BY: ROI ANTHONI B. LOMOTAN
BINDOY, Negros Oriental, July 2 (PIA) – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Negros Oriental beefed up its marine conservation efforts by planting 2,000 propagules of mangroves recently.
Around 1,000 propagules of bungalon and 1,000 propagules of rhizophora mangroves were planted by the officers of the DENR, CENRO-I in Ayungon, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) and people’s organization in Bindoy in two to three hectares of land for mangrove forest in barangay Tinaogan.
The move aims to expand Bindoy’s mangrove forest which serves as a nursery to various kinds of fishes and home to a large variety of marine species like crabs, shrimps and mollusks.
This is one of DENR’s activities in line with the observance of Environment Month which banners the theme “Raise your voice, Not the sea level” which calls for a strong public support in protecting and conserving the province’s marine resources.
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Charlie Fabre stressed the importance of mangroves. Aside from maintaining a rich marine ecosystem mangrooves also protects nearby communities from strong waves and storm surges.
Fabre complemented a data from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)’s website explaining that its thick roots stabilize coastline and prevent erosion from waves and typhoons. Mangrove roots also protect corals and sea grass from being smothered in sediments.
Mangrove forests also help clean the air and sea water in coastal zones and in providing food and livelihood to people of nearby communities.
In places where mangrove forests have been cut down, severe coastal damages are expected.
Meanwhile, Bindoy town Mayor Valente Yap expressed his support to this initiative. Yap noted that white sand is slowly appearing on the shore of the mangrove areas, a sign of an improving marine ecosystem.
“By giving nature a time to recover, everything will come back and the people will be happy because this will benefit them,” Yap said.
The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Bindoy eyes a potential eco-tourism site in the mangrove forest to complement with their Mantalip reef which it promotes as an alternative diving site to Apo Island.
When asked about the LGU’s environment plans, Yap replied they are focused on DENR’s National Greening Program which also covers the mangrove planting in barangay Tinaogan. The municipality of Bindoy is a recipient to 2,000 land hectares for reforestation since 2010.
Mayor Yap said the LGU continues to fill the allocated land hectares for reforestation. (mbcn/ral/PIA7-NegOr)