POs, DENR grow mangrove nurseries for reforestation

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Two local people’s organizations in Guimaras — the La Paz Fisherfolks, Aquatic Resources and Mangrove Management Association (LAFARMA) and the San Roque Coastal Environment Program Association (SARCEPA) — have established and maintained mangrove nurseries within the multiple-use zones of the Taklong Island National Marine Reserve, now the Taklong and Tandog Group of Islands Natural Park.

This initiative, supported by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office Guimaras, yields significant environmental and economic benefits by supplying planting materials for reforestation and empowering local communities.

LAFARMA and SARCEPA, based near the reserve, have been key DENR partners since 2009 in major greening initiatives, including the National Greening Program, Enhanced National Greening Program, and the Individual Plus Trees project.

The IPT project spans 1.5282 hectares and was designed to provide a steady supply of high-quality seeds for reforestation.

Building on this foundation, both POs established their own mangrove nurseries in 2013 with assistance from PENRO Guimaras.

The nurseries — located in Sitio Alman Sur, Barangay La Paz (LAFARMA), and Sitio Baybay, Barangay San Roque (SARCEPA) — serve as repositories for excess seeds and propagules collected from mature IPT trees.

Each nursery, about 15 meters by 10 meters in size, cultivates four mangrove species: Rhizophora apiculata (bakhaw lalake), Rhizophora mucronata (bakhaw babae), Sonneratia alba (pagatpat), and Avicennia marina (bungalon).

To this day, the nurseries have contributed to widespread reforestation, economic empowerment, and community development.

Seedlings from the nurseries are distributed for free to DENR partner stakeholders, enhancing reforestation efforts in NGP and ENGP sites across the province.

This has allowed companies and organizations — including Globe Telecom, Smart Telecom, FTM Brokerage, Panay Electric Development Corp., and the Philippine Statistics Authority — to conduct corporate social responsibility activities that promote coastal protection, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and local livelihoods.

The collection of mangrove seeds and propagules has also directly benefited LAFARMA and SARCEPA members.

Since 2013, under an annually renewed letter of agreement, both POs have received an IPT Fund Grant that supports sustainable income, improves access to social services, and enhances community well-being. (DENR)