Assisted Regeneration of Mangroves and Beach Forests

Jesuit scholastic Errol Nebrao planting Rhizophora in a former pond area in Pangasinan.

A mangrove regeneration site in San Juan, Batangas.

ESSC recognizes the key role that owners of beach houses, sea-side properties, abandoned ponds and beach resorts can now play in making a difference for the Philippine environment. The ESSC mangrove webpage is an on-line resource providing the above stakeholders with practical guides for selecting, planting, and propagating trees and caring for the beach forest and mangrove ecosystems in private properties.

Across the Philippine archipelago, thousands of owners of private beach houses, resorts and coastal properties have a growing awareness and appreciation of the immensely rich and beautiful landscape of mangroves and beach forests. This website provides a what-you-can-do guide to help regenerate, protect and preserve these precious natural resources.

If you've ever wondered about what to do with your abandoned fishponds or idle prawn farms or how to help regenerate the natural environment around your rest house or beach resort, this website will guide you.

Through this website, we, the Institute of Environmental Science for Social Change (ESSC), will share information regarding best pratices on:

• Selecting and planting the right species of mangrove and beach trees depending on the area to be planted
• How to create buffer zones to protect your property from ocean level rise and coastal erosion
• Propagating multiple species (vs. the monoculture practice of reforestation)
• Establishing eco-friendly resource management practices
• Engaging local communities to gain their support for your initiatives

The information you will here find is based on our experience in forest regeneration efforts and the knowledge shared by colleagues and scientists in this field. More than just a host to expert opinions, this website will also be open to your own contributions and learnings as you undertake your own efforts in planting beach trees and mangroves.

Through this project we envision meaningful opportunities for engagement with the entire community of stakeholders of Philippine mangroves and beach forests: property owners, tree-planters, researchers, beach lovers, environmental organizations, scuba divers, bird watchers and forest lovers alike.

Volunteer tree- planters: Jesuit sholastics and Jesuit volunteers pose for a group picture with Everest-climber Romy Garduce after a morning of planting mangroves in Pangasinan

This website is a work-in-progress. It is part of a project supported by the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation (PTFC). 

Find more on mangroves and beach forests by clicking on the sidebar link "Mangroves"