Various mangrove propagules and beach tree seedlings

No to Monoculture quick-fixes

Proponents of the multi-specie approach openly critique the monoculture (single-specie) reforestation projects that can be argued to have done more harm than good to the Philippine environment.

In the context of mangrove reforestation, the practice in the Philippines has thus far been to plant thousands and thousands of hectares with a single specie: the common Bakawan (Rhizophora). These, having the propagules which are easiest to harvest and plant, are the only specie that have been aggressively promoted for planting by local groups.

Saving the Seagrass

Further complicating and worsening the situation is the fact that areas that are frequently forested with this specie are the coastlines which host the sea-grass ecosystems. Eventually, upon the maturation of the planted Bakawan, the seagrasses (an equally invaluable ecosystem, as this provides nourishment for marine turtles and myriads of other sea creatures) will therefore die out. Based on current practices, therefore, not only are the ecosystems being re-establised highly unnatural (with 1 specie of tree as opposed to the real mangrove and beach forests with a network of hundreds of tree species), but these practices are also unfortunately replacing and destroying other precious parts of the ecological web in the process.

The above makes the case for replanting, not in sea grass areas, but in idle fishponds and abandoned prawn farms all the more salient.