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Mangroves Sustaining Biodiversity, Local Livelihoods, Blue Carbon, and Local Resilience in Verde Island Passage in Luzon, Philippines

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Mangroves: Biodiversity, Livelihoods and Conservation

Abstract

The Verde Island Passage (VIP) is a world-renowned center for shorefish biodiversity. Mangrove forests that commonly thrive along its coasts play a vital role of protecting the vast coral reef habitats of which many organisms and local livelihoods are intimately dependent. This chapter describes how mangroves sustain biodiversity, local livelihoods, and blue carbon stocks of VIP. It also expounds on why keeping a healthy mangrove cover can also enhance local resilience to climate change. Mangrove deforestation and degradation were observed to be pressing as seen in the decline of dense mangrove vegetations between the years 2005 and 2020. If not properly addressed, this will entail serious negative impacts on the passage’s ability to provide vital ecosystem goods and services. To overcome this, several recommendations were identified for the local stakeholders to pursue. These include the following:

  1. 1.

    Adoption of collaborative management approach through conservation projects and programs that will encourage partnership among the local government, local communities and other coastal stakeholders.

  2. 2.

    Development of an integrated and comprehensive coastal management plan where mangrove conservation is assured in the proposed budget, plans, and programs.

  3. 3.

    Strict enforcement of environmental laws such as those that are related to banning mangrove cutting and proper solid and wet waste management.

  4. 4.

    Science-based forest rehabilitation of degraded mangrove areas (particularly abandoned fishponds) that adhere to proper ecological site species suitability matching.

  5. 5.

    Harnessing the economic potential of mangrove blue carbon through developing carbon offset projects.

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Acknowledgments

This study was made possible through the funding support of the National Academy of Science and Technology – Philippines (DOST-NAST) – through the DOST’s Grants for Outstanding Achievements in Science. This forms part of the research project entitled Land Use Change and Blue Carbon Stock Potential of Mangrove Forests Along the Verde Island Passage Biodiversity Corridor in Luzon, Philippines (LUCBlueVerde).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Forestry and Forest Governance, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines

    Dixon T. Gevaña, Carlos Mico M. Villanueva, Josephine E. Garcia & Leni D. Camacho

Authors
  1. Dixon T. Gevaña
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  2. Carlos Mico M. Villanueva
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  3. Josephine E. Garcia
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  4. Leni D. Camacho
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dixon T. Gevaña .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sundarban Tiger Reserve, Canning, West Bengal, India

    Sudhir Chandra Das

  2. Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, India

    Pullaiah

  3. Queen’s University Belfast Marine Laboratory (QML), Portaferry, Northern Ireland, UK

    Elizabeth C. Ashton

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Gevaña, D.T., Villanueva, C.M.M., Garcia, J.E., Camacho, L.D. (2022). Mangroves Sustaining Biodiversity, Local Livelihoods, Blue Carbon, and Local Resilience in Verde Island Passage in Luzon, Philippines. In: Das, S.C., Pullaiah, Ashton, E.C. (eds) Mangroves: Biodiversity, Livelihoods and Conservation . Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-0519-3_17

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