Mangroves, nestled between land and sea, form dense coastal barriers that shield communities from extreme weather, provide vital habitats for marine life, and support local livelihood.

However, persistent threats continue to endanger the survival of mangrove forests, particularly in highly urbanized areas like Davao City.

Environmental group Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) has raised concerns over the rapid and alarming depletion of wetlands, including mangroves, across the city.

According to Environmental Planner Lemuel Manalo, IDIS program coordinator, there has been a significant loss of wetlands in the city based on their mapping study, which utilized techniques such as georectification, georeferencing, and overlaying historical maps with current satellite imagery to assess land use changes over time.

The study revealed that 95 percent of the city’s wetlands have been lost since the 1940s. Wetland areas have shrunk dramatically to just 84.55 hectares in 2002 from 471 hectares in 1944, and further down to 24.46 hectares in 2021.

Manalo attributed this to the rapid urban development in the city.

An aerial photo of the Ipil Airfields taken in 1935 shows the area surrounded by dense mangrove forests, covering 22.88 hectares of tidal marshes and swamps. However, recent satellite images revealed that these natural habitats have been replaced by houses and buildings.  The area is now known as R. Castillo Agdao.

Manalo emphasized the critical importance of reforestation efforts in restoring mangrove cover in the city.

CONSERVATION EFFORTS

Barangay Lasang, one of the 182 barangays in Davao City, has been engaged actively in mangrove regeneration for over a decade.

Through dedicated community-based efforts, their rich mangrove forest has grown to 44 hectares at present from 22 hectares in 2013. The forest is home to 37 thriving species of mangroves.

The success of the initiative is credited largely to strong community participation and a growing awareness of environmental laws.

“Taas na ang awareness sa katawhan kay kung kaniadto ang atoang community ginaputol nila ang mangroves himuong sugnod ginahimong haligi pero sa karon ang atoang community ang atoang katawhan sila na mismo ang nagabantay,” Barangay Chairman Allan Simo-ag said.

In 2024, the barangay council also implemented a moratorium prohibiting residents from expanding their homes into coastal areas.

Simo-ag stressed that the policy is enforced strictly, not just written on paper.

CHILDREN PARTICIPATION

Children in Barangay Lasang are also playing a vital role in mangrove conservation, turning environmental action into both a source of income and a form of play. Instead of spending their time on gadgets, many young villagers choose to plant mangrove seedlings in nursery bags, an activity that supports both their families and the environment.

Erl Legaspi, 11, shared how she earns P7 for every seedling sold.

“Makatabang sa akong pang eskwela, pangbaon nako ug pangpalit og school supplies,” she said.

Erl finds joy in doing the work with her friends. Together, they treat the mangrove forest as their playground. Even at her young age, Erl understands the ecological value of mangroves.

“Pag naay baha makatabang ang bakhaw ug ang iyang ugat,” she added.

The community’s mangrove nursery has not only instilled environmental awareness but also brought economic benefits. Seedlings are sold to individuals and organizations involved in climate change mitigation and other environmental projects.

SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD

In Barangay Lasang, 40 percent of the 13,000 residents, including members of the Tambongon Fisherfolk Association (TAMFIAS), rely on the sea and mangrove forests for their livelihood.

In partnership with the barangay council, TAMFIAS has taken on the dual role of environmental steward and community enterprise leader.

Through a P420,000 sustainable livelihood project grant from the Department of Social Welfare Development-Davao (DSWD-11), the group established a 100-square-meter fish cage along the coastal area.

“Duna gyud diay impact ang mga programa sa government agencies specifically DSWD through its program, which is the Sustainable Livelihood Program, ang DSWD ginasuportahan nato ang ilahang objectives,” DSWD-11 Development Officer, Roel Calvo, said.

Fisherfolk also ventured into crab fattening using traps placed within the mangrove swamps to attract mud crabs.

TAMFIAS buys juvenile crabs at P10 each and mature ones at P200 to P350 depending on the size. Crablets are fattened for two to three months while mature ones are fattened for 15 days to one month before being sold at P600 per kilo once they reach marketable size.

Fisherfolk have also seen a 10 percent increase in aquaculture productivity.

“Mao man gud nay goal ni TAMFIAS ug barangay Lasang nga protektahan ang kinaiyahan kay diri man ta nagkuha og source of income nato,” Legaspi said.

But conservation comes with its own challenges. The survival rate of mangroves on an average is around 10 percent. That is why the community ensures they plant the right species.

“Kini siya ma'am dapat gyud ni siya protektahan once masudlan og plastic cellophane mga debris sa baha once matandog mamatay siya kay sensitive ang atoang mangrove seedling,” Legaspi said.

Members of Bantay-Dagat are also guarding the coastal waters against illegal fishing and reminding fishermen to use legal methods.

Garbage collected from coastal waters like plastic bottles are being recycled to make a “payaw” (fish aggregating devices). Their fish cages, home to species like talakitok (trevally fish), kitang (rabbitfish), and lapu-lapu (grouper), are fed organically, avoiding commercial feeds that contribute to marine pollution.

NATURAL BARRIERS

Simo-ag emphasized that mangroves have long protected their community from climate-related disasters such as storm surges, especially since many parts of their village are flood-prone.

“Kung wala ning bakhawan, dugay ra gikaon among coastal communities,” he said.

Manalo also explained that the widespread loss of mangrove forests and other urban wetlands is among the factors why many parts in the city are flooded easily, noting that mangroves serve as natural barriers that protect the coastal communities from tidal waves and flooding.

“It is natural for this ecosystem to catch and store rainwater and tidal water or tubig gikan sa dagat. Apan ang mga mangrove swamp nawala na kay nahimong drainage canals these areas now ang mga canals are the ones receiving the tidal water which lack proper capture and storage capacity as compared as to the natural wetlands and marshes,” Manalo said.

As a result of the persistent policy lobbying and advocacy work of IDIS, urban wetlands are now protected under the 2019-2028 zoning ordinance in the city, which prohibits reclamation and alteration of wetlands and waterways.

“We need to integrate nature-based solution into urban and infrastructure development and not just rely on building dikes and building canals, ang mga drainage system should follow the natural hydrology of our watersheds and the tidal marshes and mangroves dako kaayo ni siya og tabang it must be part of our cities drainage masterplan,” Manalo added.

Manalo also pointed out that mangroves are protected under Presidential Decree 705 as amended by the Forestry Code of the Philippines (RA 7161), which prohibits the cutting of forest products.

Manalo clarified that IDIS is not against development but stressed that development must be balanced with environmental protection.

“We believe that these ecosystems, the mangroves and wetlands, should coexist with development,” he said.