Phl partners with Australia for landmark mangrove ecosystem service

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Philippines and Australia have formally launched a pioneering project that aims to quantify the value and market potential of the country's coral reef and mangrove ecosystem services, also known as "natural blue capital," a senior government official said today.

The two countries will work together to come up with innovative models for valuing mangrove, seagrass and coral reef ecosystem services with the potential to enhance the sustainability of marine-based enterprises and marine spatial planning in select coastal communities in the Philippines, said Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) Director Theresa Mundita Lim.

"The project will help us convince stakeholders that the environment is a good investment as it benefits the communities," Lim said. "The science will be useful in helping us make informed decisions about other projects we need to identify and implement, and in answering queries about budgetary allocations."

She said the information generated from this project will be translated into new policies or update existing ones so that the government can replicate this in other coastal communities.

The El Nido, a municipality and a protected area in western Philippine province of Palawan, will serve as the pilot site for the project in the Philippines.