By Jay Jaboneta | Project Leader
The devastation left by Typhoon Haiyan forced the Philippines to consider what could mitigate storm surges and extreme weather conditions that are now expected to be the norm as a result of global climate change. Both environmentalists and scientists agree that mangroves can serve as “buffer” and shield human settlements from the maximum strength of storms. Still in line with the original objective of helping the fishermen and farmerfolks affected by the typhoon, PBSP’s Mangrove Rehabilitation Program in Bantayan plans to reforest at least 90 hectares of the island’s coastal areas.
Through the generosity of the GlobalGiving Community, PBSP completed the reforestation of 10 hectares of mangrove cover of Bantayan Island last October 2014. Mangrove trees are an important ecosystem and its rehabilitation is needed to protect the communities from future harm caused by storm surges. It is expected to restore the breeding and spawning grounds of fish and aquatic species to support the livelihood of these communities, too.
On behalf of the fishermen and farmer-beneficiaries, thank you for your support.
Moving forward, PBSP targets to reforest 52 hectares more by end of September 2015 and needs your continuous support to make this happen. The pooled cash resources will provide for the planting of propagules, maintenance/re-planting and monitoring of the same for a year, community mobilization and engagement. The fisher folks will be the source of the propagules to be planted and will be tasked to maintain the reforested site.
This project will also engage various stakeholders and aims to formulate future environmental management policies for the protection and preservation of the island’s ecosystem, achieve improved protection against natural disasters, ensure greater food security, and increased household incomes for local communities. It is expected to impact 2,600 households locally.
PBSP also partnered with another organization that would train micro-entrepreneurs, the housewives of the farmers and fishermen, providing the beneficiaries with cash grant for the retail store makeover, loan facility for initial inventory and training/capacity-building. The presence of the retail stores is seen as vital in the whole ecosystem of flow of products and services within the community in order to stabilize prices.
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