Government acts to conserve mangrove forests

Diverse natural forest formations exist in the Philippines. Over the years, they were classified and reclassified to describe distinctly the species’ composition and associations, community structure and diversity indices.

One classification of forest is the mangrove on nipa forest. A mangrove forest is made up of a community of salt tolerant tree species with associated shrubs and vines and other organisms.

Mangroves provide tremendous values and benefits. They protect the coastal areas from high waves, storm surges and typhoons as their crowns and stems weaken strong winds. They serve as land builder through accretion, their roots trapping and holding sediments coming from the uplands. As a "pollutant sink" they protect the coastal like coral reefs from soil erosion and pollutants coming from uplands and agro industries and enhance the clarity of coastal waters.

Coastal fishery is dependent on mangrove along with seagrasses and coral reefs, for fish production.

Mangroves are highly preferred as fuelwood and charcoal because of their high heating value. The woodpart can also be used for furniture, houseposts and building construction. The bark is used as tanning material. In Java, for instance, the "tangal" species is used as substitute for quinine and dye for "batik". The leaves of some species are used for medicinal purposes, although leaves of some species are said to be poisonous.

Several species of wildlife, like birds, mammals and reptiles make mangroves their habitat. For people in coastal areas mangroves are a source of livelihood.

It is unfortunate, however that mangrove is fast diminishing due to commercial harvesting, overexploitation, conversion to aqua culture and saltponds, urban development, and mineral extraction

Considerable strides have been accomplished by projects like the DENR and DA’s fishery sector program, DENR’s coastal environment program, Natural Resources Management Project – Coastal Resources Management and integrated Coastal Management to intensify among others, mangrove establishment, rehabilitation and maintenance, and pursuing policies that would minimize destruction of mangroves. But the aims of the efforts of these programs cannot be sustained without the cooperation of the citizens, particularly the coastal dwellers.