More than 10,000 mangrove propagules were planted in Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Lapu-Lapu City.
Employees of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas (DENR-7), students and other local government officials planted the mangroves on a 10,000-square-meter coastline within the sanctuary.
DENR-7 Regional Director Maximo Dichoso said, “We want to ensure the integrity of the coastal resources by mangrove tree planting and coastal cleanup activities and soliciting the help of the communities and other stakeholders.
“Mangroves are salt tolerant, woody and seed-bearing plants. They occur along sheltered inter-tidal coastlines and in association with estuaries and lagoons.”
The Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary is the country’s first wetland of international importance for waterfowl and covers a vast mangrove forest.
According to DENR, mangroves provide nursery grounds for fish, prawns and crabs, and support fisheries production in coastal waters.
They also protect the environment by protecting coastal areas and communities from storm surges, waves, tidal currents and typhoons.
Mangroves produce organic biomass (carbon) and trap or absorb organic pollutants near the shore.
The Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary is a haven for local and migratory birds and other marine species.
Birds from Siberia, Northern China, Japan and other parts of northern Asia flock to Olango during the winter months of September to November.
Among the migratory birds found in Olango are the Asian Dowitcher, Chinese Egret, Eurasian Curlew, Whimbrel, Black-tailed Godwit and Red Knot.
The mangrove planting and coastal cleanup were among the activities of Environment Month 2011 with the theme, “Forests: Nature at your service.”