PADRE BURGOS, Quezon – In a collaborative effort to bolster coastal ecosystems, approximately eighty youth members of the Association of Filipino Foresters from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB),
Tanggol Kalikasan staff, and the Bantay Bakawan of Tanglaw ng Dagat fisherfolk Association successfully planted 600 mangrove seedlings of the Api-Api and Pipisik species in Barangay Kinagunan Ibaba, Padre Burgos, Quezon, on March 15, 2025.
The initiative aims to foster significant local community involvement in mangrove rehabilitation and management by actively engaging the public and empowering fisherfolk with a comprehensive understanding of mangrove benefits and their crucial ecological roles. This approach is expected to lead to the enhanced protection and restoration of these vital coastal ecosystems.
Lorenz Francis T. Zapanta, the student leader spearheading the project, emphasized its wider significance. "This initiative is crucial because it's not solely about the physical act of planting mangroves," Zapanta stated. "It's about igniting a vital awareness within our community regarding the profound importance of protecting our natural resources. This is an investment in our future, ensuring its well-being."
The UPLB forestry student organization has committed to long-term monitoring of the survival and growth of the newly planted seedlings in Barangay Kinagunan Ibaba, underscoring their dedication to the project's success and the overall health of the coastal environment.
This project is being implemented by the Association of Filipino Foresters in UP Los Baños, assisted by Tanggol Kalikasan and supported by the Foundation for Philippine Environment under the Youth for Biodiversity Project.
