Facing Climate Change With Mangrove Trees in the Philippines
Photo by Benny Manser/CRS
More than 7,000 islands make up the nation of the Philippines. The country, with its bustling cities, is the second-largest archipelago in the world. With this much access to water, including the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Philippines is filled with breathtaking beaches and abundant fresh seafood.
In the Philippines, coastal communities in Borongan City are significantly impacted by climate change and face considerable risks. Ando Island in particular is highly vulnerable to typhoons and storm surges as it faces the Pacific Ocean.
Photo by Benny Manser/CRS
But with this beauty comes a high risk. Typhoons are common in this part of the world, and the Philippines often finds itself in the pathway of intense storms. Over the past several years, climate change has increased the strength and frequency of these storms, making it harder for communities to recover from the landslides and flooding they cause.
Typhoon Haiyan battered Tacloban City in the Philippines on November 10, 2013. Haiyan, one of the most powerful storms ever recorded, killed more than 6,000 people in the central Philippines.
Photo by Kent Truog for CRS
There are ways, however, to combat the impacts of climate change using a resource everyone in the Philippines can access: the natural world around them. Communities in six cities across the Philippines are putting nature-based solutions in place through a project known as Climate Resilient Cities.
In Canyupay tree nursery, local forest ranger Jenifer Denoso oversees the growing of approximately 5,000 tree seedlings from three different species. As the trees grow they will help to protect coastal communities.
Photo by Benny Manser/CRS
With assistance from Catholic Relief Services, the US Agency for International Development, local governments and other non-profit groups like Conservation International, these communities are taking significant steps to use nature to fight climate change.
By using principles from the Climate Resilient Cities project, communities are strengthening protected coastal areas, helping farmers diversify their products, and regrowing trees that have been cut or burned down.
Mangrove Trees: A Superhero for Coastal Communities
In the Philippines, CRS implements the Climate Resilient Cities project, collaborating with Borongan City’s Environment and Natural Resource Office to protect, conserve and manage mangrove nurseries and sites. These efforts help coastal communities mitigate storm surges and typhoons through nature-based solutions.
Photo by Benny Manser/CRS
Mangrove trees are at the forefront of climate change adaptation. These trees thrive in the warm, saltwater environment of the Philippines and have deep roots that protect against storm surges and erosion. Their roots also provide habitats for crabs and fish, supporting the local fishing industry and people like Basil Mustafa who work in it.
The Cotabato City fisheries sector is affected by climate change, resulting in fewer fish caught and food insecurity. Basil Mustapha, a fisherman himself, lobbies for policy changes in Cotabato City to help the sector become more resilient to climate change impacts.
Photo by Benny Manser/CRS
“When we talk about climate change, the most affected people are those who are engaged in fishing along the coastline. We must also urge the government to strengthen the planting of mangroves because these mangroves can also be the resiliency of the city. This could be the buffer of whatever typhoon is coming to us,” says Basil Mustafa a fisherman from Cotabato City.
In Cotabato City on the southern Philippine coast, the Climate Resilient Cities project is working with the local government to restore a mangrove field on the edge of the Celebes Sea. These saplings, once mature, will provide a natural barrier against typhoons.
Renato Apillo participates in the Climate Resilient Cities project. As a staff member for the Borongan City Environment and Natural Resource Office, he is tasked with collecting mangrove seedlings and transferring them to planting bags. When they’re ready, he also plants the trees in the mangrove area.
Photo by Benny Manser/CRS
“I believe without the mangrove trees in the coastal areas, a lot of the homes built there would have been washed away. Most coastal community members appreciate and thank us because they are now protected from storm surges. I'm grateful to the mangroves because they protect the people every time there is a typhoon,” says Renato Apillo, a planter in a mangrove nursery in Borongan City.
Renato Apillo participates in the Climate Resilient Cities project. As a staff member for the Borongan City Environment and Natural Resource Office, he is tasked with collecting mangrove seedlings and transferring them to planting bags. When they’re ready, he also plants the trees in the mangrove area.
Photo by Benny Manser/CRS
Reforestation Efforts
Together with the local government, communities in the Climate Resilient Cities project are also replanting trees in protected forests. These trees, grown in nearby nurseries, will help prevent soil erosion during heavy rains. More than 30 volunteer forest rangers patrol Borongan City, ensuring the safety of reforested areas. Through the CRC project, forest rangers learn how to educate communities on better environmental practices and about the harmful effects of slash-and-burn techniques on the health of the land.
In the Canyupay tree nursery, local forest ranger Jenifer Denoso oversees the growing of approximately 5,000 tree seedlings from three different species. As the trees grow they will help to protect coastal communities.
Photo by Benny Manser/CRS
“Climate change is the greatest environmental problem that we have ever faced. We are the last generation that can actually stop the adverse effects of climate change,” says Aelan Arumpac, a former city administrator in Cotabato City.
The Climate Resilient Cities project in the Philippines provides a model for other cities to follow in protecting and restoring their natural environments. By focusing on nature, communities can strengthen their resilience against climate change and build a sustainable future for generations to come.
To learn more about the Climate Resilient Cities project, watch this video.
Climate Resilient Cities is a five-year project implemented in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development, Korea International Cooperation Agency, and Catholic Relief Services and in collaboration with Conservation International, Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, and Rocky Mountain Institute.
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