The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is set to evaluate abandoned, undeveloped, and underutilized (AUU) fishponds to determine potential areas for mangrove restoration.
Various environmental organizations and scientists have been urging the government to convert all abandoned fishponds into mangrove forests. Mangroves play a crucial role in mitigating climate change as they act as natural shields against storms and absorb carbon emissions.
In a document signed by Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga on February 26 and released to the media recently, the DENR directed the immediate assessment of AUU areas in the Bicol region, Western Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula.
The evaluation will consider two types of reversion processes – administrative reversion, which involves transferring control of AUU fishponds from the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) back to the DENR, and biophysical reversion, focusing on restoring abandoned fishponds to mangrove forests through replanting and assisted regeneration.
Regional assessment teams will collect data such as topographic, fishpond, mangrove, and flooding maps to pinpoint areas with unused or underdeveloped fishponds. Ground validation and consultations with stakeholders will also be conducted.
Upon completion of the assessment, a regional technical working group (TWG) will recommend areas for administrative and biophysical reversion. These recommendations will then be reviewed by the national TWG and approved by the DENR secretary.
Annadel Cabanban from Wetlands International Philippines praised the DENR’s initiative, calling it a significant step forward in mangrove restoration efforts. She highlighted the importance of the order in addressing the challenges in reverting AUU fishponds into mangrove forests.
The concerns were raised earlier by conservationists regarding the Philippine Salt Industry Development Act, which they feared could lead to the conversion of fishponds into salt farms. Wetlands International Philippines warned that increased salinity levels could hinder efforts to restore AUU fishponds to mangrove forests.
The Philippines has lost more than half of its mangrove ecosystems, primarily due to fishpond conversion and coastal development projects. The move to assess and potentially revert AUU fishponds to mangrove forests is seen as a positive step towards environmental conservation and climate change mitigation efforts.
