Youths help develop islet into ‘eco-park’

IT WAS his first time to plant a mangrove tree, and US Ambassador Harry Thomas was happy to do it in an island that young people have fought hard to preserve.

Thomas was in Ang Pulo (The Island), 7.5 hectares of uninhabited land that has been transformed into a mangrove “eco-park.” The place may be reached in minutes by boat from the mainland village of Quilitisan in Calatagan town in Batangas.

The US official was impressed with Hanna Esguerra, 20, who has been behind the mangrove rehabilitation of Ang Pulo.

Barangay lobby

Esguerra, a former chair of the Sangguniang Kabataan for Quilitisan, had lobbied with her barangay council to turn Ang Pulo into an ecological park studded with mangroves. The islet was then named Ang Pulo Mangrove Conservation Park and was declared a marine-protected area in December 2009.

Conservation International gave P300,000 for the rehabilitation work, while the municipal government put up a P125,000 counterpart fund, Esguerra said.

Since the project began, the islet has hosted mangrove tree-planting activities and youth camps that espouse environmental preservation.

Thomas, who was joined by Mayor Sophia Palacio and other local officials, was welcomed to the island by the 120 youth camp participants on April 28. “Masarap ang hangin (The air is fresh),” he said upon arrival.

After mingling with the youth, he headed to the mangrove-planting site. He said it was fun activity and he liked it.

He added that it was also great to see the participants snorkeling, learning about corals and species, and planting trees.

Student campers

Fatima Denise Gal, 15, a camper and president of Calatagan Eco-Savers School Association, said the participants came from four schools in the municipality and wanted to know more about nature, species of marine life and mangroves, and how to protect the environment.

After the tree planting, Thomas hosted a reception in honor of their Philippine partners in environmental protection at Calatagan Golf Club as part of commemorative activities for the US Peace Corps and the US Agency for International Development’s 50th anniversary.

Mau Cudiamat, environmental adviser of Calatagan Mangrove Forest Conservation Park, said 15 mangrove species had been planted in almost half of Ang Pulo. Rampant tree cutting in the past had destroyed 10 species, he said.

Ang Pulo, because of its thriving forest, is host to assorted species of crustaceans and other marine life. It has 26 bird species and plans are now made to provide bird-watching activities for visitors, Cudiamat said.