines.

The partnership was formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. and ZSL-Philippines country director Mary Edwina D. Garchitorena on July 17.

Under the agreement, ZSL-Philippines will provide technical assistance, training, and research on mangrove and beach forest rehabilitation, marine protected area management, and blue carbon.

The organization will also conduct capacity-building activities for local communities and share monitoring reports and research findings with the provincial government and other agencies.

The provincial government will identify suitable sites for mangrove and beach forest planting and support policies protecting coastal ecosystems.

It will also work with local government units and people’s organizations to implement conservation activities.

The province will assist in organizing training, research, meetings, and field activities related to coastal and marine ecosystem protection.

The partnership also covers disaster risk reduction, community participation, environmental policy development, the establishment of coastal greenbelts, and studies on the condition of Iloilo’s coastal and marine ecosystems.

Blue carbon refers to carbon captured and stored by coastal and marine ecosystems, including mangroves, tidal marshes, and seagrass meadows.

ZSL said its projects in the Philippines have restored and protected more than 900 hectares of mangroves in abandoned fishponds.