From August 19-23, 2024, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB) hosted a week of productive training workshop on Science-Based Mangrove Rehabilitation Methods in Iloilo City. This event was held alongside the Policy Roll-Out of Department Memorandum Order No. 2024-01, which focuses on the Immediate Assessment of Abandoned, Undeveloped (Unused), and Underutilized...
Community-Based Ecological Mangrove Restoration: A Joint Effort by Oceanus Conservation and Bitaugan West Fisherfolks Association Author: Emmanuel Cababarros Jr. Oceanus Conservation in partnership with the Bitaugan West Fisherfolks Association (BWFA), conducted an ecological restoration initiative from June 25 to July 2, 2024, in Barangay Bitaugan West, Cagwait, Surigao del Sur. This collaborative effort focused on...
We conducted a biodiversity assessment at the mangrove restoration sites in Poblacion and Bitaugan West, Cagwait, Surigao del Sur. This evaluation aimed to gather baseline data on various environmental factors to gauge the success of the ongoing restoration projects. Oceanus collected data on water quality, soil samples, mangrove biodiversity, and macroinvertebrate biodiversity, ensuring a comprehensive...
Our Blue Carbon Program focuses on the restoration and protection of blue carbon habitats such as seagrass and mangrove habitats. The 2nd phase of this program is to conduct trainings for our partner communities to equip them with the knowledge and skills for mangrove restoration and monitoring. With this, our team recently partnered with the...
Mangrove forests act as nature’s guardians, filtering water, providing vital habitat for marine life and livelihood for local coastal communities, and even protecting shorelines from erosion and storms. Unfortunately, these vital ecosystems have faced threats such as coastal development, cutting, and conversion to aquaculture ponds. This is where our Blue Carbon Program steps in. Focused...
Mangroves are a salt-tolerant plant that occurs within the coastal belt. They are among the most productive ecosystems on earth. It is known for its numerous ecosystem services critical to environmental health and human well-being. Mangroves have great potential to lessen the adverse effects of climate change and mitigate the harm natural coastal hazards cause to...
Just in time for Wetlands Day this February 2, 2024, Grid Magazine featured Oceanus Conservation and our continuous efforts to showcase the beauty of mangrove ecosystems across the Philippines! Blue carbon restoration also encompasses other coastal wetlands that store carbon such as seagrasses and tidal marshes. Despite the importance of mangroves in the Philippines and...
Why are we losing mangroves? The mangrove ecosystem is one of the most valuable ecosystems on earth. They help mitigate climate change with their capacity to store carbon in the atmosphere. However, the state of the world’s mangroves is declining by 0.2 to 0.7% every year. In relation to that, Super Typhoon Rai (Odette) greatly...
Oceanus Conservation focuses on the blue carbon initiative and nature-based solutions as a way to mitigate climate change. Our mangrove restoration projects aim to restore and protect mangrove forests by working with local communities in the Philippines. Two of our project sites are communities in Looc, Salay, Northern Mindanao, and Aringay, La Union. Mangroves are...
The Oceanus pillars for restoration work are as follows : 1) Biophysical assessment 2) Community participation 3) Institutional support from the Local Government Unit of Salay We believe these are the essential components for meaningful restoration work. After months of assessment, discussion, and agreement with the local government of Salay, we were able to purchase...
