We’re down to our last few activities for our Community-led Mangrove and Migratory Bird Conservation project in Bais City, Negros Oriental. As the bird migration winds down for this season, we’re also drawing closer to our project turnover. Last April 5-7, 2024 we held to back-to-back activities – 1) A community dialogue on co-designing a conservation and sustainable livelihood plan and 2) A pilot run of our bird watching tour process. Our stakeholders – the United Fisherfolk Association of Capiñahan – went through a series of activities to map out the past, current, and future states of their community using...
eDNA: Emerging Technology for Biodiversity Conservation
Oceanus Conservation conducts eDNA collection of coastal species using the Environmental DNA (eDNA) filtration method on March 23, 2024, at Aras-asan, Cagwait, Surigao Del Sur. Environmental DNA (eDNA) is an emerging, non-invasive approach to studying the genetic material (e.g., mucus, feces, and other tissue particles) shed by animals and plants into the water to determine their genetic footprint. Water samples were taken at the study site using a specialized eDNA filtration kit. SimplexDNA will analyze the samples collected at Cagwait through metabarcoding to determine the species present. The eDNA method can help improve the accuracy and efficiency of ecological surveys,...
Training on Bird Identification for Ecotourism and Conservation
A critical milestone in our Community-led Mangrove and Migratory Bird Conservation Project unlocked! Last March 9-10, 2024, through the expertise of consultants from the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, Ms. Nikki Realubit and Karen Ochavo, 15 members of the United Fisherfolk Association of Capiñahan (UFAC) were trained on Bird Identification for Ecotourism and Conservation. Focusing on migratory waterbirds found within Bais Bay and Talabong Island, the members of UFAC participated in this knowledge transfer activity. The ultimate goal is for them to be able to identify bird species and conduct guided bird watching tours in the future. Proper bird...
Community-Based Ecological Mangrove Restoration (CBEMR) training in Cagwait, Surigao del Sur
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 Bitaugan West Fisherfolk Association (BWFA) in Cagwait, Surigao del Sur, for a Community-Based Ecological Mangrove Restoration (CBEMR) training. BWFA members, along with representatives from the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) and the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) – Lianga, learned about...
Mangrove Restoration: A Community Effort in Kabasalan
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 on the preservation and restoration of mangrove habitats in the Philippines, our program recently embarked on an exciting new chapter in Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay. Here, we partnered with the Kapunungan sa Gagmay’ng Mangingisda sa Concepcion (KGMC), a local fisherfolk association, to empower the community and...
Restoring abandoned fishponds in Cagwait, Surigao del Sur
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 property and human lives. Furthermore, mangroves have an even greater capacity than tropical forests to absorb and sequester greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Due to overexploitation, mangroves in the country have decreased rapidly despite the ecosystem services offered. Human exploitation and conversion of natural ecosystems,...
Community-led mangrove and migratory bird conservation project updates
Hey there! Let’s continue our journey on setting up a Community-led Mangrove and Migratory Bird Conservation program. This time we head out to our chosen project site in Bais City in Negros Oriental. We went there to conduct an ocular inspection on the bird occurrences in the area and study their activities and behavior. But before we proceed, here’s a quick recap of what we have done so far. Last time, Mark, our Field Officer for this project, took us to Olango Island in Lapu-lapu City, Cebu on an immersion tour. With the purpose of getting a deeper understanding of...
Project Update: Prioritizing Conservation Efforts in Busuanga, Palawan
On 29-30 January 2024, the Embassy of Canada through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) paid a monitoring visit for the pilot project initiated by Oceanus Conservation – Prioritizing Conservation Efforts: Mapping Biodiversity Hotspots in Marine Ecosystems in Busuanga Island, Palawan. The two-day event consisted of a presentation of the survey results to the local government officials, especially to the Municipal Mayor Beth Cervantes, and to selected partner communities. The presentation emphasized on finding endangered and threatened species, and the current status of marine resources such as mangroves, seagrass, corals, and reef fish. This event was also an opportunity...
We were featured in Grid Magazine!
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 their vital functions, mangroves are at alarming risk of deforestation, urbanization, tourism, and various human interventions. Studies indicate a staggering loss of at least 35 percent of the world’s mangrove forests between 1980 and 2000. Mangrove cover in the Philippines has dwindled by half with...
Flying for Hope: Towards Migratory Birds Conservation
The world has taken a toll from the climate crisis. Its impacts have resulted in unprecedented events that have affected both human activities and wildlife migration patterns. One of the most serious effects of the world’s alarming problem is the loss of habitats, which also poses a threat to food security. This is especially true for migrating birds, which rely largely on coastal wetland regions for breeding and foraging. Migratory species play a crucial role in Philippine biodiversity. Their significance is recognized in ecology, tourism, and the local economy. As a member of the East Asian-Australian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP), the...