MANILA, Philippines – They are not your typical calendar pin-ups, but they are no less breathtaking and sexy.

With vivid images of mangrove vegetation, environmentalist Jurgenne Primavera is bringing her advocacy for mangrove conservation right into people’s homes and offices.

Primavera, a retired Iloilo-based scientist, has come up with the idea of a Mangrove Tidal Calendar detailing the pattern of the tides – the regular rise and fall of seawater resulting from the gravitational attraction between the earth, sun, and moon.

She says the calendar will help scientists, especially fisheries and aquaculture researchers, conducting field research to accurately determine tidal patterns.

But while most calendars only indicate when low and high tides can be expected, the Mangrove Tidal Calendar also details the tide levels for a particular time.

Visual delight

But more than a technical aid, the calendar is a visual delight with full-page photographs of mangroves around Panay Island taken by Primavera and her colleague, Armi Torrechila.

A project of the University of Miami-based Pew Fellows Program in Marine Conservation, the publication is part of a campaign to raise public awareness about mangroves and the importance of conserving them.

Primavera, a Pew Fellow, was one of those cited last year by Time magazine as “Heroes of the Environment,” along with activists, scientists, celebrities, innovators and financiers all over the world, for her contribution to environmental protection.

The calendar opens with an imposing picture of a century-old “pagatpat” tree (Sonneratia alba) in the Pedada Bay off Ajuy town, Iloilo.

February is highlighted by a collage of photographs depicting the many uses of and products derived from mangroves.

The notes accompanying the images explain why mangroves – the shrubs and trees forming dense thickets and low forests on coastal mudflats, marshes and estuaries – are in decline. They are being destroyed because of over-exploitation and conversion to settlements, croplands and salt beds, according to the calendar.

Sea of green

One of the more powerful scenes can be found in the May portion of the calendar, in which a sea of green blankets the entire page, the image being that of an abundant growth of “bungalon” or “apiapi” (Avicennia marin) in the town of Tangalan in Aklan province.

Other photographs show children learning about or frolicking near mangrove swamps.

Primavera says the aim of the calendar project is to spread awareness about mangroves, which is “still low despite advances.”

The Pew Fellows Program in Marine Conservation has designed a pilot module on basic mangrove appreciation and conservation for elementary and high school students.

Complimentary copies

The calendar had an initial print run of 500, which were given away as complimentary copies to scientists, marine conservationists and non-government organizations. More copies will be printed if there is an interest in it, says Primavera.

Primavera says she also wants people to appreciate the beauty of mangroves.

“Most people still associate mangroves with mud and mosquitoes and we are working hard to correct that perception,” she says.

Inquiries about the calendar may be relayed to jurgenne.primavera@zsl.org or at 033-3384430.