Mangrove
Management Handbook
D.M. Melana
J. Atchue III
C.E. Yao
R. Edwards
E.E. Melana
H.I. Gonzales

COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROJECT
of theDEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
supported by the

UNITED STATES AGENCY
FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTMANGROVE MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK
by
Dioscoro M. Melana
Joseph Atchue III
Calixto E. Yao
Randy Edwards
Emma E. Melana
Homer I. Gonzales
2000
PRINTED IN MANILA, PHILIPPINES
Citation: Melana, D.M., J. Atchue III, C.E. Yao, R. Edwards, E.E. Melana and H.I. Gonzales. 2000. Mangrove
Management Handbook. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Manila, Philippines through the
Coastal Resource Management Project, Cebu City, Philippines. 96 p.
This publication was made possible through support provided by the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) under the terms and conditions of Contract No. AID-492-0444-C-00-6028-00
supporting the Coastal Resource Management Project (CRMP). The opinions expressed herein are thoseof the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the USAID. This publication may be reproducedor quoted in other publications as long as proper reference is made to the source.
This was published in cooperation with the Fisheries Resource Management Project, which is implemented
by the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and funded by the AsianDevelopment Bank and Japan Bank for International Cooperation.
Front cover: Background: A portion of a multi-age and multi-layered canopy of mangrove plantation in Banacon
Island, Getafe, Bohol, Philippines, using Rhizophora stylosa. The tree is focused on the lower left corner of thecover. Center: Coastal community members in Tambobo Bay, Siit, Siaton, Negros Oriental  fishing on the riverwith intact natural mangrove vegetation. Back cover: Left: School children with mangrove propagules before
planting to protect their school building from strong waves, Inabanga, Bohol, Philippines. Right: Participants in amangrove trainors training during a practicum on mangrove plantation establishment in Sta. Cruz, Davao delSur, Philippines. Photos by C.E. Yao.
Graphics and production staff: Ida L. Juliano, Lume Y. Inamac, Laarni Armon, Mary Gale Bituin C. de la Cruz,
Caridad D. Balicasan, Dexter Allen D. Besa, Leslie S. Tinapay and Melvin V. Teoxon.
CRMP Document No. 15-CRM/2000
ISBN 971-91925-6-9

Contents
List of tables ................................................................................. vii
List of figures and boxes............................................................ ix
List of acronyms ........................................................................... xi
Foreword ............................................................................................
xiii
Preface .......................................................................................... xv
Acknowledgments .....................................................................xvii
List of scientific names, local terms and glossary oftechnical terms ...........................................................xix
Chapter 1: The importance of mangroves
INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................................................... 1
What is Mangrove? ................................................................................................................................................................ 1
ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS/FUNCTIONS ........................................................................................ 1
THREATS .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES ....................................................................................................... 4
MANAGEMENT OPTIONS ........................................................................................................................................................ 4

Chapter 2: Mangrove nursery establishment andmanagement
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................................................ 11

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Mangrove Management Handbook
What is a Mangrove Nursery? ............................................................................................................................................. 11

SELECTION OF THE NURSERY SITE ................................................................................................................................ 11
General Criteria for the Selection of Nursery Site ................................................................................................................. 12
Types of Nurseries ................................................................................................................................................................ 12
DESIGNING AND BUILDING THE NURSERY ............................................................................................................... 12
Identifying Who Will Work on the Nursery Project .............................................................................................................. 13
Determining the Boundary and Area of the Nursery ............................................................................................................ 13
Developing a Plan for the Nursery ........................................................................................................................................ 13
Building the Nursery ............................................................................................................................................................. 14
OPERATING AND MANAGING THE NURSERY ........................................................................................................... 16
Collecting and Transporting Seeds and Propagules ................................................................................................................. 17
Propagation Practices ............................................................................................................................................................ 19
Maintenance of the Seedlings ................................................................................................................................................ 21
Grading, Sorting, Packaging and Transport of Seedlings ...................................................................................................... 24
Post Nursery Operations ....................................................................................................................................................... 24

Chapter 3: Mangrove plantation establishment andmanagement
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................................................ 25
IDENTIFYING THE PLANTATION MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES ...................................................................... 26
PLANTATION ESTABLISHMENT......................................................................................................................................... 26
Site Identification and Selection ............................................................................................................................................. 26
Choice of Species................................................................................................................................................................... 29
Plantation Establishment Techniques .................................................................................................................................... 30
Planting .............................................................................................................................................................................. 33
Care and Maintenance of Plantations ................................................................................................................................... 34
Maintenance Activities in Subsequent Years .......................................................................................................................... 36
MANAGEMENT OF PLANTATION AND NATURAL FOREST ............................................................................... 37
Plantation Types ................................................................................................................................................................... 37
Harvesting and Regeneration Systems and Enhancement Planting ......................................................................................... 38

Chapter 4: Community-Based Forest Management

v

Agreement: a land tenure instrument for mangroves
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................................................ 43
What is a Community-Based Forest Management Agreement? ............................................................................................. 43
THE BENEFITS OF THE CBFMA HOLDER ..................................................................................................................... 45
CBFMA as a Land Tenure Instrument ............................................................................................................................... 45
Livelihood Activities ............................................................................................................................................................. 45
Benefits for the Surrounding Coastline ................................................................................................................................... 46
GENERAL STEPS FOR CBFMA APPLICATION .............................................................................................................. 46
Work Requirements of the Mangrove Forest Stewards .......................................................................................................... 48
Gaining Support from Local Government Unit(s) ................................................................................................................. 49
Gaining Financial and Other Support from the Municipality ................................................................................................ 51

Chapter 5: Fishpond restoration
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................................................ 55
STEPS IN RESTORING FISHPONDS ................................................................................................................................... 56
Locate All of the Fishponds ................................................................................................................................................. 56
Sketch the General Shape of Each of the Ponds ................................................................................................................... 58
Categorize ............................................................................................................................................................................. 59
Report Illegal Fishponds ........................................................................................................................................................ 60
Develop a Restoration Plan ................................................................................................................................................... 60
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO MODIFY PONDS ..................................................................................................... 63
Modifying Dikes ................................................................................................................................................................... 63
Modifying the Pond Floor ...................................................................................................................................................... 65
MANGROVE-FRIENDLY AQUACULTURE AS MANAGEMENT OPTION ............................................................ 66
Mudcrab Fattening ................................................................................................................................................................ 67
Mudcrab Pen Culture ........................................................................................................................................................... 67

Chapter 6: Resource mapping of mangroves
INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................................................ 69
WHY DO WE NEED MAPS? .................................................................................................................................................... 70

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Mangrove Management Handbook

WHAT TYPES OF MAPS CAN WE PREPARE AND HOW DO WE PREPARE THEM? ....................................... 70
WORKING WITH THE PEOPLES ORGANIZATION-THE MAP DEVELOPMENT PROCESS ..................... 74
Developing a Sketch Map ..................................................................................................................................................... 75
Developing a Map Using Base Maps .................................................................................................................................... 76
Developing a Field MapGroundtruthing the Base or Sketch Map ..................................................................................... 81

Chapter 7: Summary of management options and when
to use them
MANGROVE NURSERY ESTABLISHMENT AND MANAGEMENT ........................................................................ 91
MANGROVE PLANTATION ESTABLISHMENT AND MANAGEMENT ............................................................... 92
COMMUNITY-BASED FOREST MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT ............................................................................. 93
FISHPOND RESTORATION .................................................................................................................................................... 93

References .................................................................................... 9 5

List of tables
1.1

Threats to mangroves. ............................................................................................................................................ 4

1.2

Mangrove protection and management strategies. ............................................................................................ 5

2.1

Problems resulting from poor nursery selection. ............................................................................................ 11

2.2

Formulas to determine nursery areas. ................................................................................................................ 13

2.3

Best collection times for selected mangrove species ....................................................................................... 18

2.4

Indicators of maturity for some species of mangrove fruit. ......................................................................... 19

2.5

Bag sizes for various species. ............................................................................................................................... 21

2.6

Typical hardening treatment. ............................................................................................................................... 22

2.7

Damage and control measures for common pests and diseases found in mangrove nurseries. .............. 23

2.8

Data that should be collected during nursery operations. .............................................................................. 23

3.1

Typical zonation pattern of mangrove species and common names. .......................................................... 27

3.2

Suggested soils for selected species of mangroves ......................................................................................... 30

3.3

Commercial uses of various mangrove species. ............................................................................................... 31

3.4

Common species and recommended thinning rates. ...................................................................................... 36

4.1

Legal instruments concerning Community-Based Forest Management Agreements. .............................. 44

4.2

Examples of actions the peoples organization can request from the barangay council and the
Sangguniang Bayan. .................................................................................................................................................. 49

4.3

Outline of the barangay council presentation. ................................................................................................... 50

4.4

Outline of the Sangguniang Bayan presentation. ................................................................................................ 51

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Mangrove Management Handbook

5.1

Fishpond restoration process. ............................................................................................................................. 57

5.2

Vegetation cover and potential. ........................................................................................................................... 57

5.3

Categories of fishponds. ...................................................................................................................................... 59

6.1

Map format for Community-Based Forest Management Agreement map development. ........................ 71

6.2

Map codes and colors. .......................................................................................................................................... 71

6.2a

Color codes used in Participatory Coastal Resource Assessment maps of Coastal Resource Management Project learning areas. ................................................................................................................................. 71

6.2b

Suggested codes for traditional fishing methods, illegal activities, other traditional and subsistence
fishing methods (T1-T100).................................................................................................................................. 72

6.2c

Illegal fishing/uses (IF1-IF50). ........................................................................................................................... 72

6.2dLegal but controversial fishing methods (perceived as destructive/depletive) (C1-C10). ......................... 72

6.2e

Other uses and activities (A1-A50). ................................................................................................................... 73

6.2f

Common coastal resource management issues and suggested codes (IS1-IS100). .................................... 73

6.3

Examples of tree zones. ....................................................................................................................................... 79

6.4

Data record form. ................................................................................................................................................. 83

List of figures and boxes
FIGURES
1.1

Mangroves and their ecological and economic benefits. .................................................................................. 2

1.2

Fish, crabs, shrimps and shellfish are nourished by mangrove leaf detritus. ................................................ 3

2.1

A typical nursery layout. ....................................................................................................................................... 14

2.2

Hardening bed. ...................................................................................................................................................... 16

2.3

Soil bagging under a shed. ................................................................................................................................... 20

2.4

Germination of small to medium-size seeds. ................................................................................................... 21

2.5

Germination of bakauan species (and other propagules) directly sown in plastic bag. ............................. 21

3.1

Example sketch map. ............................................................................................................................................ 32

3.2

Undergrowth vegetation like the mangrove fern (lagolo), herbs and vines are removed to prepare the site
for planting. ............................................................................................................................................................ 32

3.3

Direct planting of propagules (1/3 of length buried). ................................................................................... 33

3.4

Field planting of potted seedlings (root collar at ground level). ................................................................... 34

3.5

Potted bakauan wildlings. ..................................................................................................................................... 34

3.6

Barnacles encrusted on bakauan trunk. .............................................................................................................. 36

3.7

Thinning operation in natural stand of bakauan. ............................................................................................. 37

3.8

One of the most successful and oldest production forests in the country located at Banacon, Getafe,
Bohol. ...................................................................................................................................................................... 38

3.9

Protection plantation established to protect causeway of Pangangan, Calape, Bohol. ............................. 38

3.10

A firewood harvester with freshly cut wood. ................................................................................................... 39xMangrove Management Handbook

3.11

Strip cutting of trees. ............................................................................................................................................ 41

5.1

Active vs. managed fishpond. .............................................................................................................................. 55

5.2

Mangrove coverage approximation. ................................................................................................................... 58

5.3

Possible activities in the proposed site area. ..................................................................................................... 60

5.4

Sketch map of fishpond, complete with dike modification directions. ....................................................... 64

5.5

Sketch map as shown in 5.4, but with further information. .......................................................................... 66

5.6

Empang Parit pond layout in Sinjai. ................................................................................................................... 68

5.7

Cross section of Empang Parit pond at Sinjai. ................................................................................................ 68

6.1

A sketch map. ......................................................................................................................................................... 76

6.2

Base map procedures. ........................................................................................................................................... 78

6.3

Land use map. ........................................................................................................................................................ 79

6.4

Field verification map. .......................................................................................................................................... 81

6.5

Examples of latitude and longitude points to note a boundary area. .......................................................... 90

6.6

Final Geographic Information System-drawn map. ........................................................................................ 90

7.1

A typical mangrove nursery operation. .............................................................................................................. 91

7.2

A typical mangrove plantation. ........................................................................................................................... 92

7.3

A Community-Based Forest Management Agreement awarding ceremony. ............................................... 93

7.4

A typical abandoned fishpond for reversion. ................................................................................................... 94

BOXES
6.1

Making a map for display. .................................................................................................................................... 82

6.2.

How to determine tides. ....................................................................................................................................... 84

List of acronyms
AWP/RUP Annual Work Plan/Resource Use Plan
ANR

Assisted Natural Regeneration

BFAR

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

CBFMA

Community-Based Forest Management Agreement

CDA

Cooperative Development Authority

CDF

Countryside Development Fund

CENRO

Community Environment and Natural Resources Office

CIDA

Canadian International Development Agency

COCommunity Organizer

CRMF

Community Resource Management Framework

CRMP

Coastal Resource Management Project

CSC

Certificate of Stewardship Contract

DA

Department of Agriculture

DAO

Department Administrative Order

DENR

Department of Environment and Natural Resources

DILG

Department of Interior and Local Government

DOLE

Department of Labor and Employment

EO

Executive Order

FLA

Fishpond Lease Agreement

GIS

Geographic Information System

GPS

Global Positioning System

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Mangrove Management Handbook

HHW

Higher High Water

IRA

Internal Revenue Allotment

IRUP

Interim Resource Use Permit

ISFP

Integrated Social Forestry Program

LGU

Local Government Unit

LLW

Lower Low Water

MAO

Municipal Agricultural Officer/Municipal Agriculture Office

MC

Memorandum Circular

MFA

Mangrove-Friendly Aquaculture

MHHW

Mean Highest High Water

MLLW

Mean Lowest Low Water

MMC

Mangrove Management Component

MPDC

Municipal Planning and Development Council

MSA

Mangrove Stewardship Agreement

NAMRIA

National Mapping and Resource Information Agency

NGO

Nongovernment Organization

PCRA

Participatory Coastal Resource Assessment

PENRO

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources OfficePO

People's Organization

PPDO

Provincial Planning and Development Officer

SB

Sangguniang Bayan

SEAFDEC

Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center

SEC

Securities and Exchange Commission

TWG

Technical Working GroupForeword
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) takes pride in producing this Mangrove
Management Handbook as the accepted Philippine government information guide to assist coastal communities in the
rehabilitation, management, protection and maintenance of the mangrove forests of the country and the coastal
environment as a whole. This handbook will strengthen our capability to enhance the mangrove forests, thereby
contributing positively in the productivity and maintenance of coastal ecosystems. It clearly identifies the roles andresponsibilities of the communities, the local government units, the field personnel of the department and the otherpartners in mangrove management and development.
The DENR enjoins all users of this handbook to work together for the sustainable management of ourmangrove forest resources.
To this end, the DENR conveys gratitude and appreciation to the Coastal Resource Management Project and theunwavering support of the United States Agency for International Development, for without them this publication
would not have been possible.

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND
NATURAL RESOURCES
Diliman, Quezon City
Philippines

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Mangrove Management Handbook

Preface
This Mangrove Management Handbook is comprised of six chapters packed full of useful information on how toprotect and manage mangroves as a natural and productive resource. It is intended to help people anywhere who wish
to become stewards of mangrove forest resources. Peoples organizations, nongovernment organizations and local
government are the primary audience but of course others can benefit from the information presented in thisvolume.
The mangrove forest resources of the Philippines have deteriorated significantly during the last 50 years. The
country now has less than 120,000 hectares of mangroves remaining and much of that is only secondary growth andby no means pristine. The culprits in the decline of mangroves are many but the primary one is conversion toaquaculture ponds and more recently conversion to urban land reclamation and other land uses. If this trend
continues, there will be virtually no mangroves left in the Philippines after another 50 years.
The natural ecological and economic benefits lost with mangrove loss are significant and non-retrievable. One
hectare of healthy mangrove forest supports fisheries alone worth at least P20,000 (US$500) per year. In addition,
there are values for wood, erosion control and waste absorption that vary from site to site but are minimally worth
more than the fisheries value. This means that direct economic revenues from a healthy mangrove forest covering one
hectare is conservatively P40,000 (US$1,000). It is difficult to find a natural system that produces this kind of revenue
without any investment except protection, and that has practical and economic values at the same time. As we lose
these benefits, we as a society, will pay many times more than the cost of this destruction.
This volume holds many answers about how we can protect and manage our mangroves and how we can increase
the area of healthy mangrove forest in the country. These are simple procedures understandable by most people. The
key is finding the will power to put them into practical use. Here, political and personal support will make thedifference. Let us start saving our mangrove forests now!

COASTAL RESOURCEMANAGEMENT PROJECT

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Mangrove Management Handbook

Acknowledgments
The individuals and organizations who have contributed to the review and completion of this document include:
From the Coastal Resource Management Project (CRMP) Project Management Office, Department of Environment
and Natural Resources, Region 7:¨¨¨

Regional Executive Director Jeremias L. Dolino
Regional Executive Director Augustus L. Momongan
Regional Technical Director Florendo B. Barangan

From the Regional Technical Review Committee:¨¨¨¨Ms. Emma E. Melana, Chief, Research Division, Ecosystems Research and Development Service (ERDS)
Mr. Joselito Alcaria, Project Manager, Coastal Environment Program (CEP)
Mr. Nicomedes Armilla, Chief, Land Evaluation Party, Forest Management Service (FMS)
Mr. Juanito R. Pua, Chief, Community-Based Forest Management Office, FMS

From the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Region 7:¨¨

Regional Director Corazon Corrales
Mr. Numeriano Candado, Chief, Licensing Section

Those providing editorial and overall support include:
¨
¨
¨
¨
¨
¨
¨
¨

Dr. Catherine A. Courtney, Chief of Party, CRMP
Dr. Alan T. White, Deputy Chief of Party, CRMP
Ms. Evelyn Deguit, Community Development Advisor
Mr. Stuart Green, Learning Area Coordinator for Bohol
Ms. Rebecca P. Smith, Information, Education and Communication Coordinator, CRMP
Mr. Thomas Bayer, Coordinator, Training Component, CRMP
Mr. Ferdinand S. Esguerra, Communication Specialist, CRMP
Dr. Leticia B. Dizon, Editor, CRMP

The Natural Resources Management Project for the following cross references of this publication:¨¨Guide to Developing and Implementing Community-Based Forest Management Agreement (CBFMA)
Monitoring
CBFMA Application Guide

We also thank numerous other individuals for their contribution to this handbook whose names we may have
inadvertently missed.
THE AUTHORS

xviii Mangrove Management Handbook

List of scientific names,
local terms and glossary oftechnical terms
LOCAL NAME
Api-api
Bakauan babae
Bakauan bato
Bakauan lalaki
BakauanBungalon puti
Bungalon
BusainButa-buta
Diluario
Dungon-lati
Kulasi
LagoloLangarai
Nilad
Nipa
Pagatpat
Pagatpat baye
PedadaPiapi
Pototan lalaki
PototanSaging-saging
Tabau
Tabigi
TangalTingloy-

SCIENTIFIC NAME
Avicennia officinalis
Rhizophora mucronata
Rhizophora stylosa
Rhizophora apiculata
Rhizophora spp.
Avicennia alba
Avicennia marina
Bruguiera gymnorrhiza
Excoecaria agallocha
Acanthus ebractcatus
Heritiera littoralis
Lumnitzera racemosa
Acrostichum aureum
Bruguiera parviflora
Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea
Nypa fruticans
Sonneratia alba (Gedabu)
Sonneratia ovata
Sonneratia caseolaris
Avicennia lanata
Bruguiera cylindrica
Bruguiera sexangula
Aegiceras corniculatum
Lumnitzera littoria
Xylocarpus granatum
Ceriops tagal
Acanthus ilicifolius

LOCAL TERMS
Amatong
Bahalina
Banca
Bantay-dagat-

Fish aggregating device made of piled logs/rocks that serve as a niche to marine life
Local wine made of coconut sap or juice fermented with tangal bark
Dugout canoe/boat
Multisectoral team assigned to check illegal fishingxx

Mangrove Management Handbook

Bantay-bakauan
Barangay
Dagami
Darak
KagawadSangguniang Bayan-

Multisectoral team assigned to check illegal cutting of mangroves in the coastal area
BarrioRice stalk
Rice hull
Representative of the municipal council (Sangguniang Bayan)
Municipal council

GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS
Aquasilviculture
Detritus
Enhancement
Hardening-

Groundtruthing
Propagules-

Wildlings-

Pericarp-

Raising mudcrab/shrimp adjacent or under mangroves. Also known as silvofishery
Mangrove leaf particles coated with microorganism in the process of decomposition
Rehabilitation by increasing the number of seedlings of planting desirable species
The conditioning of seedlings through gradual exposure to sunlight and controlledwatering prior to outplanting
Verifying map data on the groundThe germinating seeds of the Family Rhizophoraceae while still attached to the mothertree. Also known as viviparous seeds
Propagules/seeds that germinate and grow naturally on the forest floor, thecharacteristic of which resembles that of the seedings/propagules being raised in thenursery. These are sometimes collected using spade (earth-balled or bare-root) andpotted in the nursery
The walls of ripened ovary of the fruit

Chapter 1
The importance of mangroves
INTRODUCTION
his chapter provides basic information on mangroves specifically:

T

♦
♦
♦

Ecological and economic benefits/functions
Threats
Protection and management strategies

In addition, four management alternatives for mangroves are suggested for peoplesorganizations (POs), nongovernment organizations (NGOs), community organizers(COs) and others interested in the rehabilitation and sustainable management of thecountrys mangrove resources.
What is Mangrove?
Mangrove is a type of forest growing along tidal
mudflats and along shallow water coastal areas extending
inland along rivers, streams and their tributaries where
the water is generally brackish. The mangrove ecosystemis dominated by mangrove trees as the primary producer
interacting with associated aquatic fauna, social andphysical factors of the coastal environment.
The mangrove flora consists of 47 true mangrovesand associated species belonging to 26 families (Melana
and Gonzales 1996). True mangroves grow in the
mangrove environment; associated species may growon other habitat types such as the beach forest andlowland areas. A useful field guide to some Philippine
mangrove species has been published by the Departmentof Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),
Region 7 (Melana and Gonzales 1996).
The mangrove fauna is made up of shore birds,
some species of mammals (monkeys, rats, etc.), reptiles,
mollusks, crustaceans, polychaetes, fishes and insects.

In 1918, some 450,000 ha of mangroves existed in
the Philippines (Brown and Fischer 1918). According to
DENR 1995 statistics, conversion to fishponds, prawn
farms, salt ponds, reclamation and other forms ofindustrial development has reduced the mangrove area
to 117,700 hectares.

ECOLOGICALAND
ECONOMIC BENEFITS/
FUNCTIONS
Figure 1.1 shows the primary ecological andeconomic benefits and functions of the mangrove
ecosystem and these include the following:♦

Mangroves provide nursery grounds forfish, prawns and crabs, and support fisheries production in coastal waters. Almost
every living thing needs a safe place when it isyoung, small and fragile. Like human babies,

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Mangrove Management Handbook

Figure 1.1. Mangroves and their ecological and economic benefits (Berjak et al. 1977).

CHAPTER 1The

young fish, shrimp, crabs and other animals inthe sea need a safe place to grow, away frommany predators. Only those young animals thatfind refuge survive to grow to full size. Smaller
fish or shrimp swimming in open waters may
soon be eaten by larger fish. Mangroves are goodnurseries because they provide hiding places foryoung animals. The arched-shaped roots of the
bakauan mangroves and the finger-like roots of
the api-api and piapi mangroves are good examples. This protection, along with the abundant food supply that comes from mangrove
leaves, make mangrove areas very good nurseries for many important sea animals. For every
hectare of mangrove cut down, a corresponding reduction in fish catch is estimated at 1.08
tons per hectare per year.
♦

Mangroves produce leaf litter and detrital matter, which are valuable sources offood for animals in estuaries and coastal
waters. The leaves that fall from a mangrove
tree break up and decompose into small pieces
known as detritus, some too small to be seenby the human eye (see Figure 1.2). The detritus
is broken down by bacteria, fungi and othermicroorganisms that nourish marine animals.
Mangroves contribute about 3.65 tons of litter
per hectare per year.

importance of mangroves3

Figure 1.2 Fish, crabs, shrimps and shellfish arenourished by mangrove leaf detritus.

♦

Mangroves serve as recreational grounds
for bird watching and observation of otherwildlife. Mangroves provide shelter for local
and migratory wildlife and serve as roosting
and foraging grounds. They also provide access to highly diverse mangrove plants and animals and their adaptations, making them ideal
ecological destinations and field laboratories forbiology and ecology students and researchers.

♦♦

Mangroves protect the environment byprotecting coastal areas and communities
from storm surges, waves, tidal currents andtyphoons. The crown and stem of mangroves
serve as physical barriers. Their specialized roots
trap and hold sediments and siltation from theuplands. Further, mangroves promote clear
water and the growth of corals and seagrasses.

Mangroves are a good source of wood andtimber and nipa shingles for housing materials, firewood and charcoal, and of poles
for fish traps. Mangrove seeds andpropagules can be harvested and sold. Fish,crustaceans and mollusks can also be harvested from mangroves. Aquaculture andcommercial fisheries also depend on mangroves for juvenile and mature fish species.
Last but not the least, mangroves are
sources of tannin, alcohol and medicine.

♦

Mangroves produce organic biomass (carbon) and reduce organic pollution innearshore areas by trapping or absorption.
Mangroves contribute 1,800-4,200 grams ofcarbon per square meter per year (approximating the contribution of the tropical rain forestand 10 times higher than primary production in
the open ocean).

Dixon (1989) estimates the value of a completemangrove ecosystem to be in the range of US$500 to
US$1,550 per hectare per year, the minimum valuationof a loss when mangroves are converted to other land
use forms. White and Cruz-Trinidad (1998) use US$600
per hectare per year as the acceptable economic equivalent
to indicate what is lost if mangroves are converted toother uses.

Mangrove Management Handbook

THREATS
Table 1.1 enumerates the various conditions that cancause damage to mangroves.
Some pests and diseases that destroy mangroves
include: (1) barnacles which envelope stems of young
bakauan, causing roots to rot; (2) tiny beetles (Phoecilips
fallax) which attack propagules, thereby preventing themfrom germinating; the worm-like Diopatra cuprea whichcause defoliation of leaves and seedlings; and crabs
which girdle newly planted propagules and young
seedlings.
From 1918 to 1970, an average of 3,100 hectaresof mangrove were lost, increasing to 8,200 hectares from1970 to 1985. These losses were mainly attributed tofishpond conversion.

Currently, 95% of remaining mangroves aresecondary growth and only 5% are old or primarymangroves mostly found in Palawan (Melana 1994).
Mangrove forests remaining along Philippine coasts areof much lower quality than those found early in the
century and cover less than one-third of the original
area (White and Cruz-Trinidad 1998).

PROTECTION AND
MANAGEMENTSTRATEGIES
Table 1.2 presents strategies for the protection andmanagement of mangroves.

MANAGEMENTOPTIONS
We sug gest four management options for
mangroves:

Table 1.1. Threats to mangroves.
♦♦

DIRECT (Human)lConversion of mangroves to fishponds andsalt bedslReclamation of mangrove areas for various
developments (such as wharves, piers,
airports, housing projects, etc.)lPollution and siltationl
Dikes and structures obstructing waterways
and tidal inundation – this means that the
tidal flow is prevented by these structures
affecting nutrient distribution, salinity andtemperature gradients, enhancing accumulation of biogas and other products of organic
decomposition causing mangrove vegetation
to dielOverexploitation/utilizationlDisturbance due to gleaning, fish landing,
etc.
INDIRECT (Natural phenomenon)lPests (diseases)lTyphoonsl
Sea level rise due to global warming causing
polar ice cap to melt

NURSERYESTABLISHMENT&MANAGEMENTMANAGEMENTOPTIONS

PLANTATIONESTABLISHMENT&MANAGEMENTCOMMUNITY-BASEDFORESTMANAGEMENTAGREEMENTFISHPONDRESTORATIONRESOURCE MAPPING

4♦Mangrove nursery establishment and management. Chapter 2 discusses the site selection,
design, operation and management of nurseries for Philippine mangrove species. Nursery
technologies ensure the availability of planting
materials and the production of high quality
seedlings.

♦

Mangrove plantation establishment andmanagement. Chapter 3 provides information on developing and managing mangrove
plantations and the remaining natural forest
stand to maximize the benefit to the coastal ecosystem. The chapter also discusses mangrove

CHAPTER 1The

Table 1.2.

tProtected areas (under the Protected Area
Management Board)qstrict nature reserveqnatural parkqnatural monumentqwildlife sanctuaryqprotected landscapes and seascapesqresource reserveqnatural biotic areasqother categories established by law,
conventions or international agreements inwhich the Philippine Government is asignatory
Contracts, permits and leasesq
Mangrove Stewardship Agreement (MSA)q
Certificate of Stewardship Contract (CSC)q
Community-Based Forest Management
Agreement (CBFMA)q
Nipa Lease Permitq
Other Lawful Permit

3. Nonregulatory techniquestPublic educationqseminars/workshopsqmeetings
qvideo and slide showsqdialoguesqpublications on the importance ofmangroves, alternative livelihood,sustainable developmenttTraining on mangrove rehabilitation andmanagement, alternative livelihood, enterprise development, cooperativestHabitat enhancement/rehabilitationqmangrove reforestationqassisted natural regenerationqenrichment plantingqrestocking of diminishing speciestResearch and monitoringqmangrove resource assessmentqfishery assessmentq
growth and yield studiesqsocioeconomic profilingqcitizen monitoring of livelihood projectsq
impact monitoringt

Community organizingqbakauan plantersqfishers’ associationsqcooperatives
qwomen’s organizationstSpecial and pilot projectsqcommunity coastal cleanupqwaste managementqfood productionqpopulation controlt

Alternative livelihood and other interventionsq
sea ranching/mariculture/polycultureqfisheryq
cottage industryq
GO/NGO interventions (credit assistance, medical missions, etc.)

2. Regulatory techniquest5Mangrove protection and management strategies.

1. Assignment of users or property rightstimportance of mangroves

Use of prohibitionsq
no illegal fishponds and conversion ofmangrovesq
no mangrove cuttingtUtilization regulation based on affirmed
resource use plan or based on use prescribed bygovernmentt

Exploitation limitationsq
close portions of mangrove areas from shellcollection, boat docking, swimming, frycollection, etc.
qcompartmentalize mangrove areas to allow
compatible uses in a rotationt

Enforcement of forest lawsqneeds to be coordinated and inter-/intraparticipative (LGU, community, DENR andother entities)

6

Mangrove Management Handbook
plantation objectives, plantation site identification/selection, choice of species to plant, andplanning and design of the plantation.
Nonregulatory techniques in Table 1.2 are especially relevant strategies in mangrove plantation planning.

♦

Community-Based Forest Management
Agreement (CBFMA) is a production sharing agreement entered into between a community and the government to develop, utilize, manage and conserve a specific portionof the forestland, consistent with the principles of sustainable development pursuant
to a Community Resource Management
Framework (CRMF). The CRMF is a document that defines the terms and procedures
for accessing, using and protecting natural
resources within the CBFMA area. These
terms and procedures are to be formulatedby the community with the assistance of the
DENR, LGU and other private entities.
Chapter 4 enumerates the benefits that the
CBFMA provides to a peoples organization;
the steps in the CBFMA application; and thework requirements of mangrove forest stewards. It also gives information on working withbarangay (village) councils and Sangguniang Bayans(SBs) (municipal councils) for assistance in theapplication for a CBFMA. Details are provided
on developing resolutions, ordinances and letters of support which are requisites to obtaining a CBFMA. Suggestions are put forward on
obtaining financial and other support from thelocal municipality of the peoples organization.
♦

Fishpond restoration. Chapter 5 discusses
another mangrove management alternative:
modifying abandoned or illegal fishponds in
CBFMA areas to harvest firewood, poles,
shells, fish, crabs and to provide food andshelter to crabs, shrimp, shells and fish incoastal waters. Aquasilviculture, which is theconversion of a fishpond area into a sitewhere mangroves can grow and fish canthrive, is suggested as a fishpond restoration
strategy. Steps in restoring and modifying
fishponds are enumerated in the chapter.

Resource mapping (Chapter 6) can support thefour management alternatives suggested. You do nothave to do it all the time but in most cases it might
be a good idea to resource-map your mangrove area,
especially if you are doing a CBFMA.

CHAPTER 1The

importance of mangroves

Aspects ofMangrove
Management
All photos by Calixto E. Yao except as indicatedBakauan bato plantation within the Olango Bird
Sanctuary, Cebu.

In enhancement planting, horizontal branches of old
trees are pruned to create an opening to permit
sunlight enough to nourish young plants.

Traditional mudcrab traps.

Participants in a mangrove trainors training during a demonstration ofbagging operation.

7

8Mangrove Management Handbook

The Pangangan Mangrove Causeway in Bohol was planted by astudent to protect the infrastructure from strong waves.

A portion of Paden’s Pass, formerly Banacon Highway,
Banacon Island, in Getafe, Bohol, in honor of the late
Eugenio Paden, who started the most successful communitybased mangrove rehabilitation in the Philippines (photo by
Fer Esguerra).

Mangrove dwellers trying their luck on throw nets, Mabini,
Bohol.

Dead standing bakauan lalaki after being enclosed with dike,
an illegal fishpond, in contrast with the dense stand in the
background.

CHAPTER 1The

importance of mangroves

9

Pagatpat (Sonneratia alba) and pagatpat baye (Sonneratia ovata, one of theunrecorded species in the Philippines) in contrast. The former has a cup-likecalyx, upturned sepals and boomerang-shaped seeds; the latter has a flat calyx,
sepals touching the fruit and corky, granular seeds.

Busain (Bruguiera gymnorrhiza) with its solitary (oneper peduncle) bright red flower, Tandag, Surigao del Sur(photo by Didit Quebido).

Participatory Coastal Resource Assessment mangrove site
assessment, Handumon, Handayan Island, Getafe, Bohol (photoby Toni Parras).

Community in action within the CBFMA area conducting pruning before
enhancement planting.

10

Mangrove Management Handbook

Knee roots of pototan (Bruguiera sexangula). Busain,
langarai, pototan lalaki, tangal and malatangal areother species with the same aerial roots.

Boat load of nipa shingles from Cogtong Bay, Bohol for
shipment to Leyte, where the cost of nipa is higher.

A typical mangrove nursery established by coastal
barangays of Palompon, Leyte for mangrove projects,
an offshoot of the training conducted by the Coastal
Resource Management Project.

Chapter 2
Mangrove nurseryestablishment and management
INTRODUCTIONT

his chapter provides POs, COs, LGUs and NGOs with information on how
to select sites, design, operate and manage mangrove nurseries. Historically,
mangrove plantations have relied on natural regeneration and propagules asplanting materials for their establishment. The development of nursery technologies ensures a reliable source of planting materials and helps POs minimize their reliance on the purchase of these materials from external vendors. Also, by using materials thathave been started in a nursery, the PO will likely succeed. Planting mature and establishedplants decreases mortality at the early stages. Moreover, if a mangrove nursery is large
enough it can become a source of income through the sale of mangrove planting materials
to other POs and government agencies.
What is a Mangrove
Nursery?
A mangrove nursery is a place forraising and tending mangrove
seedlings until they are ready forplanting or for sale to othermangrove planters.

SELECTION OF
THE NURSERY
SITE
Site selection is the first step inestablishing a nursery. As shown in
Table 2.1, poor site selection can
result in a myriad of problems.

Table 2.1.

Problems resulting from poor nursery
selection.
ProblemLikely reason

High mortality due to No nearby water source makes
watering difficult.
underwatering.
High mortality due to flooding. Site placed in a floodplain, tidal
range or an area subject tointense runoff from rainfall.
High mortality due to low level Site is too remote from thebarangay.
of care.
Loss of plants from theft.
Site is too remote from thebarangay.
High mortality due to lack of Site is too remote from a proper
source of appropriate potproper soil for potting.
ting soil.
High mortality due to over- Site is too small for the numberof plants being grown.
crowded plants.
High mortality due to long-dis- Site is not centrally located.
tance transport.

12

Mangrove Management Handbook

General Criteria for the Selection of
Nursery Site
The cost and quality of seedlings produced in anursery depend on the efficiency of its operation. Criticalto this are the nurserys water supply, its location andaccessiblity, the drainage and the size of its area. These
are described in detail below.
Water supplyLocating a nursery near abrackishwater or freshwater source should be easy sincemangroves are located in the coastal zone. Daily watering
is a basic requirement for a nursery; thus, secure accessto piped water or situate the nursery near a well. While
locating the nursery close to a river is a good idea, it isnecessary to keep a certain distance to avoid flooding
during rainstorms or high tides.
Central location and accessibilityIdeally thenursery should be located close to where PO members
live and close to the mangrove area. If this is not possible,
find a place close to the barangay or one where it can beeasily reached by banca so that seedlings can be readilytransported for planting and potting soil can be broughtin for seed beds and pots. The area should be open
enough to ensure that the seedlings get enough light.
For security reasons, it would also be wise to locate thenursery site near peoples homes.
DrainageSince mangroves are found in or nearareas influenced by tides and subject to flooding, it iscritical to select a site that drains well and is relatively
flat. Proper drainage is essential because plants become
waterlogged when standing water is always present andworking in the area becomes difficult. Therefore, whenevaluating an area as a potential nursery, the surface ofthe ground should be examined. If it is so moist andsoft that puddles of water form, it is probably not agood site for a nursery.
Size of areaThe size of an area is the lastcontributory factor in nursery efficiency. If you are forced
to work in different nurseries because there is simply
not enough room to have all your seedlings at one site,
imagine the extra work you will have to put in visiting
each nursery on a daily basis. As a general rule of thumb,about 325 square meters is needed for seed bed. (Thisassumes 10,000 seedlings per hectare with about 20

percent allowance for mortality.) Add another 100 to
200 square meters for work spacepotting, laying seed
beds and other activities.
As a general rule, a PO needs 325 square meters ofspace for every hectare it intends to plant, plus another100 to 200 square meters for work area.

Types of Nurseries
Permanent nurseries are for mangrove planting
over an extended period of time. They tend to havemore developed working areas with small sheds toprovide shelter from the sun and the rain.
Subsidiary nurseries are designed for areas locatedat a distance from the permanent nursery, or for areas
separated from the permanent nursery by such naturalfeatures as large rivers, bays or rough water that make it
difficult to move the seedlings (risking damage duringtransport). Subsidiary nurseries may operate for several
years as in permanent nursery.
Temporary nurseries are generally set up where
there is a small planting area (typically less than 5 hectares)
which could be planted over a one-year period. These
nurseries are not nearly as elaborate as permanent or
subsidiary nurseries.

DESIGNING AND
BUILDING THE NURSERY
After selecting a nursery site, you should think about
the design. There are several steps in this process:¨¨

Identify who will work on the nursery project
Determine the boundary and area of the nursery¨

Develop a plan for the nursery¨

Build the nursery

CHAPTER 2

Mangrove nursery establishment and13

management
Identifying Who Will Work on the
Nursery Project

Table 2.2.

Identifying who will work on the nursery project is
crucial to a community-based effort; yet, this step is often
overlooked. The PO must decide who will be responsible
for all the phases of the project. While it is possible for
only one or two people to identify the nursery site, as
many as ten or more will be needed to design and build
it. The CO should remind the PO officers to meet so
the group can discuss who will be responsible for theseimportant tasks.

Shape of area

PO officers should publicly acknowledge theindividuals who identified the site and usethat as an opportunity to request volunteers
for the next stepdesigning and building thenursery.

SquareRectangle¨

Once your PO has determined the general locationof the nursery area, you need to determine its boundary
and area. Develop a sketch map showing the boundaryof the nursery area, including the lengths of its
dimensions.

Designing the nursery is vital to success. Instead of
placing potting soil in one place, seed beds in another,

Multiply length of two equalsides.
Multiply length of longest side
by length of shortest side.

First, determine where the seedlings will be loaded
for field planting. Questions that need to be resolved
include:Determining the Boundary andArea of the Nursery

Developing a Plan for the Nursery

Likely reason

and so on, carefully consider what goes where. The groupin charge of nursery activities should do this planning
exercise. Developed as part of locating the nursery, thesketch map in Figure 3.1 is a useful planning tool.

¨The sketch map need not be a polished map. Rather,it only needs to present basic information about theshape of the area and the approximate lengths of eachof its sides. (Chapter 6, Resource Mapping of Mangroves,provides information on how to prepare a sketch map.)
As much as possible, lay out the nursery as a square orrectangle. After completing the map, determine if thearea is large enough to support the nursery management
activities. Since the shape of the site will not likely be aperfect square or rectangle, it may be necessary toestimate the distances with simple arithmetic to gauge
the area size as illustrated in Table 2.2.

Formulas to determine nurseryareas.

Will they be taken to the planting area by truck
or banca?
Is there a place in the nursery area which people
think will be most convenient for loading seedlings?

Is Our Nursery Area Big Enough?
The calculation to answer that question is fairly
simple. First, determine how many hectares ofplantation your PO expects to put in every year. Next,
multiply that number by 325 and add 100 (or 200).
The total is the area requirement for the nursery.
Example: If you intend to plant 10 hectares per year,
then (325 x 10) + 100 = 3,350 square meters is theminimum area to meet the seedling requirement. A
larger area is better than a smaller one. If the site is
too small, then:¨¨¨An area of sufficient size will have to befound;
An additional area will need to be identified
and two nurseries established; orReduce target area for annual planting.

14

Mangrove Management Handbook

The location of the loading area determines whereto place the hardening beds. Figure 2.1 shows a sample
diagram of a nursery which is just one of the many ways
to design a site.

Why is the Location of the Hardening Bed
so Important?
In order to answer that question, ask another:
Which is heavier, the tongki or the seedling?
Seedlings weigh around 500 grams, considerably
heavier than the seeds or tongki. Remember, inthe beginning planting will involve thousands ofseedlings (1,000 seedlings weigh around 500
kilograms). That is ample reason to situate thehardening beds near the seedling loading area.
To begin planning, basic nursery components must
be understood. These include:¨¨¨Building the Nursery
Building the nursery will probably require more
people than there are in the committee. Because everyone
will benefit from the nursery, it is suggested that this bea task for the entire PO. Not everyone, however, isrequired to take part in the actual construction. Other
important activities include:
¨
¨
¨

¨

¨
¨
¨
¨
¨
¨

Seed germination beds
Seed box
Germinating shed
Potting shed
Bagging and storage shed

Potting soil and sawdust stockpiles
Compost beds
Seedling hardening beds

Buying or obtaining the necessary materials
Transporting materials or workers to the site
Buying or lending tools (shovels, hammers,
bolos, etc.) needed to build and operate the nursery
Preparing lunch for those working on the nursery
Helping those working on the nursery in theirfull-time job

Site preparationIf possible, the nursery siteshould be an open area to avoid the cutting of trees.
Should cutting be necessary, extra care should be
exercised in trimming branches to let in more sunlight.

Figure 2.1. A typical nursery layout.

CHAPTER 2

Mangrove nursery establishment and15

management
It is not essential to clear all the trees and shrubs; they
can be used to shade some areas of the nursery, andleaves and twigs from removed vegetation can be used
to start the compost beds. Be sure to remove all stumps
and pull up all grasses including the roots to prevent
regrowth.
After being cleared, the site should be leveled. Thiscan be accomplished by cutting through the area andbreaking up any lumps of dirt. After cutting, the low
and high areas should be leveled by digging the highlevels and putting the soil in the low spots. Excess soil
can be stockpiled at the potting soil area.
Once clearing and leveling have been completed, thenursery should be laid out using the prepared map. With
twine and a measuring tape or rope, determine the lengths
and widths of the various parts of the nursery, stake out
each of the nursery component areas and begin
construction.
Seed germination bedsThese 1 x 10 meter beds
are raised slightly (5 to 10 centimeters) above the levelof the surrounding area by adding potting soil to eachbed or by digging out the soil from the 40-centimeterwide area immediately next to the beds. Keep the soil
from spreading by lining each bed with a wood orbamboo curb. If boards are used, dig a 2- to 3-centimetergroove around the bed and slot the board in. If bamboo
is used, a similar (though wider) depression should be
dug. A line of concrete blocks (only one block high)makes an excellent curb, but tends to be expensive.
Seed boxesA number of seed boxes will beneeded if you choose to grow trees from the pagatpat
group. Materials include:¨¨¨

Boards 1 centimeter thick, 10 centimeters wide
and at least 2 meters long
Plywood (at least 1 centimeter thick) for the box
base
Nails

Assuming that the seed boxes will be 30 x 35
centimeters, the boards and plywood should be cut
accordingly and nailed together. Drill a series of small
holes between 0.3 and 0.7 centimeters every 5 centimetersin the plywood base to allow water to drain. Fill the boxes

with three different layers of sand and stones: fill thebottom 5 centimeters with small stones (less than 1.5
centimeters), the next 3 centimeters with coarse sandand the top 2 centimeters with fine sand mixed withcompost and/or potting soil.
Germinating shedThe germinating shed is more
like a simple roof with no walls than a shed. Roughly 3
x 5 meters in area, it is constructed by simply putting infour pieces of bamboo with a woven cogon grass roof.
Under this roof is a simple bamboo table for the seedboxes. Place the legs of the table in cans filled with waterto prevent ants and other crawling insects from reaching
the seedlings.
Potting shedsPotting sheds can be made out ofnipa. Typically not smaller than 3 x 4 meters in area (andmaybe twice that), they are built with three walls; andinstead of a door, a fourth wall is kept open. Dependingon the wishes of the nursery workers, a bamboo tablefor potting can be built although potting is typically doneon the floor.
Bagging and storage shedsThese shelteringand storage sheds, which are also made with nipa, aresimilarly constructed. Since they can be used to store
nursery tools, these sheds could be enclosed and locked.
Potting soil and river sand The potting soil pileshould be at least 5 cubic meters in volume and the riversand pile at least 1 cubic meter. To protect the material
from rain, stage both piles under a roof similar to thatbuilt for the germinating shed. These materials may bebrought in by truck and should be staged close to thebagging shed.
Compost pilesCompost piles should also beplaced under a roof. Be sure that they are of sufficient
size to provide enough mulch for the nursery.
Seedling/hardening bedsUnlike germination
beds, hardening beds need not be raised. Figure 2.2 is an
example of a hardening bed. Hardening beds require a
temporary roof with several layers of covering (coconut
leaves or nipa shingles) but typically mesh nets gauge 14
to control the amount of light reaching the seedlings.
These beds are 20 to 30 meters long and 1 meter wide;bamboo poles can be used to support the roof. The roof

16

Mangrove Management Handbook
The group responsible for finding a site for thenursery and for setting it up may not like the day-to-day
management of the nursery. If that is the case, PO
officers should call a meeting to determine who isinterested in working in the nursery. Again, organizing acommittee to run the nursery is the best approach. (Thiscommittee should consist of at least five people to makethe management less work.)

What Are the Daily Activities at a Nursery?

Figure 2.2. Hardening bed.

should be at least 1.5 meters above the ground to allow
easy access to the seedlings. Usually the top layer of theroof is nipa followed by cogon grass on top of a fine meshnet. This enables nursery workers to remove a single
layer and allows more light to reach the plants over time.

OPERATING AND
Useful Nursery Tools
Hammer, saw, bolo, hoe, shovel, small shovel,rake, watering cans or boxes, wheel barrow, pick
mattock, spading fork

MANAGING THE
NURSERY
Once nursery construction is completed, organize
shifts to operate and manage the nursery on a daily basis.
This requires PO members to assume responsibility for
managing the nursery. Typically it takes 4 to 6 months togrow out seedlings to the point where they can betransplanted. This is a rather extended commitment but
it need not be a full-time job if there are several people
willing to work in the nursery.

Seedlings must be watered twice a day at the earlystage. Later, watering can be done once daily
towards the outplanting season (4 to 6 monthsold) to acclimatize seedlings. This activity is very
important and must be done religiously.
Otherwise, the seedlings may dehydrate. For anursery with 50,000 seedlings, this requires one
person watering 2 to 3 hours per day.
At least five hundred 4 x 6 inch bags can be filledwith potting soil by a single worker every day(assuming all the potting materials are ready).
The transfer of seedlings from seed boxes/seed
beds to plastic bags: Depending on the size of
seedlings a laborer can pot 600-1,000 seedlings in
an 8-hour day.

During the meeting, explain the daily work schedule,i.e., estimate how long the work will take. The CO should
work with the PO officers to decide on a schedule andactivities.
Emphasize that all of the PO members are
responsible for harvesting seeds and propagules, and fortransporting and planting seedlings. Remember that anursery can become a viable livelihood on its own.
Potting soil is also a source of income.
While running a nursery is not commonly thoughtof as a typical livelihood, it can be a moneymaking
proposition for those involved. As described in detailbelow, the typical activities that make up nursery
operations are:

CHAPTER 2

Mangrove nursery establishment and17

management
¨

¨
¨
¨

Collecting and transporting seeds andpropagules
Propagation practices
Maintenance of the seedlings
Preparation for planting

Collecting and Transporting Seeds
and Propagules
A proper supply of mangrove seeds and propagules
is one of the major obstacles to mangrove reforestationin the country, especially for less common species suchas pototan and bakauan babae, busain, tangal and tabigi. Thismay be one of the main reasons why the monoculture
plantation of bakauan bato is so common in Central
Visayas. Another problem is the large numbers of
seedlings needed to establish plantations. Upland forest
plantations typically have 2,000 seedlings per hectare.
Mangrove plantations range from 10,000 to 40,000
seedlings per hectare (assuming a spacing of 1 x 1 meter
to 0.5 x 0.5 meter respectively).
Timing of collectionCollecting propagules andseeds at the right time is critical. While collection ispossible from some mangrove species almost every
month of the year, peak seasons vary by area and date.
Knowing when to collect the seed or propagule also
makes the operation quicker and more efficient. Table
2.3 shows the approximate time of the fruiting season
for the major mangrove species on a province-wide level.
The information will not be exactly the same in eacharea, but this should provide a good idea of the generaltime to expect to find mature seeds and propagules.
Seeds or propagules are not always available. In thosecases, wildlings (young saplings less than 30 centimeterstall) may be used as planting material. Wildlings arecollected by balling with a spade. For a 10-centimeter
wildling, the diameter of the excavation should beapproximately 10 centimeters. For a 20-centimeter
wildling, 20 centimeters; for a 30-centimeter wildling,
30 centimeters. Insert the blade of the spade into thesoil at the appropriate distance from the wildling, lift up
the chunk of soil containing the wildling and gently wrap
mud around the root ball (this is known as mud paddling).
Place the wildlings in folded banana leaf sheets (in groupsof 50 or 100 for easy counting) for transportation to
the nursery and immediate potting.
The main characteristics of good quality seeds andpropagules are:

Hint
When collecting wildlings, always make certain thateach one has 2 to 4 leaves (for species that growfrom propagules (tongki). For other species, theseedling should be from 4 to 6 centimeters in height.
This ensures the wildling is strong enough totransplant. Also, be certain that sufficient pottingbags are available; wildlings will die if not potted
quickly.
¨¨¨A Nursery as Livelihood
Some people in the PO may challenge the ideathat a mangrove nursery can become a livelihood.
It certainly can. DENR is actively planting
mangroves or assisting LGUs and otherorganizations in planting mangroves by
providing them with planting materialtongki
or seedlings. If a nursery has sufficient capacity
to cover the needs of a plantation, it is possible
to sell the excess capacity to DENR or to otherPOs who do not want to develop a nursery. Make
certain you have a market before investing a lot
in growing additional seedlings.

¨

The material is of average to superior size.
They are free from defects and insect infestation.
They are fully mature.
They are fresh, without developed roots.

Selecting seeds and propagules with all of thesecharacteristics ensures a high rate of germination.
Identifying mature seeds and propagulesInmany cases, hundreds or thousands of seeds are wasted
because they are collected while still immature. This
wastes the time of the collectors and nursery operatorsand can reduce the overall success rate of the plantation.
It is important, therefore, to select seeds and propagulesthat are ready to grow. Signs and indicators of mature
fruits/propagules are as follows:¨

All trees from the bakauan and tangal groups

18

Mangrove Management Handbook

Table 2.3.

Best collection times for selected mangrove species (adapted from Palis et al.
1998).

Species

Climate Type* 1

Climate Type 2

Climate Type 3

Climate Type 4

Bakauan bato
Bakauan babae
Bakauan lalaki
TangalBusainPototan lalaki
Api-api
Bungalon
Pagatpat
TabigiJan & May
Oct-Dec
Aug & Sep
May
Jan; Oct-Dec
Jan-May; Oct
Jan-Feb; May & Jul
Apr, Jul; Nov & Dec
Aug-Nov
Aug-Nov

Feb-JulJan-Aug
Feb & Mar; Apr-Jun
Jan & Feb; May
Jan & Feb; May-Jul
May
Jan & Feb; Jun-Aug
Jan; May-Oct
Jan
Jan-AugFeb, Apr, May
Apr-JunMar & Apr
May; Nov & Dec
Feb & May
Apr-Jun**
Jan & Mar
Feb-May; Jul
Jan-AprJan & Feb
Jan & Feb
Jan & Mar; May & Jun**
May-Aug**Aug
Jan-Oct
Mar
Mar*Climate type refers to rainfall pattern. Type 1—Two pronounced seasons; dry from November to April, wet all other times.
Type 2—No dry season. Very pronounced rainfall in November. Type 3—No pronounced wet or dry season, but relatively dry
from November to April. Type 4—Rainfall distributed more or less evenly throughout the year.
**Species not identified in this climate type.

¨

¨

¨

¨

¨

exhibit a whitish to yellowish ring-like mark on
the propagule located 1 to 3 centimeters fromthe top of the pericarp (where it attached tothe mother tree). The ring is absent or verythin in propagules that are not yet ripe. The
wider the ring, which can be up to 5 centimeters, the more mature is the propagule.
Another indicator of maturity is color. The
propagules turn from green to brown as theymature.
The busain and pototan groups do not exhibit thering noted above, but immature green
propagules turn brownish or bronze as theymature. Mature propagules drop together withthe pericarp or fruit, unlike the bakauan and tangalgroups whose propagules drop without the pericarp.
In the pagatpat group, the fruit will turn shiny
yellowish to light green and soft when ripe.
In the tabigi group, the light green globular fruit
turns light brown with the lines on the fruit becoming prominent.
Dungon seeds turn from green to dark brown.

Methods of sorting and transporting seeds andpropagulesSuccessfully collecting the material is only
half the battle. Transporting the collected seeds andpropagules can be very difficult when handling big
volumes over long distances. Sorting of propagules isthe first stage in the transport process. Carefully inspect
your material to see if it is:¨¨¨MatureHealthyFree of insect infestation and physical injury

With larger fruits and propagules, inspect each one
to determine if it should be included in the shipment.
In the case of small seeds, it is harder but less important
to do this because the small seeds are generally muchlarger in number.
The next stage is the packing of the seeds orpropagules. Larger materials (e.g., the tongki or bakauan
propagules), can be packed in bundles of 50 or 100.
Bundles made out of palm or banana leaves should be
kept moist. Small seeds should be transported in bagswith a moist cloth placed on top of each bag. Be sure tokeep the cloth moist throughout the trip and do not
expose the materials to direct sunlight, as this will cause
damage. Wildlings, like the propagules, should also be
packed in groups of 50 or 100 in a folded banana leaf,
palm sheet, or gunny sack to protect plants from thesun while in transit.

CHAPTER 2

Mangrove nursery establishment and19

management
Table 2.4.

Indicators of maturity for some species of mangrove fruit (adapted from Field
1996).

Mangrove species

Seeds (S) or
propagules (P)Maturity indicator

Saging-saging

P

Fruits become lightly yellowish to reddish brown uponmaturity

Api-api, piapi, bungalon
and bungalon puti

P

Seed coat changes from green to light yellow. Seed coatbecomes wrinkly and oftentimes opens

Busain, pototan andpototan lalakiP

Tip of the hypocotyl changes from green to brown

TangalP

Ring-like mark immediately below the cap of the propaguleand yellow line approximately 1 to 2 centimeters from top of
propagule

Nipa

S

Seeds change from light brown to dark brown upon maturity
and turns lustrous to dull

TabigiS

Fruit changes from light brown to dark brown upon maturity

Bakauan and tangal group

P

Presence of ring-like mark (abscission layer) below thepericarp or cap (up to 1 centimeter wide)

Busain groupP

No ring-like mark; green propagule turns brownish/bronze
and drops without the pericarp or cap

PagatpatS

Dark green or yellowish fruits sometimes with cracks

Pagatpat baye and pedada

S

Fruits turn shiny or yellowish and soft

Tabigi group

S

Green fruits turn to brown with compartment becoming
prominent

If you are transporting the materials by pump boat
it is easy to keep them moist. Pour sea water over themtwo or three times a day (more if they are in direct
sunlight). If the boat is open, protect the shipment witha tarp or some coconut fronds. Do the same if you aretransporting the material by truck. Avoid placing the
propagules or seeds in direct sunlight.
Upon returning to the nursery, the seeds andpropagules must be prepared for planting or storage.
Allow small seeds to air-dry somewhat prior to storing.
Then place the seeds in polyethylene plastic bags, seal
the bags and store them at room temperature. Propagules
may be kept under shade for as long as 2 weeks without
adversely affecting their viability. Avoid placing them on
the ground or any moist surface to inhibit root
development.

Propagation Practices
Protect Your Investment!
Remember that a lot of effort and potential
earnings are tied up in these seeds, propagules
and seedlings. Protect them from drying out or
getting burned by the sun. Without protection,
the seeds and propagules will die; this directly
affects PO plantation earnings.

Propagation practices include the following activities
needed to germinate seeds and propagules and produce
seedlings:¨¨¨

Preparation of potting soil
Germination techniques
Potting20¨

Mangrove Management Handbookthat are sown or planted directly in the field andhave a high survival rate in areas not exposed tostrong waves. In cases where there is a need fornursery raised seedling (e.g., an area with unstable substrate), the species may be germinatedin a plastic bag. Table 2.5 provides the appropriate size for bagging each species.

Hardening

Preparation of potting soilThe growth ofseedlings in the nursery significantly depends on thequality of the potting soil. Fast root development isenhanced when the potting soil is porous. If possible,
use sandy-loam soil that is high in organic matter orcompost mixed with cured sawdust or rice stalks (dagami).
Pulverize and then screen these materials and thoroughly
mix the soil and organic matter (a 50:50 ratio is best).
Potting soil should always be prepared in advance to
avoid unnecessary delays in potting which can result inhigh seedling mortality, especially for wildlings. Thus, it
is a good idea to prepare potting soil of several cubic
meters and have it on hand at all times. Figure 2.3 showsa person filling bags for potting.

¨

Germination techniquesMangrove plantationsin the Philippines have tended to be monocultures of¨¨Figure 2.3. Soil bagging under a shed.
bakauan not only because of the absence of germination
information for other species but also because many of
the areas available for planting are open mudflats (which
are much better suited to the bakauan species). Below
are brief discussions on how to germinate some of the
major groups. Figures 2.4 and 2.5 provide someexamples of planting depth for selected species.
¨

Bakauan, tangal and busain groupsThese
groups all have viviparous seeds or propagules

Pagatpat group (pagatpat and pedada)Pagatpat hasa big potential for reforestation due to its wide
range of habitat from the seaward side and highsalinity to the landward portion. The boomerang-shape seeds of the pagatpat are planted orsown in a seed box with sandy soil. Seeds arethen covered with a thin layer of soil and watered daily with brackish water. For early anduniform germination, soak the fruit in fresh
water for 7 days and sow the macerated seeds
in depressed seed beds.
Api-api group (api-api, piapi, bungalon and bungalonputi)This group is considered semi-viviparous
because of its emerging radicle and split seedcoat while still attached to the mother tree. It is
the easiest to germinate, either in seed beds ordirectly in bags. Seeds are sown in an uprightposition half buried with the emerging leaf orthe cracked portion of the seed at ground level.
For higher germination rates, use seed beds
made of sawdust. Once the seedlings develop apair of leaves they can be handpicked for potting.
Tabigi groupPOs often favor tabigi becauseof its valuable wood. Its big angular seeds are
germinated in seed beds or potted directly. As
in the api-api and saging-saging groups, the seeds
are sown halfway with the embryo eye just at
the soil surface.

PottingPotting is the transfer of germinants/
seedlings from seed box/bed to the plastic bag or pot
where it is hardened before planting in the field. Table
2.5 shows the different sizes of plastic bags for thedifferent species. Potting is done by pricking thegerminants using a flattened stake to minimize root
damage. The seedling is then planted in the bag with theCHAPTER 2

Mangrove nursery establishment and21

management

Figure 2.4. Germination of small to medium-size seeds.

Figure 2.5. Germination of bakauan species (and other propagules) directly sown in plastic bag.
root collar level with the surface of the soil in the bag.
Propagules are sown about 1/3 of the length of the
hypocotyl deep in an appropriately sized bag (see Table
2.5 for suggested bag sizes.)
In the absence of seeds, wildlings may be used andhardened following the same potting and seedlingprocedure. When potting wildlings, take extra care not
to damage the root system.

Maintenance of the Seedlings
Seedling quality in the nursery will depend on careand maintenance. This includes:¨¨¨¨Watering
Shading
Weeding
Protection from pests, diseases and stray animals

Table 2.5.

Bag sizes for various species(Sinohin et al. 1996).
SpeciesBag size(inches)

Bakauan babae
Bakauan lalaki and bangkau
Talisay
Dungon-lati
Api-api family
TangalMalatangal
Saging-saging
Pototan lalaki
KulasiNilad

8 x 126 x 106 x 10
6 x10
6 x 10
6x8
4x6
4x6
4x6
4x6
4x6

22

Mangrove Management Handbook

Table 2.6.

Typical hardening treatment.
No. of weeks

Treatment
Sunlight reduction
shading

Reduction of watering
watering
frequency
¨

1

2

3

4

Removed 1st layer

Removed 2nd layer Removed 3rd layer(about 25%)

(about 50%)

(about 75%)

Once a day

Once every 2

Once every 3

days

days

Records management

WateringSeeds and seedlings must be watereddaily. Prior to placing in hardening beds, use tap wateror brackish water. For hardened seedlings, brackish watermust be used in order to acclimatize them to the fieldenvironment. Wells may be dug if the river is far or whenno river is available.
The plants should be watered as early as possible
every morning. It is important that this be done every
day since failure to water even for one day can adversely
affect the growth rate and survival of the plants.
(Watering is not required for plants exposed to rain.)
ShadingThe newly potted seedling should beshaded from intense sunlight. Shading material usuallyconsists of coconut leaves and wire mesh to gradually
expose the seedling in the hardening process.
WeedingWeeding should be conducted regularly
to keep the seedlings free from competition. At least
once a week check all seed boxes, seed beds andhardening beds for other plants that might have sprouted.
Anything that is not the plant you sowed should be
removed from the soil and put in the compost pile.
Remember, too, that since weeds are often blown by thewind, regular weeding of the nursery is a must.
HardeningHardening is the process of
preconditioning seedlings in a nursery to the harsh fieldenvironment by gradually exposing the plants toincreasing amounts of sunlight. This should be continued
until the seedlings are fully exposed to sunlight before
planting. Watering is likewise reduced. Select only thelarger hardy seedlings for planting. (Smaller seedlings may

No moreNo moreeither be sorted for special care to salvage them or simply
discarded.) After sorting, the seedling must be properly
packaged in baskets or seedling boxes/trays. Arrange theseedlings so that there is no unnecessary movement
during transport. Table 2.6 shows a typical hardening
treatment.
Protection from pests, diseases and strayanimalsConduct daily inspections for insect pests.
Table 2.7 shows insects (#1-6) and diseases (#7-8) that
may harm the seedlings and the corresponding control
measures. Like weeds, any insects on the plants should
be removed. In areas with stray animals, fence thenursery with local materials such as bamboo poles.
A solution of detergent and hot chili pepper issuggested for pests #3-5 (aphid, scale, slug caterpillar)
and or leaf spot and bakauan mosaic diseases.
Records managementNursery activities do not
end with the delivery of seedlings. Specific batches
prepared by the nursery should be monitored in the field
to determine growth performance and survival rate. Thisis especially important for a new species from a particularmother tree/seed area. Such information is necessary toestablish a record of that species for future seedcollection. A typical species nursery record is shown in
Table 2.8.

Grading, Sorting, Packaging andTransport of Seedlings
After hardening, the seedlings should be gradedusing certain criteria. Normally, the criterion is height toat least 30 centimeters from the root collar for seedlings

CHAPTER 2

Mangrove nursery establishment and23

management
Table 2.7.

Damage and control measures for common pests and diseases found in
mangrove nurseries (Sinohin et al. 1996).

Pest/Disease

DamageControl measures

1. Tussock moth(All species)

Larvae or hairy caterpillar feeds on leaves of young seedlings

Manual removal of larvae

2. Seed borer(All species)

Bores propagules and breeds on seedling/hypocotyl

Exclusion of propagules withevidence of insects or holes
Air-drying of propagules to reducemoisture content before germinating

3. Aphids(All species)

Sucks nutrients of bakauan seedlings

Spraying with chemical at company’s
specification

4. Scale insect(All species)

Sucks nutrients causing curling of leaves

Spraying with chemical at company’s
specification

5. Slug caterpillar(All species)

Defoliation

Manual removal of larvae

6. Bagworm(All species)

Defoliation

Manual removal of bagworm

7. Leaf spot

Brown spot interferes with photosynthesis; defoliation if severe

Removal of infected leaves andburning

Defoliation; interferes with photosynthesis

Removal of infected seedlings andburning(Nilad, bakauan)
8. Bakauan mosaic(All bakauan)

Table 2.8.

Data that should be collected during nursery operations.

Species ProvenanceDatecollected

Date
sown

Percentage
germination

Dateplanted

Percent
survival

Remarks

BakauanBanacon,babae
Getafe, Bohol

July 15,
1999

July 25,
1999

98

Oct. 199795

As of Jan. 30, 2000

BakauanlalakiAug. 1,
1999

Aug. 7,
1999

100

Nov. 199996

As of Feb. 28, 2000

Jan. 15,
2000

Jan. 21,
2000

92

Jun. 15,
2000

Bais City,
Negros Or.

Pagatpat San Fernando,
Cebu

Note:

Percent survival
shall be assessed
after 3 months

The sample entries on the above table are hypothetical and do not necessarily reflect actual nursery operations.

24

Mangrove Management Handbook

from seeds and from the ring-like marks for propagules.
Those that pass the grading criterion should be sorted
according to height before packaging and transport tothe planting area.
When all plantable seedlings are out on the field,
the remaining seedlings that do not meet the grading
criteria should be reared further in the nursery until thedesired size is met. The seedling shall be subjected again
to the hardening process before outplanting.

Post Nursery Operations
When all the seedlings are already sent out, thenursery should be prepared for the next batch of
seedlings. Some repair of the infrastructure and retoolingof equipment may be necessary. Likewise, cleaning andsanitation of the nursery should be done to prevent
infestation of the incoming seedlings.

Chapter 3
Mangrove plantation
establishment and management
INTRODUCTION

R

ecently, interest in establishing and maintaining mangrove plantations and inmanaging natural mangrove forests has increased as people realize the many
valuable economic benefits available from these forests. They realize that, in
addition to the valuable wood, mangroves provide protection to coastlines bybreaking the waves during strong storms, protect seagrass beds and coral reefs from siltationand serve as a food source and nursery for a number of important fish species. All of thesecan benefit the people especially the coastal dwellers.
This chapter provides POs, COs and NGOs with information on developing andmanaging mangrove plantations and (natural stand) forests. Historically, mangrove plantations have been relatively small and consisted of one species of bakauan. This toolkit advocates planting multiple species, sometimes in pure stands, sometimes in mixed stands,
depending on the needs of the PO and the site. In addition, information is provided on
how to manage the remaining natural forest stand to maximize the benefit to the coastal
ecosystem. We strongly urge POs to consider developing several plantations as their areapermits to increase wood, fodder, detritus production, and the protection of shoreline,
seagrasses and corals. This chapter was developed from several publications on plantation
management written in the Philippines and abroad (Watson 1928; Hamilton and Snedaker
1984; PCARRD 1991; CV-CIRRD 1993; Vande Vusse 1993; Agaloos 1994; Yao 1994, 1997;
Chan 1996; ERDS 1996; Field 1996; Hong 1996; Melana and Gonzales 1996; Padron 1996;
Qureshi 1996; Saenger 1996; Siddiqi and Khan 1996; Tomlinson 1996; Melana 1998). It also
incorporates information from the field.

26

Mangrove Management Handbook

IDENTIFYING THE
PLANTATION MANAGEMENTOBJECTIVESIn establishing any plantation it is important to havewell-defined management objectives. In a successful
plantation, operation and management reflect theobjectives of the PO. Thus, the choices the PO makes
about spacing, species and specific silvicultural (treegrowing) practices depend on the objectives of theplantation.
Common mangrove plantation objectives/perceived
benefits include:
¨
¨
¨
¨
¨
¨

Firewood/charcoal
Posts and piles
Tanbark
Thatching materials production
Shoreline protection/productivity of nearby
coastal waters
Timber production

In order for your PO to identify a site and establish,
operate and manage the plantation(s), ask yourselves aseries of questions:
¨
¨
¨

¨

Is the area in question for plantation establishment or for enhancement planting?
If the area is for plantation development, is itfor production or forest protection?
What kinds of production?
 Firewood or charcoal?
 Posts?
 Piles?
 Tanbark (for tuba or other uses)?
 Nipa production?
 Other uses?
If for protection, what is the plantation protecting?
 Shoreline or road stabilization?
 Sediment trapping?
 Natural fish production?

Depending on the answers to these questions, yourPO can decide how to proceed. Next, determine: (1)where to locate the plantation, (2) which species to plantand (3) plantation planning and design.

PLANTATIONESTABLISHMENT
Site Identification and Selection
One of the major reasons of plantation failure is
improper siting. Some people believe that all open areas,
mudflats and seagrass beds can be turned into mangrove
forest plantations, especially for bakauan. But this is nottrue. A number of factors must be considered in selecting
an area for plantation. Table 3.1 shows examples of thetypical zonation pattern with suggestions for which species
should be planted. Site selection is based primarily on theseimportant factors:
¨
¨
¨
¨
¨
¨
¨

Type of substrate
Current species present
Presence or absence of seagrass
Tidal height
Extent of wave action
Presence or absence of pests
Historical users of the area

Type of substrateThe substrate is an important
controlling factor in selecting an area for plantation
development. In evaluating the substrate, it is importantto realize the limitations that it sets in selecting an areafor planting. (Substrates do not always fall into the distinct
categories listed below; it can be a combination of two
or more types.) Substrates that support mangrove species
include:1. MudThis is best characterized as a soft sediment composed of a combination of organicand inorganic material. It may be as shallow as
2-3 centimeters or as deep as a few meters. A
very shallow mud substrate is not recommended
for a wood production plantation. In general,
mud is a good substrate to plant:
Bakauan babae
Bakauan lalaki¨
Busain¨
TangalSome mud may have a foul smell similar to rot¨¨CHAPTER 3Mangrove plantation establishment and management

Table 3.1.

Typical zonation pattern of mangrove species and common names (after
Agaloos 1994).

27

28

Mangrove Management Handbook

ten eggs. Avoid planting in these areas because thesoil may be very acidic and the likelihood ofplant diebacks is high. The consistency of mud
can vary from a fairly firm substrate that easily
supports the weight of a walker to very thin
where a walker is quickly up to the knees. Avoid
very thin areas because here the survival ofplants is not high while the amount of work toplant and manage a plantation in such a location is quite high.
2. Rocky or corallineThis substrate may best be
described as hard shelves where small or thinpockets of softer sediment are found. Rocky orcoralline areas are not recommended for production forests because of relatively low soil fertility. But for protection and other ecological
purposes the following species are recommended in these areas:¨¨¨Bakauan bato
Bakauan lalaki
Pagatpat

3. Sandy substrateWell known to most people,
sandy substrate consists of very small grains of
sediment (often coral) usually less than 2 millimeters in diameter. There is no organic matterto speak of, although it may overlay mud or
muck. Like mud, sand may be as shallow as 2-3
centimeters or as deep as several meters. In situations where this substrate is very shallow, it is
not recommended for wood production efforts.
As with rocky or coralline substrate, the following species do well in sandy substrate:¨¨¨Bakauan bato
Bakauan lalaki
Pagatpat

4. MuckSimilar to mud except that it contains alarge amount of plant debris (its organic matter content is higher than mud). It also tends tobe deeper starting at more than 10 centimeters
thick up to a few meters. Like mud, muck may
have the same foul, rotten egg smell; if so, planting should not be attempted. In general, muck

The type and thickness of substrate present
will help to decide which species of mangrove
is best to plant in any given area. It is important
to investigate an area thoroughly and to avoid
blindly deciding to plant a certain species. It is
important that the PO maintains flexibility
about what it wants to do in particular places.

is a good substrate to plant:¨¨¨Bakauan babae
BusainTangalCommon species presentOne of the best ways
to determine which mangroves will succeed in a particulararea is to look at which species are currently thriving
there. If the area once supported a mangrove forest,
people living near may know which species were there.
Not surprisingly, local people indicate that many forests
now composed of api-api and pagatpat were oncecomposed primarily of bakauan lalaki or some otherbakauan species.
Think carefully about planting species that are notfound in the area. It is likely that nature has already tried
to establish those species and failed.
The presence or absence of seagrassMany
people believe that seagrass beds are very good sites for
mangrove plantation, but that is not the case. It is not a
Knowing which species were historically foundin an area is a very good way of determining
what species are likely to thrive there now. This
information can be obtained by asking the local
people or by identifying stumps in the area. If
that is not possible, observe the current
composition of species near or in the plantation
area for a good idea of which mangrove species
are likely to succeed.

CHAPTER 3Mangrove plantation establishment and management

good idea to plant mangroves in seagrass beds because
there are many species of coastal animals that live inthese habitats; if their habitat is altered they will die.
Simply replacing one habitat with another does not help
to manage and enhance the coastal environment.

Do not put mangrove plantations on top ofwhat are now stable seagrass beds!!
Tidal heightLike substrate, tidal height is an
important biophysical control affecting plantation
success. It is important to know if the average daily water
depth of the area identified for planting will in fact
support growth. In order to determine the height of theaverage and highest low and high tides see the detailed
discussion in Chapter 6, Resource Mapping of Mangroves.
Planting is generally done on bare substrates during
the low tide of neap tide, especially for small seedlingsand propagules (such as bungalon and pototan lalaki). In
some cases, big or long propagules may be planted inareas when the water depth is as high as 10 centimeters
at low tide. (This is routinely done at the bakauan bato
plantation in Banacon Island, Getafe, Bohol.)
Tidal height also affects growth and survival. In
Banacon, a seedling planted at a low tide depth less than
30 centimeters has a much higher survival than thoseplanted at 40 centimeters.
Areas constantly battered by waves especially duringstormy days are critical for planting. As much as possible,
avoid these areas and endeavor to plant in good sites.
Table 3.2 shows suggested soils for some mangrove
species.
Presence or absence of pestsAnother major
factor in plantation success is the absence of pest species
such as barnacles and crabs. All of these species cancause problems to young plants. If there are large
numbers of these pests in the area, look elsewhere.
Another pest that people often overlook is filamentous
algae. This algae can pile up against the young plants
and knock them over by their sheer weight. If your PO
decides that an area with these problems is the one that29

must be used, then you must prepare for a significant
amount of extra work to remove them periodically.
Traditional users of the areaAll traditional usersof the area should be identified and allowed an
opportunity to join the PO and share the benefits of
the CBFMA. If that has been done, there should be
little problem with gaining their acceptance of theplantation. It is important to plan the plantation withthem so their needs regarding boat traffic, shell gatheringand other issues are included in the plan. (This is evenmore important in cases where these users did not join
the PO.)When the historical users of an area are notconsulted about a proposed new use for it,
such as a plantation, they often become very
unfriendly towards the promoters and caneven go so far as to destroy seedlings and thenew plantation area.

There are a number of factors that contribute to
identifying a successful plantation location. Good
planting sites include:
¨

¨
¨
¨
¨
¨

Well protected areas away from strong waves
like coves, lagoons, bays and abandoned andreverted fishponds
Open areas along rivers
Gaps within natural stands
Stable mudflats with barrier islands
Barnacle free areas
Logged-over areas

Choice of Species
Plantation success largely depends on the choice ofspecies. Determining which species to plant is a complex
decision that is based on the plantations purpose(whether production or protection) and the biophysicalcharacteristics of the selected area. In the long run, it is
the biophysical characteristics that will determine the30

Mangrove Management Handbook

Table 3.2.

Suggested soils for selected species of mangroves (after Watson 1928)

success of the plantation; it is up to the PO to decide
which species to plant after considering all the factors
discussed above.

¨

Table 3.3 presents the major commercial mangrove
species. Using these data with the information above,
determine which species are best suited to your plantable
area.

Plantation Establishment Techniques
After identifying the planting site, the socio- andbiophysical attributes, management objectives andchoosing the mangrove species, proceed withestablishment:¨

Determining what needs to be done to prepare the siteThe plantation sites often needsome preparation prior to planting. The people
in charge of the plantation should walk overthe entire area and determine what needs to be
done. This may include clearing areas of
Achrosticum fern or other brush, removing standing dead wood that will shade out the area andremoving debris. In this phase, it is important
to determine both what needs to be done andwhen it will be completed. If a completion time
is not included, the tasks are not likely to befinished in time for planting.
Planting organization, areas and spacingWhen people are walking through the area during site preparation they can also evaluate it forplanting block size, keeping a sharp eye out forareas where people or boats commonly transit.

CHAPTER 3Mangrove plantation establishment and management

Table 3.3.

Commercial uses of various mangrove species.
Species

Uses

Bakauan bato, babae and lalaki

Piles or poles, firewood or charcoal

Busain group

Piles or poles, firewood or charcoal

TangalTanbark (tungog) for tuba industry, poles

Pagatpat

Timber and lumber, firewood or fodder

Bungalon

Firewood, fodder

Api-api and piapi

Timber, poles, firewood, charcoal

Tabigi

Timber and lumber, firewood or tanbark

PiagauTimber and lumber

Tabau

Posts and poles

Dungon-latiTimber

Nipa

Shingles, alcohol, wine

the bakauan strips and shoreline may now beplanted at a wider spacing.

This information will contribute to developinga sketch map of the area.
Several organizational ideas can be used in planting:
¨

¨

¨

¨

31

An inverted V shape spacing with the point of
the V facing the sea to deflect wave impact.
Spacing should be less than 0.5 meter.
In Cuba, planting has been done in triangle formation with one of the corners of the triangle
pointing seaward. Spacing is less than 1 meter.
Cluster planting, as practiced in Bohol, may also
be done in other areas. It is done to act as awave break. To maximize survival, spacing ismuch closer (25 x 25 centimeters). After 3-5
years, when the clusters are fully established, thegaps in back of the clusters can be planted at awider spacing, as the area will be more or lessprotected by the clusters.
Strip plantingthe same principle applied instrip planting. Strips (10 or 20 x 100 or 150
meters) are established 100-200 meters from theshore at very close spacing to withstand strong
waves. Once established, the open areas between¨¨

Seedling density or spacingSpacing canrange from 16 individuals per square meter to
one individual per 1 square meter. The closer
the spacing, the greater the ability of the
propagules to withstand wave impact. This explains the local tradition of closer spacing (0.25
x 0.25 centimeter) in spite of DENRs recommended spacing of four individuals per square
meter. Generally, wider spacing is employedwhen bigger trees are needed. The wider spacing reduces competition for sunlight and nutrients. Deciding on the spacing will help to determine what the total requirement for yourseedlings will be.
Sketch mapThis map forms the backboneof the plan. While it does not have to be scaled
precisely, it should be clear enough to provide
users with guidance on the location of passages,
blocks and seedling density. Figure 3.1 shows
an example sketch map.

32

Mangrove Management Handbook

Figure 3.1. Example sketch map.

¨¨Plan implementationAfter planning, it istime to prepare the site for planting. Examplesof the work that might be needed include:
Brushing the area This refers to the removalof undergrowth such as mangrove fern (lagolo)
as in Figure 3.2 and spiny woody vine (diluario)
prior to planting. Brushing can be approachedin several ways:
Figure 3.2. Undergrowth vegetation like the mangrove
fern (lagolo), herbs and vines are removed to prepare
the site for planting.

Total brushingremoves all of the undergrowth from the area. This is an extremely
difficult task in areas of heavy undergrowthand is generally unnecessary.
Strip brushingremoves undergrowth along
pre-determined strips, generally 1 meter inwidth. These strips may be hundreds ofmeters long depending on the size of thearea; they make for easier maintenance ofthe plantation over time.
Spot brushingremoves undergrowth in a 1meter radius around the point where plants
will be placed. A stake of at least 1-meterheight is necessary to be able to locate theseedlings until they become larger. Spot

CHAPTER 3Mangrove plantation establishment and management

brushing is the easiest of the three approaches.
¨

¨

¨

¨

¨

¨

If the area is invaded by lagolo, use a blunt boloor spade to uproot the ferns as if it was cogon
grass. Cutting off the stems will not eliminate
weeds, it is necessary to remove their roots. Because these areas can be so large, spot brushingis recommended to minimize effort and still provide the best environment for the seedlings.
If it is a logged-over area, any remaining logging debris (branches, for example) will need tobe taken out.
If the area contains brush, vines or low-lying
vegetation, it will be necessary to cut it down
and remove it.
With enrichment planting it may be necessary
to prune branches and remove dead trees toprovide light and space for the new seedlings.
Breaking fishpond dikes and filling in internal
canals. (This is discussed in more detail in Chapter 5, Fishpond Restoration.)
Finally, if seedlings or wildlings are being
planted, it will be necessary to dig holes in order to place the seedlings. The holes need not
be deeper than the size of the rootball. Beginplanting at the seaward side of the plantation at
low tide.

¨33

in cases where the PO wants to replace large
areas of forest with nipa palms.)
Removing fishing traps or mooring areas of any
kind without the prior approval of those involved.

Planting
There are several planting methods. The method
used depends on the type of stock and species being
planted, whether seed, seedling, propagule or wildling.
Common methods include:
Direct plantingPropagules of bakauan, pototan
and tangal are planted directly on the ground. Other
species with large seeds like dungon-lati, the tabigi groupand to some extent the bungalon group, can also be directlyseeded. (Nipa too is commonly sown directly in the field.)This method is economical with a high percentage ofsurvival. Figure 3.3 shows an example of direct planting.

While this list cannot cover every possible example,
it does provide a number of good site preparation
activities for the PO.
Warning

For other activities whose legal sanction is
not certain, it is best to consult the local
DENR office/officer.
There are also some things a PO should not attempt
to do as part of site preparation:¨¨¨Trying to change the depth of the area by excavating or adding soil.
Trying to change the soil type by adding soil.
Completely cutting down one type of tree toreplace it with another. (This is particularly true

Figure 3.3. Direct planting of propagules (1/3of length buried).
Potted seedlingsUsed for trees with tiny seeds
that are difficult to sow directly in the field, the pagatpat
group, for example. Seedlings from the bakauan groupalso can be raised in the nursery and planted in thismanner for specific sites such as open areas with unstable
substrates where there is concern about the early survivalof the seedlings. Potted seedlings involve considerably
more cost and should only be done when it is the only
option. Figure 3.4 shows an example of potted seedlings.

34

Mangrove Management Handbook

Figure 3.4. Field planting of potted seedlings(root collar at ground level).
WildlingsWhere there are not enough seeds orpropagules, wildlings may be potted and hardened in thenursery for a month. In uprooting/collecting wildlings,
extra care must be taken not to damage the root system.
For some species, wildlings can be directly planted
provided the soil around the roots is intact. Figure 3.5
shows collected and potted bakauan wildlings. Planting
wildlings requires extra care to protect against damageon the roots, one of the natural adaptive structures ofmangrove to tolerate a saline environment.

One common practice responsible for highmortality rates in mangrove planting is thesowing of propagules more than half their length
in the soil. This was done because people
believed that waves would dislodge thepropagules if planted too shallow. Propagules,
however, are covered with lenticels that they use
to exchange air while developing roots. Burying
propagules too deep will render the lenticels
useless, causing a slow death to plants. Generally
propagules are sown one-third of their length infirm substrate and one-half of the length in soft
substrate. Other types of seeds should be sownjust below the substrate including the tabigi andtinduk-tindukan.

Care and Maintenance of Plantations
Plantations are cared for in several stages dependingon their age, species and rate of growth. For example,
bakauan bato is best harvested in its 12th year. However,
if it grows well it can be harvested in 10 years (or in its
15th year if it grows poorly). Below are the major phasesof care for plantations and natural forests:
¨

¨
¨

¨

Like any newborn, the first 2 years after theirestablishment are probably the most intense
phase of care for plantations.
Generally, from the 3rd through the 4th years thelevel of care is somewhat less.
The 5th year sees an increase in care because thisis the first thinning if growth has been normal
and the economic size of desired products is
attained.
The 6th through the 14th years see a period of
relatively low maintenance in longer maturing

Figure 3.5. Potted bakauan wildlings.

¨

species. (In bakauan bato, depending on growthrate, harvesting can begin anywhere from the10th and probably should be completed by the20th year.)
In most other longer maturing species, the 15thyear sees another round of thinning. (This thinning may occur anywhere from the 10th until
the 15th year depending on growth and the needsof the PO.)

CHAPTER 3Mangrove plantation establishment and management¨¨Years 16th through 19th are typically ones of low
maintenance.
By the 20th year, possibly the 25th, the plantation is ready for harvest and replantation (if themother tree planting method is used, the plantation will be allowed to naturally regenerate).

Maintenance activities in the early yearsIn
general, maintaining a young plantation involves:
¨
¨
¨
¨
¨

Regular visits (daily or every other day)Removal of debris
Installation or fence repair
Removal of barnacles and other pests
Uprooting and replacement of sick or deadplantsThe purpose of regular visits is to make certain thatthings are all right and to perform the daily chores listed
above. For example, if a large amount of green algae
floats into the area, those who regularly visit will be able
to remove it before it can do much damage. Other debris
that might adversely affect the seedlings include piecesof driftwood, fishing nets and other heavy materials thatcan knock over the seedlings or damage them by tearing
their bark.
Visit the plantation at least every other day, althoughdaily visits are preferable. Develop a routine so that theentire plantation is inspected. It is best conducted at
low tide since it will be easier to walk around theplantation. Because it is impossible to look at each andevery seedling, the inspectors should make it a point to

Do We Need a Fence Around Our
Plantation?
This is an important question. If a fence isnecessary, then quite a bit of work will go into
building and maintaining it. In general, a
fence is only necessary if you believe thatlivestock may graze on your plantation.
However, if you want to build a fence to keepout people or screen out debris, one isprobably not necessary. Regular patrols of theplantation are much more effective.

35

look closely at a few plants in each block. Inspectors
should check for:¨¨¨¨

Encrusting organisms like barnacles
Insects and moth larvae eating leaves
Dead or dying plants
Plants entangled in green algae or other debris

Where extensive problems are observed, and it isclear that more than a few hours are necessary to fix thedamage, it will be necessary to involve more membersof the PO (perhaps all of them).
¨

Removing encrusting barnaclesThe shells must be
removed by hand (preferably using gloves) before the propagules are totally covered. Figure
3.6 shows an example of encrusting barnacles.
Do not scrape the propagules with a bolo sincethat will result in plant damage and eventual
death. Once the organism is carefully scrapedoff, simply throw it in the water because it cannot be able to attach again.

¨

Removing grazing organismsThese organisms aremuch easier to remove than barnacles. Simply
pluck them from the leaves, trunks and branchesof the seedlings, place them in a bag and remove from shore for disposal; simply throwing
them in the water may allow them to reach another tree.

¨

Removing dead and dying treesDead or dying trees
should be quickly removed from the area. Ifthey are dying in large numbers, it may be necessary to replace them with seedlings from thenursery or other stocks. If seedlings are dying
in large numbers, it is important to determine
why. Bring some sample seedlings to the Community Environment and Natural Resources
Office (CENRO) or ask a forester from the
CENRO to visit the area to evaluate the plantation.

Without caring for the area daily, a host of problems
can develop. The more problems a plantation has theless it benefits the coastal ecosystem and the less valuable
it is to the CBFMA holders.

36

Mangrove Management Handbook
Maintenance Activities in Subsequent
Years
When the trees attain economic size, thinning of
the stand should be done to allow better trunk growth.
Thinning is the cutting of trees to reduce competition
from sunlight, nutrients and soil moisture in order toimprove the quality of the stand.
Thinning is performed only two or three times
during the life of the tree. The timing and number ofthinnings depend on the expected age at harvest for thetrees. For example, bakauan bato plantations can be
harvested between their 7th-10th and 15th-20th years. They
can be thinned in their 5th and 8th or 9th years dependingon when harvesting is expected. Table 3.4 provides
estimates of the number of times and spacing of
thinning for the major plantation species. This
information may also be used for enhancement/enrichment planting. Figure 3.7 shows how a bakauan
forest would look at various points where it is thinned.

Figure 3.6. Barnacles encrusted on bakauan
trunk.

Table 3.4.

Thinning is best done in several stages. After eachstage count how many have been cut. If the target (ascalculated above) has been reached, thinning must stop.
If not, go on to the next stage. First, cut only those
trees that are obviously malformed, stunted or sickly.
Next, cut those trees that appear to be significantly
shorter than the surrounding trees. Finally, cut the treesthat are not as tall as the average trees. Thinning, however,is not recommended for environmental protection.

Common species and recommended thinning rates (C. Yao, pers. obs.).

Species

Initialdensity(no./ha)Firstthinning(yr, %
removed)Secondthinning(yr, %
removed)Third
thinning(yr, %
removed)Harvest(yr)

Products

Bakauan bato

50,0005, 50

10, 50

9, 50

15

Poles

Bakauan group10,000

3, 50

8, 50

13, 5025 - 30

Poles

Tangal and langarai

10,0005, 50

10, 5015, 5015

Tanbark

Tabigi and pagatpat
group

5,667

4, 50

10, 5015, 5025 - 30

LumberCHAPTER 3Mangrove plantation establishment and management

¨

¨

¨

Figure 3.7. Thinning operation in natural standof bakauan.
Pruning is another maintenance activity that takes
place after the initial year or two of intensive
maintenance. It is defined as the cutting of unnecessarybranches and stems. Pruning is done to:¨¨Enhance height and trunk diameter growth rate.
The nutrients that otherwise would be absorbedby the branches will now be utilized by the upper part of the tree, thus increasing growth rate.
Improve the tree form and wood quality. Cutting the lower branches will help to define thetree trunk and reduce knots in the lumber. (Asthe tree increases in diameter, the uncut
branches become encased in the trunk, which
results in knot formation in the lumber. Cutting the branches minimizes this encasing.)

Pruning should be conducted with some restraint
to avoid adverse effect on trees. The following are somepruning rules:¨¨

Do not cut more than 30% of the live crownover a 1-2 year period. Overpruning will adversely affect plant growth because of sudden
reduction of leaves that are active in photosynthesis.
Paint stub preferably with tar to prevent fungal
attack.

37

Cut smaller branches close to the trunk to increase merchantable heightclear length frombase of the trunk to the first branch. The
branch should be 3 meters from the ground limits length of lumber if not pruned. As thebranch enlarges, it creates knots that limit thetree to produce lumber more than 3 meters. Thisis one of the important justifications for pruning operations.
For bigger branches, make an undercut 10 centimeters from the trunk. The upper cut should
be close to the trunk to avoid bark splitting.
Use a pruning saw (a saw attached to a longpole) to reach branches up to 5 meters in height.

One of the best things about both thinning andpruning is that the felled trees and branches are of
economic benefit to the people who have done the work.
For example thinning of most trees at the 5-year point
and beyond results in:¨¨¨Some poles for fish pen construction
A large amount of forage for animals feeding
A large amount of branches for firewood production

Pruning benefits people in a similar manner. Pruning
will generate both forage and firewood. Since people
are in the forest pursuing these activities anyway it islikely that there will be no shortage of PO volunteers toassist.

MANAGEMENT OF
PLANTATION AND NATURALFOREST
Plantation Types
Production forestA plantation is established to
produce wood for specific purposes. Typical mangrove
forest products include: poles, posts, firewood andcharcoal and lumber for furniture or construction. A
production forest is characterized by long, straight rowsof trees. They may range in size from 2,500 square meters
to hundreds of hectares. The trees grown in these forests
are always meant for eventual harvest. Figure 3.8 shows

38

Mangrove Management Handbook

one of the most successful and oldest production forestsin the country.

Mangrovetuma plantation consisting of several
species planted in blocks by family/genus for easy
differentiation of closely similar species and comparisonof growth performance. Mangrovetum is an ecologicalattraction while conserving biodiversity.
In addition to the above there is enhancement planting,but this is not, strictly speaking, used to develop aplantation. It is done in areas where some forest exists
but in a much lesser density than the original forest. These
areas include the following:¨¨¨Figure 3.8. One of the most successful andoldest production forests in the country locatedat Banacon, Getafe, Bohol.
Protection forestA plantation is developed toprovide additional refuge for coastal organisms, or for
keeping an area safe from damaging from wave action
and sediment transport. While protection forests may
be planted in the same manner as production forests, it
is sometimes better to randomly plant the areas withdifferent species that are known to survive in the area.
These forests are not meant to be harvested but tomaintain the ecological balance. Figure 3.9 shows an
excellent example of a protection plantation along a
causeway.

Abandoned fishponds
Heavily cut mangrove forest areas
Gaps in naturally reforested areas

In each case, there may be some logged-over area
where the PO determines that enrichment (planting
additional trees of either the same or different species)
would benefit the environment and the community.
As you can see, there is a variety of objectives that a
PO might have in developing a plantation or in
performing additional planting within an alreadyestablished forest. It is important for the PO toremember that it may have all activities going on in somepart of its CBFMA area. For example, a 250-hectare
CBFMA may include 50 hectares where a production
forest is planned, 75 hectares of protection forests, 10
hectares of an abandoned fishpond where enrichment
planting is planned, 15 hectares of forest identified forenhancement and 100 hectares of forest identified as anarea for no intervention at all.

Harvesting and Regeneration Systems
and Enhancement Planting

Figure 3.9. Protection plantation established toprotect causeway of Pangangan, Calape, Bohol.

Since the intention of the CBFMA is to have asustainable forestry system, it is important that theplantations are harvested and regenerated in that mannerso that future generations can make use of the woodand the benefits to the coastal ecosystem. This section
discusses appropriate harvesting and regeneration
technologies for mangrove plantations and naturalforests. Following these approaches will allow the PO
to enjoy the benefits of their mangrove forests forgenerations.

CHAPTER 3Mangrove plantation establishment and management

39

HarvestingThis section discusses appropriate
harvesting techniques for four major products:¨¨¨¨Firewood and charcoal
Piles, poles, posts and lumber
FodderTanbark

While harvesting these products is routine, it is often
done in a manner that is not sustainable and leads todestruction of the forest. If a PO uses traditional
techniques to harvest, it is very likely to cause significant
damage to the forest. Thus, the use of sustainable
harvesting techniques is critical. Luckily, practicing thesetechniques does not reduce the economic benefit ofharvesting over the long term; in fact, benefits increase.
¨

Firewood or charcoal harvesting can begin at thetime of the first thinning for plantations and allother planting strategies. As earlier, subsequent
thinning and pruning can be used as a methodof firewood harvesting. Later in the growth
cycle, firewood will be generated from topping,thinning and harvesting trees. This is especiallytrue when the main product of the plantationis poles or lumber. Figure 3.10 shows a firewood
harvester returning with some freshly cut wood.
If a bakauan plantation has been establishedsolely for firewood the tip of seedling can be
split to encourage branching. Initial spacing forsuch plantations should be at least 1 x 1 meter(10,000 seedlings). This is done to encouragecrown development and maximize the yield of
branches for firewood. The plantation should
be mature enough, with usual thinning andpruning, to support sustained harvesting between the 7th and 12th years after planting. At
that time, firewood can be harvested exclusively
from the top branches of individual trees allowing the lower branches to regenerate.

¨

In plantations developed for producing piles,
poles, posts and lumber it is possible and indeed
desirable to harvest firewood. By aggressively
pruning side branches after the first thinning(while leaving the crown alone), energy will be

Figure 3.10. A firewood harvester with freshly
cut wood.
directed into producing more trunk wood andtherefore bigger and taller poles more quickly.
As the thinning and pruning are used to produce firewood it also is possible to shift to selective cutting and remove poles on an as neededbasis. This would help to move the plantation
towards a seed tree form of forestry where thelargest seed or mother trees are kept for seedling production and the middle story is harvested for poles or posts. (This is discussed in
more detail later.)¨

Traditionally, fodder harvesting has been done forcattle and goats. Fodder (the leaves and shoots
from the cut branches) is taken from pruning
and thinning activities and given to these animals. Since it is well known that cattle and goats
like to eat these leaves it makes sense to extend
it into a livelihood activity. Fodder can be obtained as part of firewood gathering and soldto local farmers or the PO, or its members canraise sheep or cattle on the fodder as a liveli-

40

Mangrove Management Handbook
hood activity making use of this product.
Avicennia species are common for fodder purposes.
It is important to make certain that there isenough fodder to support the number of animals you want to grow. In several countries including India and Bangladesh, overgrazing by
animals has caused significant loss to mangrove
forests.

¨

Tanbark is another mangrove product the PO
can produce from several species (the one fromtangal commands the highest price for thebahalina industry in Samar and Leyte). Harvesting is done by cutting the trees and placing themunder water for several days until the bark becomes more supple for debarking by stripping
it from the trunk of the tree. Based on observations of bark in markets, the typical diameterof these trees is 20 centimeters suggesting thatthe trees in natural stands are harvested at about
40 to 50 years of age. Table 3.4 shows the average age at which the major mangrove species
can be harvested given proper care and maintenance of the plantation.

Regeneration systemsThis refers to cutting
methodologies used to make certain that a forest remains
as cutting continues. When properly pursued,
regeneration systems allow for a virtually continuous
harvest.
¨¨

Selective cutting is a common method of harvesting in areas where there is no constant market. Trees are cut to order based on requests
from customers. (Poles are cut for fishpens or
posts for housing, for example.) The more thetrees are cut in selective harvesting, the fasterthe remaining trees grow since much more sunlight reaches the ground. The new openings created by the harvest also hasten regeneration.
This method can lead to a more or less naturally occurring regeneration method called theseed tree and plant method.
Strip cutting is typically done in larger planta-

Seed Tree and Plant Method
Under this method, harvesting in natural
stand is allowed provided that at least 40
healthy trees per hectare, spaced regularly
over the area and representation of the species
in the area, shall be retained to provide seeds/
propagules for regeneration purposes. In casethere are not enough surviving wildlings, thegaps will be planted with the desired species(DENR 1990).
tions (greater than 10 hectares) (see Figure 3.11).
A strip 10-20 meters wide by 50-100 meters longis cut at a 45 degree angle from the sea to lessen
the impact of waves and to enhance regeneration by recruitment of wildlings or new planting. Alternating strips of forest are harvested.
The harvested areas are allowed to reseed naturally or are replanted. The seed tree and plant
method also can be used in strip cutting. Assuming that the area to be harvested is 10,000
square meters, a total of 40 mature trees can beleft in place to act as seed trees. Over time, theforest naturally regenerates.
These major regeneration techniques can be easily
incorporated in mangrove forestry, as they do not require
extensive technical ability. A PO that follows thisapproach will enjoy a plantation and forest that can takecare of itself, in a way, and thereby minimize maintenancework and maximize both profitability for the PO andbenefits to the coastal resources.
Enhancement plantingEnhancement planting
is the process of rehabilitation by increasing the numberof seedlings of desirable species (Vande Vusse 1995).
This is generally undertaken in denuded mangrove stands
or stunted nipa groves to increase land productivity andconserve/increase biodiversity.
One of the common methods of enhancement isby planting bakauan and other desirable species with gapsof dense natural stands, or planting immediately under
the canopy of less desirable species such as api-api

CHAPTER 3Mangrove plantation establishment and management

41

Figure 3.11. Strip cutting of trees.
(Avicennia officinalis) and bungalon (Avicennia marina) after
pruning the lower horizontal branches to let in more
sunlight. The cut branches may be used for posts andfirewood.
Another strategy in enhancement planting is theintroduction of fast growing trees in retarded/
unproductive nipa stands. These areas may be plantedwith desirable species that suit the area like bakauan babae,
bakauan lalaki or pagatpat either by strip or spot clearing,depending on the growth/density of nipa. The newly
planted seedlings should be properly cared for andmaintained until they are tall enough to overtop the palm.
Eventually the palm, which demands more light, will be
illuminated.
As the introduced species becomes dominant, it isexpected that the original species will decrease in number
and value.

Enhancement planting is more likely to succeed thanstandard restoration/reforestation in open areas. In
enhancement planting, the existing vegetation provides
an effective cover and serves as nurse tree to theintroduced species that are planted right under or behindbig trees. Since most planting in the country is done along
the shorelines exposed to strong waves, it is importantto prioritize areas with existing stands, denuded orotherwise. Once the plantation is fully established,additional planting towards the sea should be done.
Another form of enhancement is the Assisted
Natural Regeneration (ANR). This is done by modifying
the forest floor or the forest stand to allow fallen seeds
to optimally germinate and grow as wildlings to trees.
The activities may include cleaning the ground surface,pruning or thinning of trees. This strategy is by far the
economical way of rehabilitation.

42

Mangrove Management Handbook

Chapter 4
Community-Based Forest Management
Agreement: a land tenure instrument
for mangroves
INTRODUCTION
his chapter provides information to help POs gain a basic understanding ofa Community-Based Forest Management Agreement (CBFMA), including:

T

¨
¨
¨
¨
¨

What is it?
Is it the right thing for a PO to attempt?
How much work is involved in the application process?
Does the PO and its members have the necessary skills to manage amangrove forest?
What must the PO do to apply for a CBFMA?

The purpose of this chapter is to assist the PO is answering many, if not all, of its questions
regarding CBFMAs. It is not intended to convince the organization to apply for a CBFMA
and become stewards of the mangrove forest, but to help the group decide if this step isthe right one to take.
What is a Community-Based
Forest Management
Agreement?
A Community-Based Forest Management
Agreement (CBFMA) is a production sharing agreement
entered into between a community and the government
to develop, utilize, manage and conserve a specificportion of forestland consistent with the principles ofsustainable development and pursuant to an approved
Community Resource Management Framework Plan
(CRMF) (DAO 9629, DENR). CBFMAs are used by
the DENR to award tenurial rights over forestlands toorganized communities. It virtually integrates all of theold tenurial instruments on forestlands prior to 1996.

Warning
The current policy of the government prohibits
cutting of mangrove tree species per Section 4,
Republic Act No. 7161, otherwise known as An Act
Incorporating Certain Sections of the National
Internal Revenue Code of 1977, as amended,otherwise known as The Revised Forestry Code of
the Philippines, and Providing Amendments thereto
by Increasing the Forest Charges on Timber and Other
Forest Products dated 22 July 1991.
This means that the accompanying Community
Resource Management Framework (CRMF) Plan of
the CBFMA in mangrove forests must not contain the
Resource Use Plan (RUP) involving the cutting ofmangrove trees whether planted or not or whether
growing singly or in groups.

44

Mangrove Management Handbook

The CBFMA can be issued only to POs or similarorganizations. It cannot be issued to companies or toindividuals. It also must be issued to the people who
actually live on the land or have made use of it historically.
The CBFMA integrates the previous household-based
instruments such as the Mangrove Stewardship
Agreement (MSA) and the Certificate of Stewardship
Contract (CSC) of the Integrated Social Forestry
Program (ISFP), both of which are no longer in use.
Unlike many other centralized types of government
programs that allow people tenurial control over land,
the CBFMA issuance is delegated by the DENR
Secretary to the regional offices for areas of forestland
15,000 hectares and below. Pursuant to this delegationof authority, the Regional Executive Director can issuea CBFMA for areas 5,000 to 15,000 hectares while theProvincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer

Table 4.1.
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s
s

(PENRO) can issue the document for areas 5,000
hectares and below. Because mangrove areas in thePhilippines appear in patches in coves or sheltered shores,
an application for areas over 5,000 hectares is unlikely.
Table 4.1 shows the major Executive Orders (EOs),
Department Administrative Orders (DAOs), Memo
Circulars (MCs) and other legal instruments concerning
CBFMAs. These sets of policy issuance help to protect
the rights of the community as a steward of themangrove forest. The community may want to checkwith its Sangguniang Bayan (SB) to see if it has any
municipal ordinances or regulations that discuss
mangrove forests.
The remainder of this chapter examines the benefitsof possessing a CBFMA, the process and amount ofeffort involved in applying for a CBFMA, the duties andLegal instruments concerning Community-Based Forest Management
Agreements.

EO 263—Adopting Community-Based Forest Management as the National Strategy to Ensure the Sustainable Development of the Country’s Forestlands
DAO 96-29—Rules and Regulations for the Implementation of EO 263, Otherwise Known as
the Community-Based Forest Management Strategy
DAO 96-30—Integration of all the Community-Based Forest Management Strategy and PeopleOriented Programs and Projects into the DENR Regular Structure
MC 97-12—Guidelines for the Formulation of CRMF and AWP for CBFMAs
DAO 98-10—Guidelines on the Establishment and Management of Community-Based Forest
Management Projects Within Mangrove Areas
DAO 98-41—Guidelines on the Establishment and Management of Community-Based Forest
Management Projects Within Watershed Reservations
Joint MC 98-01—Manual of Procedures for DENR-DILG-LGU Partnership on Devolved andOther Forest Management Functions
DAO 30, Series of 1992—Guidelines for the Transfer and Implementation of DENR Functions
Devolved to the LGUs
DAO 98-08, dated 24 June 1998—Guidelines on Contracting Inside Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) Areas
DAO 98-42, dated 24 June 1998—Production Sharing Agreement with POs in the Harvest ofForest Plantation Owned by the Government Inside CBFM Areas
DAO 98-43, dated 24 June 1998—Exemption of CBFM Projects from the Payment of Administrative Charges
DAO No. 3, Series of 1998—Rules of Fishpond Reversion
DAO 98-44, dated 24 June 1998—Guidelines on the Establishment of CBFM Special AccountDAO 98-45, dated 24 June 1998—Guidelines Governing the Issuance and Transfer of Certificate of Stewardship Within CBFM Areas
Republic Act No. 8550, Otherwise Known as The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, Section
49—Reversion of all Abandoned, Undeveloped or Underutilized Fishponds

CHAPTER 4

CBFMA: a land tenure instru-

45

ment for mangroves
responsibilities of the CBFMA holder and the
management requirements of a CBFMA area.

THE BENEFITS OF THE
CBFMA HOLDER
There are a number of benefits that a CBFMA
brings to a PO. These include: tenurial control over the
CBFMA area, the ability to use the area for a wide varietyof livelihood activities, the ability to extract wood in someinstances from mangroves planted in the area, and thebenefits of a sustainably managed mangrove forest to
the surrounding coastline.

CBFMA as a Land Tenure
Instrument
The appropriateness of the CBFMA as a land tenure
instrument for those who choose to be stewards of themangrove forest cannot be overemphasized. It representsa shift away from the traditional, regulatory-oriented
forestland management, toward a development, people
and service-oriented one. It creates new roles andresponsibilities for the DENR, the LGUs, the private
sector and the communities in mangrove management.
It promotes people empowerment, extolling a firm beliefin putting people first so that sustainable mangrove forest
management will follow. Only when communities in andadjacent to forestlands commit themselves to
stewardship will the remaining mangrove forests receive
proper and profitable attention.
Upon approval of the CBFMA by the DENR, thePO is given tenure over the area for a period of 25 years(renewable for another 25 years). This tenure allows the
PO to make use of the resources on the land as long as
the usage is sustainable and in accordance with theaffirmed Community Resource Management Framework(CRMF) Plan.

Livelihood

One of the major livelihood activities POs want topursue is wood harvesting, either for firewood orconstruction. In CBFMA areas where plantations alreadyexist and the trees are mature, it may be possible to begin
harvesting (even while CRMF preparation is in progress
as long as the PO has the Interim Resource Use Permit[IRUP] from the DENR). In cases where it is legal toharvest the wood, it would be prudent for the PO to
think about a wider variety of uses than simply for
firewood. For example, you could build a kiln and makecharcoal or manufacture the wood into novelty items,
products considerably higher in value than firewood.
Alternatively, they could let the wood grow for several
more years and sell it as timber or poles for building
material.
Many other livelihood activities are possible,
including:
¨

¨

¨

¨

The CRMF Plan is the document defining
the terms and procedures for access, use
and protection of natural resources within
the CBFMA area. This plan shall always be
consistent with the overall strategy of theentire watershed (mangrove) area where the
CBFM is located, and shall be formulatedby the community with assistance from its
PO, LGU and/or private entities.

Activities¨¨

Growing taualis for fences and tangal for tanninfrom its bark
Using the leaves of mangrove species such as
pagatpat and bungalon as forage for goats, cattle
or carabao
Investing in the materials for beehives and selling honey, if the mangrove can support aviary
If the area is near a tourist site, the PO canbuild a boardwalk through the mangroves andcharge tourists entry
Members of the PO might decide to put several amatong in appropriate places throughout
the mangroves and use them to grow and harvest fish
Mangrove-friendly aquaculture, such as
mudcrab fattening/grow-out or shrimp culture

While this list is not exhaustive, it is easy to see thatmany activities are possible. The PO should decide which
livelihood shall be pursued and help each other develop

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Mangrove Management Handbook
Additional Benefits








Exempt from paying rent for use of the area
Exempt from paying forest charges on timberand non-timber products harvested from plantations
Consulted on all government projects to be
implemented in the area
Preferential access by the DENR to available
assistance
Receive all income and proceeds from the useof forest resources within the area
Enter into agreements or contracts with privateor government entities

From Frequently Asked Questions about CBFM
(DENR 1998a).
plans and define implementation strategies. There are anumber of other incentives in applying for andpossessing a CBFMA. These are listed below.

Benefits for the Surrounding
Coastline

The CBFMA Application Process
1.
2.
3.
4.

Form a PO if one is not in existence.
Determine that you want to apply for a CBFMA.
Identify the planned CBFMA area.
Gain the support of the LGU and develop andsubmit a CBFMA application.
5. Develop a map of your proposed area.
6. Upon CBFMA approval, develop a Community
Resource Management Framework and Annual
Work/Resource Use Plan (CRMF, AWP/RUP).
7. Begin working as stewards of the mangrove
area under your CBFMA.

GENERAL STEPS FOR
CBFMA APPLICATIONThis section presents the general steps to take inapplying for a CBFMA, as well as the level of effort
those steps involve and the approximate cost. The box
outlines the application process.

As mentioned in Chapter 1, mangroves provide a
multitude of benefits to the surrounding coastline andnearshore waters. Mangrove forests are responsible for
producing as much as 600 kilograms of fish per hectarethat can be caught in the nearby coastal waters.
Mangroves act as shelter for younger fish and hunting
grounds for older ones, and their leaves are a source ofnutrients for fish. In addition to these services, mangrove
forests provide protection against waves and storms.
Finally, mangrove forests trap sediment washed downfrom upland areas, keeping it from burying coral reefs
and seagrass beds.

There are several preconditions a PO must meet
before applying for a CBFMA.

A CBFMA provides benefits to the nearby coastal
waters through the protection and maintenance of thenatural mangrove forests and the establishment of new
mangrove plantations. Given these and other benefits,
it is likely that a PO will consider applying for a CBFMA
to be a worthwhile activity. The following section outlines
how the PO can apply and how much work an application
is likely to take.

It is necessary to form a PO before applying for a
CBFMA. In order to do this, the group needs towrite a constitution and by-laws and elect officers.
You may then approach either the LGU, an NGO
or CENRO to help the registration with the
Department of Labor and Employment, theSecurities and Exchange Commission or the
Cooperative Development Authority. PO
registration and site identification can beaccomplished at the same time.

¨¨¨First, the applicants must be Filipino citizens.
Second, they must live in or near the forest they
are applying to manage.
Third, they must be part of a peoples organization or be willing to form such an organiza-

We Dont Have A Peoples Organization(PO)!

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CBFMA: a land tenure instru-

47

ment for mangrovestion (a PO must have a minimum of ten members). Prior to applying for a CBFMA, register
your PO with the Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE), the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) or the Securities andExchange Commission (SEC).
Once these preconditions have been satisfied, thePO may send a letter of interest to the local Community
Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO)
requesting for assistance. This letter should be endorsed
by resolutions from both the barangay council (Sangguniang
Barangay) and the municipal council (Sangguniang Bayan,
or SB).

The DENR manual, How to Participate in
the CBFM Program, has suggested language
for both the application letter and theresolutions (DENR 1998b).
The PO will have to work with one or moremembers of the barangay council and SB to get them toput forward a resolution. It may take some time toeffectively communicate what the PO is trying toaccomplish and up to 2 weeks or even a month to obtain
resolutions from each LGU.
It will be necessary for the PO to become morefamiliar with the CBFMA process. An orientation
briefing may be performed by a member of the CENRO,
the LGU or someone from an assisting nongovernmentorganization. The leaders of the PO should work withthe appropriate individual to set up a meeting with the
PO membership. The meeting will discuss:
¨

¨
¨
¨

¨
¨

Community-Based Forest Management(CBFM) as a strategy and program
The features, principles and scope of CBFM
Who can participate
The concept of the DENR, LGU, PO partnership and the roles of the partners
The steps to follow to apply for a CBFMA
The benefits of a CBFMA

While the orientation itself will last only a coupleof hours, it may take weeks to arrange.

The next step is for the PO to determine thepotential CBFMA area. While the members of the PO
probably have a pretty good idea of the area it wants toapply for, it is best if everyone is able to discuss thelocation and boundaries. After this discussion, it will benecessary for a group from the PO to walk around andthrough the area to make certain that it knows what it
contains. This will constitute the required resource

If you are applying for a CBFMA without theassistance of a CO, you may refer directly to
Chapter 6 for information on how to develop acommunity-based map.
mapping and assessment of the area. If the PO is
working with a community organizer (CO), he or she
will help develop the map. Finally, the PO can contact
the CENRO and request a survey of the area to checkthe accuracy of the map. It may take several weeks forstaff from CENRO to come to the site and performthe survey.
Once the CENRO has performed the survey, it isnecessary to develop a map to include in your CBFMA
application. The map will take at least 1-2 weeks tocomplete depending on the size of the area.

Remember to include any resolutionsby thebarangay or the municipalityand any othersupporting documents that support theapplication!
Assuming the PO is already registered, it is time toapply for a CBFMA. The application itself is fairly easy
to complete. Elements include: an application letter sent
to the CENRO indicating the proposed CBFMA area, a
copy of the PO certificate of registration and a list of
the PO officers and members (including their addresses
and names of spouses for those who are married).
At this point, the CENRO will review the applicationand draft a CBFMA in consultation with the PO. This

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Mangrove Management Handbook

will cover discussions of the terms and conditions of
the CBFMA, including PO incentives andresponsibilities. Upon completion of the review, theapplication will be forwarded to the Provincial
Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO)
for approval by the PENR Officer, or sent back to the
PO if modifications are required.

Work Requirements of theMangrove Forest Stewards
Once the CBFMA application goes to the CENRO,
the PO can begin working on the most important partof the process: the Community Resource Management
Framework (CRMF) and the Annual Work Plan/
Resource Use Plan (AWP/RUP). Below are brief
descriptions of these documents.
Typically, most PO members will be looking at a
CBFMA as a way to enhance their livelihood, not as a

The amount of work the member of the PO
will do depends in part on the amount ofwork they want to put in. Some people willalmost immediately begin to back off on what
they said they want to do while others will
forge ahead and do more work than expected.
Of course the organization will also have tohave meetings and the officers will have aheavy workload.
livelihood all by itself. But as time goes by, people mayfind that their secondary livelihood is more income
generating than their primary livelihood. The amountof cash or food one receives from forest activities will
ultimately determine how much work they will do there(aside from their dedication and commitment to conserve
the CBFMA area).
Activities such as planting new areas or tending anursery will take more time than others (establishing an
amatong, for examplea resemblance of a natural coral
reef constructed on waterways in the mangrove forest
which bottom fish use for shelter and foraging). Those
who are most dedicated to establishing plantations foreventual harvest will tend to do that work. In general,

the amount of work and time people spend working on
the forest will correspond to what they believe they are
benefiting from it.
The PO will need to find a way to equitably sharethe duty of guarding the area. In some cases this may
not be necessary. In other cases, however, the PO may
discover the area is beset by poachers, or is the target ofillegal fishpond development. In those instances, anorganization must work with the municipal authorities
to protect the area (much like bantay dagat)andpossibly authorize a group like bantay bakawan.
Planning to meet work requirementsThe
Community Resource Management Framework(CRMF), as defined earlier, describes the present situationin the community and the CBFMA area, presents astrategic resource management plan and outlines how
the PO will manage the area (short, medium and longterm). It includes an assessment of what resources arepresent, a discussion of how the area will be allocated,
what the proposed socioeconomic and environmental
indicators will be and the proposed marketing andfinancing strategies. The CRMF is submitted at the
beginning of the CBFMA period and may be modified
if significant changes are needed. Then the CENRO
approves the CRMF. If the CENRO takes no action on
the CRMF within 30 days of submittal, the plan isconsidered approved.
The Annual Work Plan/Resource Use Plan (AWP/
RUP) discusses in detail how, what and when everything
will happen. The plans focus is the following years
activities including resource development and the forest
resources that will be utilized. The PO is required to file
an AWP each year with the LGU and the DENRCENRO. The CENRO approves the AWP/RUP. If the
CENRO takes no action on the AWP/RUP within 30
days of submittal, the plan is considered approved.
The document itself need not be long orcomplicated. It is simply intended to provide guidance
and understanding for both the PO and the DENR,
detailing forest activities for the following year. The
AWP/RUP should include what, where and how much
one intends to develop or plant for the year, and to what

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CBFMA: a land tenure instru-

49

ment for mangrovesdegree (what, where and how much) the extractablemangrove resource will be harvested. It should also
discuss any other livelihoods the PO will be pursuing.
In most cases, the AWP/RUP may not discuss harvestingtrees and other vegetation until a plantation has been
established. This typically does not occur until the 5th or
6th year of CBFMA operation.

presenting any requests to the barangay council. The PO
must decide what it wants to say to the council and who
will say it. To begin, the PO members should discussand decide as a group what kind of political assistance isneeded, and what a resolution can provide toward that
end. For example, are there problems with squatters orillegal fishpond development? Is there a claim on thearea by another barangay or by a person who is not a bonafide resident of the site?

The overall CBFMA application process, including
CRMF and AWP/RUP approval, can take from 4 to 6
months.

The stronger and more complete the resolution, thebetter off the PO will be in the long run. Therefore,
when a PO is considering what to include in the barangay

Gaining Support from Local
Government Unit(s)The concerned municipality may also instituteadministrative requirements of its own. Because thesewill be specifically for the CBFMA area, the PO will
A resolution is a legal instrument issued by any levelof government (from the barangay to the President)
indicating endorsement, or lack of endorsement, of aparticular situation. An example is a resolution of abarangay council to support a PO, the first step inobtaining an ordinance.
An ordinance is a legal instrument issued by amunicipality or city that prescribes laws or regulations.
An example is an ordinance requiring all illegal
fishpond developers in the proposed CBFMA area tocease developing fishponds or face fines.
A letter of support is submitted by a municipality to anational government (or any other) agency indicatingthat the municipality is supporting an activity and/or
requesting assistance.

most likely be able to negotiate to keep these to aminimum.
Resolutions, ordinances and letters of support canbe of great help in pursuing a CBFMA. While it ispossible to process an application without the supportof the barangay council and the SB, their support makes
it much easier.
The barangay resolutionIt is important that the
PO plans out what it wants to accomplish before

Table 4.2.

Examples of actions the peoplesorganization can request from thebarangay council and the
Sangguniang Bayan.

Barangay Council Resolution
1 . Endorse formation of the PO.
2 . Endorse activities of the PO.
3 . Endorse area the PO has proposed for the CBFMA.
4 . Endorse application for the CBFMA.
5 . Request assistance from the SB in all aspects of the
CBFMA application process.
6 . Request assistance from the SB in solving problems
associated with other claimants.
SB
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Resolution and Ordinance Resolution
Endorse formation of the PO.
Endorse activities of the PO.
Endorse area the PO has proposed for the CBFMA.
Endorse application for the CBFMA.
Request assistance from the DENR in all aspects of
the CBFMA application process.
Request assistance from the DENR and BFAR in solving problems associated with other claimants.

Municipal Ordinance
1 . Set aside land identified in the CBFMA for member
use only.
2 . Forbid development other than that identified in the
CBFMA and associated papers.
3 . Set aside prior claims on the area identified in the
CBFMA.
4 . Provide for protection of forest area under the
CBFMA.
5 . Provide logistic support to the PO.

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Mangrove Management Handbook

resolution it should also consider what to include in themunicipal resolutions and ordinances. Table 4.2 provides
examples of what can be requested from the barangay
council and the SB.

Table 4.3.

The PO can use this information as a checklist to
determine if there are other issues affecting the CBFMA
that require the attention of the council or the SB. In
general, the PO will decide if it needs a resolution fromthe barangay endorsing the founding of the PO andsupporting its intent to apply for the CBFMA to manage
the area. This is the simplest resolution a barangay council
can pass and may be all that is necessary.

1.0

After the PO drafts its resolution, it must meet withthe barangay council to inform the council that the PO
has been organized. Some PO members will have spoken
informally with members of the council. This now needs
to be done formally with the officers of the PO attending
the barangay council meeting, explaining in detail their
proposed activities. Table 4.3 outlines the information
the PO will want to provide the council.

2.0

A PO officer should talk to the Barangay Captainand Secretary in order to get on the meeting agenda.
The officer should explain what the PO wants to present
to the council and who will be attending. The PO should
indicate that it will be requesting a favorable resolutionthat can be taken to the SB.
It is important for the main presenters to practicewhat they intend to say to the council. Some of PO
members should act as the barangay council and have thepresenters practice their presentation before them.
Several practice sessions will allow the PO members tofind areas that must be strengthened.
It may take days or weeks for the resolution to bepassed. During this time, the local SB representative(Kagawad) should be informed that the PO will be
requesting time to meet with the SB, the purpose being
to request a resolution endorsing the PO and its activities.
If the PO believes it will need support from ordinances,it would be wise to indicate that the PO will be asking
the SB to pass specific ordinances.
The municipal resolution, ordinance and letterof supportOnce the barangay council resolution is

Outline of the barangay council
presentation.

Introduction
The President of the PO tells the council the nameof the PO and introduces the officers. If the bylaws and other papers are complete, distributethem to the council. Explain this is the first stepin applying for a CBFMA; once the resolution isendorsed by the council, the PO makes a presentation to the SB to request its support and assistance.
Discussion of Purpose
The President tells the council why the PO has
been formed and what the organization intends
to do. Detail how many members the PO has, thetotal area of the application, what will be donewith the area (i.e., what will be planted and harvested and other area livelihood activities) andwhether there are any illegal fishponds or otheractivities of concern. Finally, request that thecouncil issues an ordinance endorsing the PO andthe proposed application area.

3.0

Submission of Draft Resolution
Submit a draft resolution to the council for its
approval or modification.

4.0

Conclusion
Thank the council for its time and ask when it
will be able to vote on the ordinance.

passed, it is necessary to obtain a similar resolution fromthe SB. The PO will have already determined what isneeded from the SB and developed a draft resolution(and any ordinances) when the barangay council resolution
was developed. In addition to the resolution, it is usefulto request that the SB send a letter to the DENR
transmitting the resolutions and requesting all possible
help in the approval of the CBFMA. The PO may want
to request from the SB specific ordinances that will
strengthen their claim to the area or provide them withadditional legal protection in the management of the
CBFMA.

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51

ment for mangroves
It is important to discuss with the barangay
council and SB Kagawad whether they will
request the resolution and ordinance from the
SB or whether it is the POs responsibility. In
cases where the barangay council or the SB
Kagawad will be the one to request theactivities, this section will not be asimportant. Instead, the main activity of the
PO will be to attend the meeting and answer
any questions.
Before a meeting with the SB, the PO should contact
the SB Kagawad, who can provide valuable informationon contacts within the SB to assist in expediting approvalof the resolution, the letter and any ordinance. In most
instances, the PO asks the Municipal Secretary toschedule a meeting with the SB. Before doing so,
however, the PO members should learn from the Kagawad
who to speak with before the meeting. They should
contact at least the: (1) The Municipal Agricultural
Officer (MAO); and (2) the Chairman of the SB
Environment (or Agriculture/Fisheries) Committee toinform them of the POs intentions.
Having spoken to these individuals before themeeting, the PO will have supporters during thepresentation. The SB presentation is similar to the one
before the barangay council (see Table 4.4). As in the
council meeting, several practice sessions should be
conducted in front of PO members, with some taking
roles of particular people in the SB.
The SB resolution may take days or weeks to finalize
like the barangay council resolution. Once finalized, theresolution and any other supporting documentation
should be copied for inclusion in the CBFMA
application.

Gaining Financial and Other
Support from the Municipality
The LGU is often in a position to assist a PO
financially or to provide services depending on the kindof project proposed and the priorities of the LGU. The
CO (if there is one) should be able to help the PO

Table 4.4.
1.0

Outline of the Sangguniang Bayanpresentation.

Introduction
The PO President tells the council the name of
the PO and introduces the officers. If the bylaws and other papers are complete, distributethem to the council.

2.0

Discussion of Purpose
The President tells the council why the organization was formed and what it intends to do.
Detail PO membership numbers, the total areaof the application and what the PO intends to dowith the area (i.e., what will be planted and harvested and other area livelihood activities). Emphasize how much the project will benefit members of the PO, and discuss whether there are
any illegal fishponds or other activities of concern. Finally, request the council to issue a resolution approving the PO and the application area.

3.0

Submission of Draft Resolution and Ordinance
Submit a draft resolution and any ordinances tothe council for their approval or modification.
The President outlines what the PO is hoping forin terms of support and how the resolution andthe ordinance will assist the PO.

4.0

Conclusion
Thank the council for its time and ask when it
will be able to pass the resolution (and ordinance
if any).

determine what type of assistance is needed and whatlevel is necessary to be successful. The following section
provides information on the types of support available.
For financial assistance, LGUs provide 20% of theirInternal Revenue Allotment (IRA) for development
projects that include both infrastructure andenvironment. The LGU may also facilitate access to otherfund sources including the Countryside Development
Funds (CDFs) provided by congressmen and senators,
grants and soft loans from international funding agencies

52

Mangrove Management Handbook(Plan International, World Vision, Canadian International
Development Agency [CIDA], etc.) and local civicorganizations (Rotary, Jaycees, etc.). Further, the LGU
often provides access to vehicles, the municipal hall,assistance from the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO)
and other services the PO may be able to tap.
Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA)Under the
Local Government Code, all LGUs are provided yearlywith an IRA from the National Government for theirexpenses. (The amount of IRA depends on the
population and land area of the municipality.) Currently,
the LGU is mandated to annually allot 20% of its IRA
for development projects. However, with budget
pressures this percentage may decrease. The CO mustassist the PO in developing the best possible proposal.
The following steps must be accomplished for the
PO proposal to be considered. (These steps are usefulwhenever a PO is interested in requesting for funds orother support from any organization.)
1. Decide what project to undertake, preferably inline with the priority of the LGU. To determine the priority projects of the LGU, the PO
can delegate a subcommittee to meet with theMunicipal Planning and Development Council(MPDC). Then the PO can best see how its
project fits in the scope of LGU priorities.
2. With the subcommittee, draft a proposal thattargets the major areas of MPDC interest.
3. Subcommittee officers should contact the
Barangay Captain and the SB Chairman for Environment or Agriculture/Fisheries to discuss
the proposal and to seek input. After incorporating their suggestions, ask for the Captains
and Chairmans commitment to support the
project proposal.
4. From the SB Secretariat, request inclusion in
the next SB meeting agenda to present the PO
proposal.
5. Determine who will do the presentation at the
SB session. Make sure that the presenter is articulate enough to persuade the body to sup-port the project. The presenter must be prepared to defend the project budget and to convince the SB that the funds they invest will increase the income of the PO, improve the environment and eventually increase the municipal
revenue through the harvest of forest or marine products. PO officers should attend themeeting with one or two members to lend support to the presenter. Make sure that the budget is realistic and that the group provides for acounterpart in terms of labor.
6. Once SB approval is secured, submit the budget to the MPDC for further deliberation.
Soft loans through cooperativesSome LGUs
are now providing soft loans to cooperatives at aminimum interest of 8% per annum which the PO canavail of for viable livelihood projects. The cooperative
then delivers the materials to the borrowers who pay
back in cash over a given period. For a project like this,
it is necessary for the PO to form a cooperative. There
are other credit facilities that require cooperative
credentials.
Line agenciesOccasionally, line agencies andNGOs have project funds that a mayor can request fora PO. For example, the DENR has reforestation funds
that are contracted to farmers/fishers associations or
individuals for the planting of mangroves. The
Department of Agriculture (DA) also has livelihoodcomponent projects and some large NGOs are providing
grants to qualified POs. Projects of this nature require
strong LGU endorsement.
Local and international funding sourcesLGUs

A Success Story
Talibon, Bohol is using soft loans of this type withapparent success. An initial budget of P1.5
million was appropriated for 1 year from Talibons
IRA that provided materials/goods to acooperative serving as conduit for the loans.
These loans are used by fishers for equipment,
supplies and working capital.

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CBFMA: a land tenure instru-

53

ment for mangroves
may also assist a PO in obtaining funds from different
local and international funding institutions known toprovide grants to environmental projects, e.g., Philippine
Jaycees, Rotary International, Plan International andWorld Vision. These organizations will almost always
require a formal project proposal. The process outlinedin the section on Internal Revenue Allotment can be followed
and amended.
Logistic supportAside from the financial

support described above, the LGU may also provide
services to a PO, such as the use of heavy equipment ortransportation, loan of technical staff or access tobuilding facilities depending on needs.
For all assistance, it is vital that the PO possesses agood track record for delivering what it has promised
the LGU. Requesting for support may be done informallyby simply asking the Barangay Captain or SB member orformally through a letter requesting for assistance.

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Mangrove Management Handbook

Chapter 5
Fishpond restoration
INTRODUCTION
his chapter provides information on how POs can modify abandoned orillegal fishponds to make them more valuable to the community. Illegal andabandoned fishponds can be changed in ways that are directly and indirectly
beneficial to the people who restore them and to the environment. For example,
fishponds can:T¨

Be developed into plantations that the community can in the future harvest for
firewood, poles, etc.

¨

Provide an area to collect shells, crabs and fish.

¨

Provide food and shelter to crabs, shrimp, shells and fish harvested in coastal
waters.

When looking at the benefitsof restoring fishponds, it isevident that a restored
idle fishpond ismuch more
beneficial thanan abandoned
one. (Figure 5.1
shows this potential
difference.)

Figure 5.1. Active vs. managed fishpond.

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Mangrove Management Handbook

Fishpond restoration principles and techniques areimportant because restoring fishponds to their former
and natural state offers significant advantages to coastal
systems. (Information specifically related to planting andmanagement of mangroves is found in Chapter 3,
Mangrove Plantation Establishment and Management.)
There is little practical experience with restoring
fishponds back into mangroves. Much of the guidancein this chapter is based on sound ecological practices
and an understanding of hydrology rather than on direct

Remember
Aquasilviculture does not mean that an
abandoned fishpond is rebuilt and used
exclusively as a fishpond. Aquasilviculturemeans that the fishpond area is converted intoa site where mangroves can grow and fish canthrive.

experience in similar situations. For example,
replanting fishponds with bakauan or othermangrove species will eventually result in an increasein the mangrove forest area and should provide
additional fish catch in the nearby coastal waters.
Similarly, while still new, aquasilviculture has been
proven to work in the Philippines and elsewhere ona small scale, and should work on a large scale.
Suggestions are made regarding the amount of dike
to remove, the placement of soil from the dikes andother construction issues. Each case will provide
special challenges. The advice given here should not

be followed if local experience has proven different.

A Word on Reverting Fishponds

Table 5.2 outlines the main situations and potential
outcomes for fishpond reversion.

The reversion of abandoned fishponds undera Fishpond Lease Agreement (FLA) is currently
an extremely difficult activity that takes
considerable time and resources to accomplish.
Although Republic Act 8550 does hold out hopefor an easier process, it is not clear when thatwill be. At this time, the Coastal Resource
Management Project-Mangrove Management
Component (CRMP/MMC) suggests that POs
should focus their energies on illegal andabandoned fishponds within their CBFMA
application area (identify the abandoned ponds
under FLA, exclude them from the application
and attempt to revert these ponds at a latertime).

STEPS IN RESTORINGFISHPONDS
As in any complicated process, it is best to break
the reversion of fishponds up into several manageable
bits (see Table 5.1).
The steps are designed to give the PO a general plan
to approach the work necessary to identify fishponds
within the CBFMA area and to determine whether toinclude them in the application. It is also important toestablish a committee to work on this activity. Without
having specific individuals assigned, it is difficult to getanything done.

At a minimum, the former ponds that can be
included will be useful as plantations. Simply operatingthem in that manner will gain some benefit for the coastal
fisheries since a greater area of mangrove forest now isavailable to fulfill its natural functions.

Locate All of the Fishponds
The purpose of this step is to make certain that all
ponds have been identified and located to the satisfactionof everyone in the PO. It serves as the basis for going
into the field and verifying the location and current
activities at each pond. In the case of small CBFMA
areas (less than 200 hectares), there may be only one or
two fishponds (either active, abandoned or illegal); large

CHAPTER 5

Table 5.1.

Fishpond restoration

57

Fishpond restoration process.
S t e psR e s ult

Time t o a ccomplis h

1.

Conduct an inventory of all
the fishponds (active andinactive) in the CBFMA
area.

A list of all the fishponds in the CBFMA area that
includes their status and who operates them.

2.

Visit the illegal ponds andsketch each one.

A series of sketches of each of the illegal ponds showing Less than 2 weeks
general location of dikes and water control structures.

3.

Categorize the ponds.

Based on the information obtained in step one,determine which ponds may be subject to reversion (andexclude those from the CBFMA application) and which
ones may be illegal.

About 1 day

4.

Apply to the DENR torestore illegal andabandoned fishponds

A letter to the DENR through the LGU (copied to
BFAR) requesting that the illegal and/or abandoned
fishponds be turned over to them for restoration.

Less than 1 week towrite and submit letter
followed by follow- up
visits5.

Develop a restoration planfor each of the turned- overfishponds.

After getting more information, clearance or authority
over the area, a plan indicating where dikes should be
breached, how much soil must be removed and where
pond elevations should be changed. It shall be preparedby a Technical Working Group (TWG).

1 month (assuming two tofour individual ponds)

Table 5.2.

Less than 2 weeks

Vegetation cover and potential (see Figure 5.2 for mangrove coverageapproximation).
M a in s it ua t ion

Pot e nt ia l out come sLightly vegetated pond with dike system(<25% vegetation cover)Plantation of ba ka ua n or other appropriate species. Potential
for enrichment planting on dikes and other areas.
Aquasilviculture possible.

Moderately vegetated pond with dike system(25- 50% vegetation cover)Plantation of ba ka ua n or other appropriate species. Potential
for enhancement planting on dikes and other areas.
Aquasilviculture possible.

Heavily vegetated pond with dike system(>50% vegetation cover)Enhancement planting in pond, on dikes and other areas.
Aquasilviculture possible.

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Mangrove Management Handbook

CBFMA areas may have several fishponds present.
The location of each pond can be found in the
prepared CBFMA by the POs approved survey plan duly
authenticated by the DENR and BFAR records on FLA
reports and using it to verify the location and extent ofeach pond. The map will supply information on whether
the fishpond is active or inactive and legal or illegal. Theseand other information will be used when the fishponds
are categorized later. Once everyone agrees on thelocations of the illegal ponds that might be used, a groupmust be selected to visit and sketch the ponds.

Sketch the General Shape of Each of
the Ponds
This step is important because knowing the size,amount of damage and other pond information will help

the PO determine what to do once the ponds have been
reverted. The information to be gathered at this stage is:
¨
¨
¨

¨
¨

The size and shape of the ponds
The state of the dikes and water control structures
The extent of mangrove growth expressed aspercentage of cover of the area (see Figure 5.2
for examples of area coverage)
The location and approximate depth of holes,
channels and high spots in the ponds
Whether or not the ponds are operational

The group should develop a sketch map for every
illegal fishpond including all of the information discussed
above. (See Chapter 6, Resource Mapping of Mangroves, for
information on how to complete a sketch map.)

Figure 5.2. Mangrove coverage approximation.
Whenever possible, staff from the Forest Management Service, DENR,
should be asked to assist with this estimation.

CHAPTER 5

Categorize
Putting each pond in a category will help the PO
decide which ponds to include in the CBFMA
application. This is an extremely important step sincemuch time and effort can be used in attempting to restore
ponds possessing legitimate Fishpond Lease Agreements(FLAs).
The PO begins to categorize the ponds as part ofthe community mapping activities that were done during
the CBFMA application process. All of the fishponds
will have been identified in the area and marked with
one or more of these codes:¨¨¨¨A11Legal fishpond
IS1Abandoned fishpond
IS26Illegal, active fishpondIS26aIllegal abandoned fishpond

These codes serve as the basis to help the PO
understand whether to apply for restoration. Table 5.3
shows the other major categories and provides the codesof each. While these codes are a little confusing at first,
they provide the PO with a wealth of information.

Table 5.3.

Fishpond restoration

59

In general, the members of the PO will be able toquickly determine which ponds are legal and which are
illegal. In cases of uncertainty, check with BFAR. The
PO should focus efforts on including only illegal ponds
in its application. The reversion process as it currently
operates in the Philippines is extremely long and difficult
to implement. The PO can conceivably be tied up in
court cases for years over an attempt to revert a small
pond.

Dont Forget
1. The PO may not begin any work on the area
until the DENR or the LGU has issued theappropriate authorization.
2. Without a plan, the PO will waste large
amounts of time and manpower on workthat probably does not need to get done.
3. Emphasize the importance of developing aplan and following it.

Categories of fishponds.

Type

C a t e gor y

Sugge s t e d a ct ion

Legal - Active

A11- aCannot be included in CBFMA application. Note location and exclude frommap.

Legal - Non- working

A11, IS1

Should not be included in CBFMA application. Note location and exclude
from map. Consider applying for reversion at a later date.

Legal - Unmodified

A11- uShould not be included in CBFMA application. Note location and exclude
from map. Notify DENR of the lack of activity and consider applying forreversion at a later date.

Illegal - Active

IS26

Notify LGU and request that the land be awarded to the PO for inclusion in
the CBFMA.

Illegal - Abandoned

IS26a

Notify LGU and request that the land be awarded to the PO for inclusion in
the CBFMA.

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Mangrove Management Handbook

Report Illegal Fishponds¨

After the illegal fishponds have been identified, thePO can take one of two approaches. In the first
approach, members can approach the illegal operatorsand encourage them to join the organization. One of
the requirements of joining would be the turnover ofthe illegal pond to the PO for inclusion in the CBFMA
application. This is by far the preferred way since it does
not require taking the operator to court.

¨

If the illegal operator is unwilling to join the PO,then the members must approach the DENR or the
LGU to request that the operator be notified of theoperations illegality. Joint Memorandum Circular 98-01(signed by the Secretaries of the DENR and theDepartment of Interior and Local Government [DILG])
authorizes LGUs to take steps to protect forest areas,
particularly mangroves, by delegating certain
responsibilities from the DENR to the LGUs. It may bepossible to request direct assistance from the LGU.
If it must be done formally, then the PO should write
a letter to the LGU (with a copy to the DENR) outlining
the problem. The PO should indicate that it:¨

Has identified an illegal fishpond in an area oftimberland.

Wants the operator of the fishpond to be required to cease operation.
Wishes to include the area of the illegal fishpond in its CBFMA application.

Since this has not been done very much (if at all), it
is impossible to determine how long it will take for theland to be turned over to the PO. At a minimum, DENR
or LGU staff will have to investigate the area and makea recommendation. If it appears that the turnover willtake an unreasonable amount of time, the PO should
give serious thought to applying for the area without
including the illegal pond(s).

Develop a Restoration PlanAt this point it will be necessary to revisit the
fishponds. The purpose is to see what can be done witheach fishpond. Visit on a low tide and then on a hightide so everyone can see what areas are exposed andwhat areas are flooded to get an idea of the depths ofthe ponds and the elevations of dikes and other highareas. (See Chapter 6 for information on how to use tidetables and water levels to measure depths and elevations.)
This visit is an excellent opportunity to start thinking
about what might be done with the area (see Figure 5.3).
After a site visit, the team will have gathered

Figure 5.3. Possible activities in the
proposed site area.

CHAPTER 5

additional data about the flow of water near the ponds,
water depth in the ponds, low and high spots at the siteand existing vegetation cover. The team should also begin
to think about possible approaches to modifying the flow.
This information forms the basis of the reversion planfor the pond.

Hint
It would be a good idea to invite BFAR and
DENR extension agents on these visits. They
can provide the PO with valuable information
on fisheries and silviculture.

One of the most important things the group must
think about is how to make the water flow more useful
to both the activities they want to perform in the pond
and in the plantation areas surrounding the pond.
Consider the following when thinking about water flow:¨

Carefully map out (including direction of flow)
natural water flow (adjacent rivers, creeks,sources of freshwater runoff from uplands,etc.), water supply channels, gates, low spots indikes, gaps in dikes and other features.

¨

Try to make the water flow and movement more
like it was before the ponds were built (by making openings in dikes, unblocking creeks orchannels, etc.).

¨

Look for anything that has greatly changed thewater flow. For example, a dike might have been
built across a major creek. Breaking the dike atthat point will allow the water to flow throughthe creek once again.

Be sure to consider the effects of the pond dikes on
the non-enclosed areas of mangroves adjacent to or near
the pond. For example, a pond might have a large supply
channel built from a nearby creek to the pond. The pond
might already be experiencing a good supply of wateron every tide because the control structure has been
washed away and the dike breached. In such a situation,

Fishpond restoration

61

A Word About Tides
Knowing the average level of the tides in thepond area is important. To aid drainage, mostfishponds were designed so that their bottoms
are slightly higher than the low tide point.
Knowing the average high tide will let you
determine how much of the dike needs to be
removed for proper water flow.

it might be tempting to conclude that everything is allright with the water flow to the pond. However, when
the pond is evaluated more carefully, one often finds a
stretch of the old dike blocking the flow to many hectaresof mangroves that are behind, but outside, the pond. If
so, do whatever can be done to get better flow back tothat area behind the pond.
The restoration plan need not be long or complex,
but it should incorporate a minimum amount of
information including:¨Proposed activities for the fishpond area. (Willit simply be a wood production plantation? Will
there be a mixture of tree species planted? Isaquasilviculture going to take place?)¨

Extent to which the water flow will be helpful
to other parts of the plantation. (Are there areas in back of the pond that will now be reachedby tidal water again? Are there areas where there
may be a change in species because of a change
in water depth resulting from pond modifications?)¨

Proposed work to be done. (This will include a
discussion of how much dike will be leveled,where soil will be placed, whether any additional
excavations in the pond are necessary and anyother construction activities required to accomplish the proposed activities.)
Two sketch maps. The first showing the area as¨62Mangrove Management Handbook
deeper channel along the pond side of thedike where material was dug out to makethe dike higher. This deeper water can be
the home of many valuable animals. Thisis particularly true if the edge of the dike isplanted with bakauan and the prop roots
and trees hang over and provide shade along
the deeper water. The same thing holds formost water supply canals, because when
they are dug a dike is built alongside themfrom the soil dug to make the canal. Planting the edges of these canals is a very goodidea.

it is now and the second indicating the areas
where work will be done.
¨

A timetable for accomplishing the work, an estimate of the number of people and workdays
it will take to accomplish and a budget.

¨

Putting this information together takes time. At
the end of this stage, however, the group will
have a good idea of what it needs to do andshould be energized to do it.

Some specific examplesThis section provides
specific examples of the kinds of things that can be done
to restore ponds. The list is not exhaustive; each pond
has more than one solution that will be adequate to meetthe needs of the PO. Therefore, do not feel that these
are the only things that can be done.
¨

Ponds with few treesIf the proposed restoration
pond has no trees at all (or less than 25% of
the area has mangroves), there are a number of
options to consider.

By planting the edges of pond and canal dikes, you
are increasing the numbers of fish, crabs and shrimp in
the area. After the bakauan matures, it becomes anaccessible source of trees that can be sustainably thinned
and harvested for poles, firewood and all the other uses
for bakauan.
¨Enhancement planting of other mangrove species
Even if most of a pond is to be replanted withbakauan, there are some places where othermangroves (tabigi, tangal, etc.) are a better choice,especially high spots. High spots are higher elevated areas sometimes left in the middle of apond during its original construction or thehigher parts of the dikes along the pond andcanals. (Again, see Chapter 3 for information
on where species should be planted.)¨

AquasilvicultureThis is the combination of
aquaculture (growing of water animals like fish,
shrimp or crabs) and silviculture (growing oftrees). Old fishponds can be converted toaquasilviculture allowing trees to be grown inthem while providing shelter for some fish,
shrimp and crabs.

¨

Ponds with 25% to 50% mangrove coverageNatural regeneration of mangroves is a distinct possibility in these areas. If the PO wishes to pursue this option, very little must be done otherthan letting nature take its course.

Large bare ponds are ideal locations for planting bakauan species. When bakauan is planted inthese kinds of areas, it is done so as describedin Chapter 3, Mangrove Plantation Establishment
and Management. However, there are a few things
to do differently when creating a plantation in a
pond:
r

r

Plant along dikes and canalsPonds offer
special planting opportunities because theirdikes have steep slopes and offer a rangeof elevations to plant a variety of species.
It is good to plant the edges (both sides, inmany cases) of the dikes with bakauan species. Not only is this a place where bakauan
will thrive if planted at the right elevations,
it will help stabilize the banks. Bakauan also
provides places for fish, shrimp and crabs
to shelter, to mature and to be caught.
Completed ponds often have a slightly

CHAPTER 5

In ponds where some trees have grown back or
are still present after some fishpond construction activities, the opportunities for actively intervening are just slightly different from thosedescribed for open ponds. Plantation in open
areas of the ponds is a definite possibility. Since
cutting or removing the existing mangroves is
not allowed, planting will have to be done inwhatever open areas are remaining. It still isimportant to look for areas that have the rightelevations and conditions for planting the selected species. The PO may find many smallerareas instead of one or two big areas to beplanted. In many ponds the smaller areas add
up to a substantial amount of area that can beplanted with bakauan or some other suitablespecies (refer to Chapter 3 for a detailed discussion on mangrove planting). Again, the options
include:¨rPlant along dikes and canals. The discussion above for open ponds applies here, too.

r

Even where there has been some regrowthof mangroves in an old fishpond there isoften little or no bakauan growing there.
This is due to one of two things: (1) a sourceof propagules does not exist nearby; or (2)bakauan is not as easily dispersed by the tides(compared with the small seeds of api-api,
bungalon or piapi). It may be a good idea toenrich the area by planting bakauan
propagules among the other mangrove treesthat are already growing there.

rEnhancement planting of other mangrove
species (tabigi or tangal, for example).

r

Aquasilviculture: If the pond has the rightdepth and enough potential open water, it
may be turned into an aquasilviculture pond
as described above.

Ponds with more than 50% mangrove coverage

Fishpond restoration

63

Extensive natural regeneration has alreadyoccurred in these areas. If it has been a very
long time since the pond was cleared or if thetrees inside the pond have never been cut, theoptions are fewer because of the current
prohibition on cutting non-plantation mangrove
trees. The limited options include:
r
r
r
r
r

Plant in gaps
Plant along dikes and canals
Enhancement planting of bakauan
Enhancement planting of other mangrove
species (tabigi and tangal, for example)
Low intensity aquasilviculture if there aresufficient deep areas in the former ponds

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO
MODIFY PONDS
Accomplishing the various activities discussed above
requires changes to dike height, water control structuresand sometimes the floor of the ponds. This section
discusses how to go about making those changes
including the tools needed, the approximate level ofeffort and assessing the success of the work performed.

Modifying Dikes
Probably the most important part of fishpondreversion is the modification of the dikes. If done
properly, the outcome will be an area that allows for thecomplete exchange of water. This will provide havens
for fish and other organisms, and may allow othermangrove areas to be influenced by the tide. If done
improperly, large areas of the pond can turn stagnant,resulting in fewer areas for fish to thrive and no increasein tidal flushing to the mangrove area.
As part of the planning process discussed above,ReminderPond modification involving significant earth
movement is subject to the Environmental
Impact Assessment System (EIAS) Law

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Mangrove Management Handbook

the PO will already:
¨

¨
¨
¨
¨

Know the level of high and low tide at the dikes.
If the dikes are already breached or if the water
control structures are open, the PO should havea good idea of water depths inside the area.
Know where the dike blocked former creeks,
streams or channels.
Know the location of mangrove areas blocked
by the fishpond dikes.
Know the relative locations and depths of holes
and channels inside the pond.
Most importantly, have a plan about how theywish to modify the pond.

This information answers these questions:¨¨Where will dikes be broken?
How much height and how long a section ofdike will have to be modified?

These answers represent the two key determinantsin planning how much work will have to be done tomodify the dikes. These in turn will help the PO avoid
the problems that go with creating areas of stagnant

Remember
It is important not to create any areas of stagnant
water when you break open the dikes. You willneed to watch the pond for several weeks to makecertain that this does not happen.

Figure 5.4. Sketch map of fishpond, complete with dike modification directions.

CHAPTER 5

water in the pond. Figure 5.4 shows a sketch map thatprovides all the information needed for a crew to go
about modifying dikes.
It is not necessary (at least in most cases) to excavate
the entire dike area. In Figure 5.4, only about 150 linear
meters of dike need to be excavated. Assuming there
are 6.5 cubic meters of soil for every linear meter ofdike, only 975 cubic meters of dike soil need to be dug
to allow for adequate tidal flow.
In the above situation, a crew of eight men shouldbe able to remove that amount of soil in approximately
25 days. The tools required include picks, shovels andmattocks (long spikes). While this is a significant amount

What Do We Do With All of This Soil?
The soil that is excavated out of the pond and its
dikes can be a valuable resource. The PO can use
it to change the pond elevation in other areas tomake it shallower and therefore easier to plant.

of work, it is not necessary that it be done all at one
time. It can be done over 1 or 2 months as time permits.
There are a few rules that should be followed when
preparing to dig and when digging.

Modifying the Pond Floor
The bottoms of fishponds are seldom smooth andfeatureless. They often have channels left over from old
streams, canals engineered for water control purposesand deeper and shallower parts because of the original
pond topography. It is generally unnecessary to modify
these features if all the PO wishes to do is create amangrove plantation.
However, in cases where mangrove-friendly
aquaculture is desired, it is often necessary to perform
some level of modification. There are cases where thepond bottom is so deep or shallow that it is virtually
impossible to modify to the extent needed for successful
mangrove-friendly aquaculture. In these cases, the PO
should content itself with a plantation only.

Fishpond restoration

65

As detailed below, mangrove-friendly aquaculture
does not require extensive modification of the pondbottom; the intent is not to perform full-scale aquaculture
but to provide havens for fish and other organisms.
Figure 5.5 shows a completed sketch map indicatingwhere the dikes should be breached and where the pondbottom should be excavated and filled in. The soil shouldbe placed at the back (landward) edge of the pond. This
will help to modify the average depth in this area andallow a different species of tree to be planted.
Since full-scale aquaculture is not allowed, the PO
should take full advantage of the unevenness of the pondbottom and such features as old stream beds and water
control canals when designing their deeper areas. This
may involve:

Rules for Excavating Dikes
During Planning It is crucial to ask your DENR and BFAR
extension agents to evaluate your plans.
 Make certain to excavate on either side ofany gates. This will lessen the amount of digging you need to do. (Note: if you intend tokeep the gates operational do not excavatein this manner.) Make certain that you have approximately
the same length of excavation on the landward and seaward sides of the ponds.
 Whenever possible, stagger the openings sothat the landward and seaward openings do
not directly face each other.
 Whenever possible, try to reopen creeks or
streams that passed through the pond.
During Implementation
 Excavate from the top of the dike to the bottom.
 Place the soil along the inside margin of thedike to help form a shelf for future plantingarea.
 Alternatively, if you know that there are low
points in the pond, stockpile the soil andmove it to the low points to fill them.

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Mangrove Management Handbook

Figure 5.5. Sketch map as shown in Figure 5.4, but with further information.

¨¨¨Deepening water control canals or former
stream beds
Deepening and widening depressions into holesthat are several meters in diameter
Excavating small feeder canals to parts of thepond to extend water flow

Take an area of approximately 1.5 hectares, forexample, with an average excavation depth of 20
centimeters. This means 3,000 cubic meters of soil will
be excavated. Place the soil at strategic points aroundthe pond to change the elevations as desired. Moving
this much soil will take an 8-man crew about 75 workdays.
However, as in the case of the dikes, this task can be
spread out over a long period of time, even a year or
more. As parts of the area are excavated, they can beused immediately for mangrove-friendly aquaculture.

Hint
The excavated soil can be used to modify areasthat are judged to be too deep to support planting
or to change the relative depth of the water toallow another species to be planted.

MANGROVE-FRIENDLY
AQUACULTURE AS
MANAGEMENT OPTION
Mangrove-friendly aquaculture (MFA) or
aquasilviculture/silvofishery is the raising of mudcrab/
shrimp within or under the mangroves. It can be a good

CHAPTER 5

management option when fishponds in CBFMA areas
are already restored. In the Philippines, MFA is relatively
new; two types appear promising:Mudcrab Fattening
Mudcrab fattening involves the collection of adultcrabs that are large enough to sell in the market. However,the crabs demand a much higher price per kilogram if
they are held for several weeks and fed until the crabs
become fat. When well fed, a crab will have much moremeat and will have fat-rich deposits that are in big
demand. Thin crabs of 100-170 grams can be fattened
to 250-350 grams in 15-20 days if fed 2-3 times/daywith trash fish equivalent to 5% of their body weight.
The challenge is to find ways that the crabs can be
maintained, fed and harvested. Pilot projects using plastic
mesh cages are underway but the cost may prove
prohibitive. Other approaches, perhaps without cages,
might be more profitable. Finding suitable food for the
crabs can also be difficult.

Mudcrab Pen Culture
The second approach to crab aquasilviculture
involves buying small, young crabs and placing them ina pond/canal or on a central platform where they areallowed to grow for months until they are big enough tobe harvested and sold. (Stocking density is 3 crabs per
square meter for 70-gram crabs.) A study in Indonesia
by Fitzgerald (1997) shows a layout of a pond (see Figures
5.6 and 5.7). The trials have a stocking density of juvenile
crab (7-11 or 16-20 grams), 1.5 per square meter for the
pond grow-out culture and 2.0 per square meter for pen

Fishpond restoration67

culture, with males and females grown separately(SEAFDEC, n.d.). Another recommendation includes
3 clays, soil, water temperature of 23-32°C, 15-30 ppt
salinity, a minimum of 4 ppm dissolved oxygen, pH of
8 to 8.5 and water depth of 80-100 centimeters or more.
Mudcrab culture is becoming popular in Bohol
where big mangrove areas with sufficient freshwater
input are available. The CRMP has started a 3-day training
on mudcrab culture to CBFMA holders to augment theincome of the POs and be able to concentrate on forest
production activities.
The central platform is planted in bakauan babae(Rhizophora mucronata) at a spacing of 0.5 meter; one crab
pen is located on the platform and one in the bottom of
the canal. The PO can also raise shrimp and fish fromnatural stocking that enters with the tides. In Kalibo,
Aklan, the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development
Center (SEAFDEC) has also proven the viability of
mudcrab pen culture with a 10 x 20-meter enclosure(bamboo and nets) in a 6-year old bakauan plantation.
But mudcrab culture is a new technology; the PO shouldbe very cautious before adopting it. Talk with the BFAR
extension agent and find places to do cross-visits before
investing any significant amount of time and effort inthis approach.
As we have tried to indicate throughout this chapter,aquasilviculture is a new technique in the Philippines (andelsewhere in the world). While it holds promise, no PO
should put all its eggs in one basket and go full-scalein adopting the techniques described here. A low intensity
approach is best.

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Mangrove Management Handbook

Figure 5.6. Empang Parit pond layout in Sinjai.
(Source: Fitzgerald 1997)

Figure 5.7. Cross section of Empang Parit pond at
Sinjai.
(Source: Fitzgerald 1997)

Chapter 6
Resource mapping of mangroves
INTRODUCTIONT

his chapter provides COs, NGOs and other interested groups or individuals withinformation to assist POs in developing maps that can be used in ap-plying forCommunity-Based Forest Management Agreements (CBFMAs) and in managing
CBFMA activities.
The process used is based on the mapping methods in the Coastal Resource Management
Projects Participatory Coastal Resource Assessment (PCRA). The PCRA method broadly
maps a variety of resource uses and issues that are important on the barangay and municipality levels. This book focuses that method on developing maps useful for managing
CBFMAs. Most of the text was adapted from Walters et al. (1998).
Maps are among the most important tools used in planning and implementing CBFMA
projects. Without maps, it would be difficult to understand the many variables involved inplanning. With maps, the extent and condition of resources can be represented and analyzed, areas for various uses can be plotted out, infrastructure and other interventions canbe spatially enhanced and the localities can be identified for possible problems, issues andconflicts.
This chapter explains how to develop maps by working with POs to transfer their knowledge onto a map by identifying the issues that are important and need to be depicted on themap, and by gathering the necessary technical information for a useful map. The next section explores why we need maps. The final section discusses what types of maps can beproduced and how to produce them.

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Mangrove Management Handbook

WHY DO WE NEED
MAPS?
Maps are important visual information for the POs,
allowing more effective communication between thestakeholders involved in developing and managing the
CBFMA. Maps can help when verbal communication isconstrained by differences in background, education andworld view. Indeed, mapping is one of the mostappreciated and successful strategies for eliciting
information from local resource users. The membersof the PO, therefore, must understand maps and their
spatial value to best manage their CBFMA resources.
Maps are useful in the CBFMA process at a numberof points. First, a map is needed to complete theCommunity Resource Management Framework andAnnual Work Plan. Second, maps provide the PO witha tremendous capability to manage the resources under
their control. For example, this chapter gives the PO abasis for planning resource use including lumber, fishing,fodder production and other activities, a baseline against
which to judge progress and make changes as needed.

WHAT TYPES OF MAPS
CAN WE PREPARE AND
HOW DO WE PREPARE
THEM?

Sketch maps are freehand drawings that can reveal muchabout the coastal areas in the maps and the people
who draw them. They can be particularly useful inthe early stages of developing the CBFMA map. Since
sketch maps start as a blank piece of paper they
provide the least biased view of how mappers perceive
their surroundings, a glimpse of the mappers mental
maps of the coastal environment. Typically, thesemaps are only done when no base map is available.
Base maps are maps that show features such as
coastlines, rivers, roads and villages. They orient the
cartographer to the area and provide a consistent scale
to draw in additional features such as mangroves,seagrass beds, fishponds, wood cutting areas, nipa
plantations and channels. Base maps are often
produced by government geological or navigation
agencies or may be barangay cadastral maps. If the
precision and the scale are adequate, these maps serveas the best vehicle for accurately representing the
CBFMA area.
Field map verification is also known as groundtruthing.
This method is used by individuals or small groups
after at least some drawing over base maps has beenaccomplished. The basic idea of field mapping is to
move around in the management area, either on footor in vehicles, to verify and further refine maps fromearlier exercises.

several basic categories:¨

Maps developed through the PCRA process can bedivided into three basic types: sketch maps, base maps
and field maps. Each has its own use. Typically, as a firststep, a CO may ask a group of mappers to quickly drawa sketch map to help get an idea of the resources in agiven area. Drawing over a base map that has been
prepared will provide greater detail of familiar landmarksin the area and allow the group to develop a map that isalready to scale. Field mapping is done to check thequality of the base map and to make certain that all theimportant information is captured. The box provides
more discussion on each of these mapping activities.
The standardized mapping format shown in Table
6.1 can be used in all three map types. The approach
divides the elements to be mapped (on one map) into

¨

¨
¨
¨

Tree zones
Average density and height of trees per hectare
in the zone
Resource uses
Problems, issues and conflicts
Other features

Tree zones are shown as shaded areas. Resource uses
and Problems, issues and conflicts are depicted on maps where
they are known to occur as numbers, letters and letternumber combinations. In preparing the map forpresentation and distribution, letters and numerals canbe replaced by symbols if that will make the map clearer.
Table 6.2 shows tables of codes that should be used
when identifying resource uses or issues. The last
category, other features, can be depicted as shapes orlines depending on the nature of the feature to be

CHAPTER 6Resource

Table 6.1.

mapping of mangroves

71

Map format for Community-Based Forest Management Agreement map
development.

M a p e le me nt

Type of infor ma t ion

Pr e s e nt a t ion for ma t

Tree zones

Identify the top three species of trees in majorzones within the area.

Various colors to represent the major treezones.

Average density andheight of trees in thezone

Determine the average density and height ofeach species per hectare in each of the zones.

Two numbers within each zone representing
the approximate number of trees and theiraverage height for each of the three top
species on a per hectare basis.

Resource uses

Determine the area’s resource uses. Examples
include fishpond, saltpond, nipa cutting,firewood cutting, woodcutting of other types,
shell gathering, fry gathering, a ma t ong andfishing.

Two- letter codes representing the identified
resource uses in specific areas in the forest.

Problems, issues andconflicts

Determine issues of concern in the area.
Examples include abandoned fishponds, illegal
fishponds and illegal development of housing orother areas.

Two- letter codes representing the identified
issues. A number from one to five can be
added to indicate the severity of the issue.

Other features

Determine the location of channels, abandoned
and operating fishponds, neap high and low
tides, freshwater sources, etc.

Other features are typically drawn on themap using defined line styles.

Table 6.2. Map codes and colors.
Table 6.2a. Color codes used in Participatory Coastal
Resource Assessment maps of Coastal Resource
Management Project learning areas.
Habitats - color codes (12)Mangrove
Seagrass
Beach
Rocky shoreline
Mudflats
Inshore flats
Coral reef
Estuary
Marine waters
Passes/channels/deep
Offshore sandbar
Terrestrial area

ocean -

dark green
light green
yellowbrown
blackorangered
bluelight blue
dark blue
yellow green
light yellow

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Mangrove Management Handbook

Table 6.2b. Suggested codes for traditional fishing methods, illegal activities, othertraditional and subsistence fishing methods (T1-T100).
T1
T2
T3
T4
T5
T6
T7
T8
T9
T10
T11
T12
T13
T14
T15
T16

Bagnets
Barricades
Beach seines
Blanket nets
Bottom set gill nets
Cast nets
Cover nets
Cover pots
Crab lift nets
Dip nets
Dredge nets
Drift gill nets
Drift longlines
Drive-in nets
Encircling gill nets
Filter nets

T17
T18
T19
T20

T21
T22
T23
T24
T25
T26
T27
T28
T29

Fish corrals
Fish pots and crab pots
Fish shelters
Hand instruments withcurved blades, forks,
hooks, etc.
Harpoons
Hook&lines/
handlines/droplines
Hoop nets
Jiggers
Lever nets
LightsMultiple hook and line
Pole and lines
Pull nets

T30
T31
T32
T33
T34
T35
T36
T37
T38
T39
T40
T41
T42
T43
T44
T45

Purse seines
Push nets
Rakes and dredges
Reef seines
Ring nets
Round haul seines
Scoop seines
ScoopsSet longlines
Skimming nets
SnaresSpearsStop seines
Trammel nets
Trap nets
Troll lines

Table 6.2c. Illegal fishing/uses (IF1-IF50).
F1
IF2
IF3
IF4
IF5
IF6
IF7
IF8
IF9
IF10
IF11

Drive-in net with bamboo/tree trunkscare devices (kayakas)
Drive-in net with weighted scarelines(muro-ami)
Electrofishing
Explosives
Fine mesh nets (less than 3 cm) for
unexempted species
Fishing in closed areas (e.g., fish sanctuaries, limitation on baby trawls, etc.)
Fishing without license
Harvest of dolphins
Harvest of giant clams (taklobo)
Harvest of helmet shells (budyong)
Harvest of kapis (Placuna placenta)<80 mm using mechanical rakes, dredges
and motorized boats

IF12
IF13
IF14
IF15
IF16
IF17
IF18

IF19
IF20
IF21
IF22

Harvest of manta rays
Harvest of marine turtles and eggs
Harvest of milkfish (60 cm and over)
Harvest of triton shells (tambuli)
Harvest of whale sharks
Not honoring closed seasons
Other gears (banned by local legislation, like baby trawls, modified
Danish seines, beach seines, compressors, etc.)
Pantukos (tuckseine) with torch
and/or flammable substance
Poisons/obnoxious
substancesSuperlights within municipal waters
Unauthorized commercial fishingwithin municipal waters

Table 6.2d. Legal but controversial fishing methods (perceived as destructive/depletive)(C1-C10).
C1C2C3Beach seines
Compressors
Drive-in nets with various scaring devices

C4
C5
C6

Modified Danish seines
Other drag nets
TrawlsCHAPTER 6Resource

mapping of mangroves

Table 6.2e. Other uses and activities (A1-A50).
A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
A6
A7
A8
A9
A10
A11

Airports
A15
Anchorage
A16
Banana plantations
A17
Breakwaters
A18
Coconut farms
A19
Drainage canals
A20
Education reservations A21
Fish cages
A22
Fish landings
A23
Fish pens
A24
F i s h p o n d s / S h r i m p A25
ponds
A26
A12 Historical sites
A27
A13 Humansettlements/ A28
built-up areas
A14 Industrial estates
A29

A30
Lighthouses/beacons
A31
Limestone quarries
A32
Mangrove plantations
Mangrove timber cutting A33
Military station/bases A34
A35
Mineral extraction
A36
Navigation channels
A37
Nipa harvesting
A38
Nipa plantations
A39
Oil refinery/depots
A40
Orchards
Port/pier/wharf/marina
A41
Power stations
Protected areas (formal
and informal)
Public laundry areas

Public parks/plazas
Research stations
Resorts
Rice paddies
Roads, bridges
Salt beds
Sand and gravel extraction
Seawalls
Seaweed culture
Shellfish culture
Waste
dumps/outfalls/
efflluent discharges
Watchtowers/observation
platforms

Table 6.2f. Common coastal resource management issues and suggested codes (IS1IS100).
IS1
IS2
IS3
IS4
IS5
IS6
IS7
IS8
IS9
IS10
IS11
IS12
IS13
IS14
IS15
IS16
IS17
IS18
IS19
IS20
IS21
IS22
IS23
IS24
IS25
IS26
IS27
IS28
IS29

Abandoned/unproductive
fishponds
Beach/shoreline erosion
Breakage of corals
Closed access to sea
Coliform pollution
Coral bleaching
Coral extraction
Crown-of-thorns epidemic
Declining fish catch
Decreased estuary circulation
Defoliation/loss of vegetation
Destructive fishing
Deterioration of aesthetic quality
Diversion of fresh water
Dredging
Encroachment on the fishing ground byoutsiders
Eutrophication
Fish diseases
Fish kills
Fishing gear conflict
Flooding
Heavy metal pollution
High cost of fishing inputs
Hunting
Illegal fishing
Illegal fishponds
Increased estuary salinity
Lack of alternative livelihood activities
Lack of law enforcement

Source of all tables: Walters et al. (1998)

I S 3 0 Lack of legislation
I S 3 1 Lack of organization
I S 3 2 Lack of security of tenure of land and/or home lot
I S 3 3 Lack of social services
I S 3 4 La nds lideI S 3 5 Loss of rare/endangered species
I S 3 6 Low awarenessI S 3 7 Low prices of fishery products
I S 3 8 Mangrove conversion
I S 3 9 Mangrove overharvesting
I S 4 0 Nipa overharvesting
I S 4 1 Oil spills
I S 4 2 Overfishing
I S 4 3 Pesticide pollution
I S 4 4 Piracy
IS45 Reclamation
I S 4 6 Red tideI S 4 7 Salt water intrusion
I S 4 8 Shellfish contamination
I S 4 9 Siltation
I S 5 0 Smuggling
I S 5 1 Theft of fishing gears and accessories
I S 5 2 Upland erosion
I S 5 3 Use conflicts
I S 5 4 Use right conflicts
I S 5 5 Waste dumping
I S 5 6 Water turbidity
I S 5 7 Weak organization
I S 5 8 Wildlife trade

73

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Mangrove Management Handbook

mapped.
COs can conduct mapping activities with anindividual or a group. (The group size usually ranges
from three to twenty people.) The basic procedures are
the same with individuals as with groups, except thatgroup activities have group dynamics that can work either
for or against (or both for and against) the success of
the activities. At this stage, the local ways of referring toresources, places and habitats should be known to COs.
The classification system in Table 6.1 can be used in all
mapping exercises to minimize confusion and maximize
local input.

WORKING WITH THE
PO—THE MAP
DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS
Developing the map with the PO takes at least
several days. It is important to brief the PO on the lengthof time it will take so that the members will not get
discouraged.
The process involves four phases:¨¨¨¨Introductory
Map development
Field verification or groundtruthing
Map finalization

Introductory phaseThe introductory phase neednot start at the very beginning. If the PO is alreadyinterested in a CBFMA and has a basic understandingof what is involved, discuss the importance of the map
to the CBFMA and the PO planning activities as astarting point. In cases where the concept of CBFMA
is introduced, however, it will be necessary to begin earlier
in the organization process.
Spend some time with the group to determine what
the members think of maps. Start by asking what theyknow about maps. Take a copy of the barangay cadastralmap, or if one is not available, a provincial map, land
classification map or nautical chart of the area, and ask
them to identify some of its features.

Remember to link the need for a map to concrete
things so that the PO can see the usefulness of
mapping. Emphasize that a map is required by
the DENR as part of the CBFMA applicationand that the information gathered from themapping exercise will help the PO manage theforest better.
Depending on how well they do, discuss how to use
and read a map. For example, if they can quickly pointout the major landmarks of their barangay, then they are
ready to move on to a discussion of map making. But if
the map confuses the PO members, work with them
until they can recognize major features of their barangay,
and talk about making their own map. Explain what thescale is and ask them to point out how far it is between
familiar places. Once they comprehend how to use amap, emphasize the importance of a map to the CBFMA
application.
First, explain that without a map of the area, theirapplication for the CBFMA will never be approved.
Second, discuss that developing a map will help tounderstand what they have in terms of resources, where
they might establish new mangrove plantations and whatissues they might face within the community.
Inform the group that when the map is completed,they will know what types of trees are located in what
areas. This information is useful in developing livelihood
options and in determining where to establish newplantations. Issues can include people from anotherbarangay who use the area for shell gathering or
woodcutting, fishers who set nets just outside the area,
illegal woodcutters and abandoned or illegal fishponds.
This phase usually takes 1 to 2 hours depending on
the sophistication of the group. After the PO accepts
the need to do a map, move on to the map development
phase.
Map development phaseThis phase is where
the initial map is developed. The type of map made,sketch or base, depends on whether you have a map of
appropriate scale. Borrow such a map from the Municipal
Planning and Development Office and make copies towork from (blueprints are probably best).
Learn the historical use patterns of the mangrove

CHAPTER 6Resource

forest by asking the PO members how far back they canremember people working (e.g., cutting wood) in theforest. Have the group determine (1) what were the top
three mangrove species harvested in the past; and (2)what was the average volume of wood removed per day(or week or month). Inquire if they have the same
information for each subsequent ten years. Write theiranswers on a white board or flip chart so all the people
can see the trend of the resource. (This is known astrend diagramming.) This information will be useful
Remember, a sketch map is drawn freehand
without any model to copy from; it typicallycontains exaggerations of various features and an
inaccurate scale.
A base map is traced from another map and left
blank. It shows the outline of the coast, rivers andother natural geographic features, and sometimes
roads. Because it is traced directly from anothermap, it has no exaggerations or problems withscale.

when deciding which species to plant in particular areas.
While members of the PO are collaborating on themap, see if everyone is participating. Often one personin the group will take over and tell the others what todraw. Should this happen, ask other members of thegroup if they agree with what is being said; if

It is best to do the actual drawing of the
map in a stepwise fashion. For example,
after the areas boundary is agreed on, moveon to what tree zones are present and what
species are found in each zone. Next,
determine the tree density (the number oftrees per unit area) and estimate theaverage height for each of the top three
species. Then focus on resource uses,
issues and other features.
disagreement surfaces, it is important to control it. Plan
on spending up to one day developing this initial map.
Field verification or groundtruthing phase
Field mapping should take place as soon after thedevelopment phase as possible. A subgroup of thosemapping of mangroves

75

who developed the sketch or base map should go into
the field to verify the data on the map. Check facts asthey are presented on the map and obtain additional datathat the mappers did not know about. The amount oftime this takes depends on the size of the area, howmany people can work on it, and how many samples
need to be taken. Plan on a minimum of one full day. (Itcould take as long as 5 days.)
Map finalization phaseFollowing the field
verification phase, the field team presents its findings tothe entire mapping group. Incorporate any changes andadditions from the groundtruthing phase.
There are several ways to develop a final map. If
geographic information systems (GIS) are available,
submit the map to the GIS group and to develop a draft
final map for PO review and validation. This copy should
be done on a sheet at least 12 x 12 inches. If the map isdrafted by hand, try to find a local artist or draftsman torender the map (the municipality may have such a
resource).

Developing a Sketch Map
When a base map is unavailable, a sketch map is anadequate substitute and relatively easy to make. All thatis required is a large, blank piece of tabloid (28 x 43
centimeters) or larger size paper, marking pens or pencils(with erasers and sharpeners) and a comfortable place
to draw. Many people tend to start drawing at a scalethat is too large for the size of the paper provided andquickly run out of room. To avoid this, draw a box on
the paper with a light-colored pencil, leaving wide
margins on all sides. Instruct the mapper to keep thedrawing inside the box and use the margins only whennecessary.
People drawing maps often find it easiest to draw
first those features of the coastal area that are mostfamiliar to them, e.g., the way from their home to themarket or to their fishing grounds. Distinct geographicalfeatures such as bays, river mouths and islands are also
good starting points. When prompted to draw thesefeatures, the mappers will usually draw the coastline first,
then add other features like mangroves, rivers, seagrassbeds, roads and settlements. To avoid confusion, use thelocal ways of referring to resources, places and habitats.
Coastlines are best drawn in black ink using other colors

76

Mangrove Management Handbook(e.g., red, green, brown) to represent other aspects ofthe map. Figure 6.1 is an example sketch map for amangrove area.
Sketch maps are most useful in locations or cases
where base maps and aerial photos are unavailable andwhere there is a lack of knowledge or understanding of
the local perspective on habitats and resource uses. Sketch
maps also offer an insight on those elements that are
most important to the local communities participatingin the sketch mapping exercise. Once the sketch map iscomplete, the PO can use it as a planning tool for
managing its resources.

Developing a Map Using Base
Maps
The best way to produce a base map is to use a GIS
to draw a large-scale map that reflects the CBFMA area.
See if such maps are available from the DENR or theProvincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO).
Alternatively, you can use a barangay cadastral map or amap produced by the National Mapping and Resource
Information Agency (NAMRIA) as a guide. Prepare thebase map in advance of the mapping activity, ideally on
tracing paper the same size as the base map. It isextremely important that you identify a minimum of twolatitudes and longitudes from the map. If you use a GIS
system to produce your map, this information is neededto accurately depict your map. The basic goal is to
produce a spatial guide to the area, leaving out thosefeatures that can be easily filled in by the mappers. A
base map with pre-drawn black lines representing
coastlines, rivers and roads and general bathymetry (water
depth) is generally sufficient to orient the mapper.
The size of the area to be mapped determines themost appropriate map scale. For mapping areas for
CBFMA, the best maps to trace have scales that range
from 1:2,000 to 1:10,000. If a GIS-produced map is notavailable, the best source for a CBFMA base map is thebarangay cadastral map on file in the municipality. If one
is not available, it may be necessary to use a navigation
chart of the area. These charts are produced by
NAMRIA. Every effort should be made to locate a chartwith a scale lower than 1:20,000 since this allows a goodlevel of detail for the maps, allowing the community torelate more easily to the maps depictions.
Most maps (including the cadastral maps), fromwhich base maps can be traced, show more detail thanthose required by the CBFMA. Details such as locations

Figure 6.1. A sketch map.

CHAPTER 6Resource

mapping of mangroves

77

Hint

A Word About the Mapping Process

It is wise to agree on a set color scheme and codesthat all participants will use for all the features
mapped. Recall the necessity of choosing features
to be mapped that arise from previously
determined classification systems for tree zones,
resources and other factors (see Table 6.1). Whendrawing the maps, use colors to differentiate thezones. Using colors can help differentiatemangroves with significant remaining old growthfrom those having mostly secondary growth.
Following the standardized mapping format
previously discussed, numbers, letters andsymbols can be used to indicate locations
associated with various resources, uses and issues.

Mapping is best handled as a group exercise.
Peer consultation leads to better understandingof the terminology and more accurate locationof map elements.

of mangroves and seagrass beds, for example, should
not be traced onto the base map, since that will defeat
the purpose of the mapping activity. The goal is to record
what local mappers know about the area, not what isreported by professional mapping agencies. The maps
drawn by the mappers can be compared later with thosedone by professional cartographers. After completingthe base map, make several photocopies (or blueprints)
that can be drawn over by participating fishers.
Next, introduce the mapping process to the PO
members developing the map (Figure 6.2). Orient theparticipants before the mapping begins, explaining thatthey are now going to improve on their sketch map. The
map you are showing them was traced from another mapof the barangay (or from whatever source you used). Pointout some of the landmarks you copied on the map, thenask the group to identify some. Most mappers quickly
understand the exercise, but mapping the coastline,
especially mangroves, can be confusing.
After discussing the map, tape it to a table and cover
it with mylar tracing paper in preparation for mapping
the elements in Table 6.1. Begin with mapping theboundary of the total extent of the mangroves in the
CBFMA application area. There may be several different
opinions about parts of the country. It is important for
two reasons. One, every persons opinion must be shownto have value to ensure the exercise is not perceived asunder the control of a small elite. Two, an agreement
begins to shape the ethic of people working together

To begin, place the base map on a table. Take
away all chairs to provide as much open space
as possible. This allows the mappers to movefreely around the map as they perform themapping exercise. Before mapping eachcategory, review the list of all elements within
the category. For example, for habitats, list all
types of habitats and assign a color code to each
type. Be sure that no two types have the samecolor code and that colors are distinct to avoid
confusion later. When the list is completed, map
the elements one at a time, preferably in the order
they appear in the list. In cases where few
resource users are involved, mapping by smallergroups (one-on-one, for example) may beappropriate.
toward a common goal. It will prove very important to
the effective development and completion of the map.
Once agreement on the boundary has been reached,
it is necessary to determine how many tree zones are in
the area.
¨¨¨Explain to the group that we need to know whattypes of trees are located in what areas.
Tell them this is likely to be the most difficult
part of the mapping process.
Ask them to think about the areas within theforest where they know specific types of trees
are found. For example, ask if anyone knows
where there is a lot of tangal, malatangal andbusain.

Table 6.3 gives some examples of what the group
might produce in terms of zones of trees; Figure 6.3
shows how it might be depicted on a map.
At this stage, it will probably be impossible todetermine the exact boundaries of these zones. Explainthat the last step of the process, groundtruthing, will
help to finalize the boundaries. Ask the mappers to

78

Mangrove Management Handbook

Figure 6.2. Base map procedures.

CHAPTER 6Resource

Table 6.3.

mapping of mangroves

Examples of tree zones.
Zone

De s cr ipt ion

Api-a pi, pia pi, pa ga t pa t
Ba ka ua n la la ki, ba ka ua n ba ba e, pia pi

In all cases, the first species represents the
species that is most often found in the area.

Ta bigi, busa in

There may be several more than thespecies listed but they make up more than
75% of the total.

Nipa , a pi-a pi, pa ga t pa t

The last category should be seldom used.

Ta nga l, ma la t a nga l, busa in

Mixed

Figure 6.3. Land use map.

79

80

Mangrove Management Handbook

estimate the total number of trees per 100 square meters(show them what an area of 10 x 10 meters looks like).
Next, ask them to estimate the average height ofeach species.
Tree zone information should also be transferredto the map. For each species, create a small box with thename of the tree, estimated number and average height;
Bakauan bato 4 0
Bakauan lalaki 2 5Piapi
5

7 meters
4.5 meters
6 meters

draw the box within the zone or next to it with an arrow
pointing to the zone. It should look like the followingbox:
The first column is the name of the tree; the second,
the number in the area; and the third, the estimatedaverage height.
The group should now have a map that looks similar
to Figure 6.3. While this is a good start, it is not complete.
Ask the group to identify all of the current uses,
resources and issues within the forest. Uses include not
only the cutting of trees or harvesting of nipa but also
such CBFMA area activities as fry gathering, shellgathering, fishing, fishponds (legal, illegal andabandoned), etc.

Part of the mapping exercise is to makecertain that the PO has identified all thelegitimate resource users. This includes
part-time users from within the barangay
and outside it. All have a right to alivelihood.
Be sure to ask the participants if the people
practicing these livelihoods are members of the PO. If
they are not, it is extremely important that the PO
attempts to include them. Even people who are outsideof the current organization have a right to continue theirlivelihoods.
Problems, issues and conflicts are mapped next
because they logically follow the mapping of resources
and uses, and because they are the most abstract of the

mapping elements. The capital letters IS followed bya number may be used to represent the issues as shownin Table 6.2f. The reason that the codes are not sequential
is that the table is based on one from the PCRA Handbook
and unnecessary issues (such as dynamite fishing) havebeen removed.
The other features may be entered as people
determine what they are. Once again, the majority of
the group must agree on these features and their location.
Other features can be extremely important to the overall
success of the CBFMA. For example, it is important tobe able to locate any channels (large or small) in theforest since they may allow for several forms ofmariculture. Also, the location of the average and highest
high tides and low tides is crucial to planning additional
planting activities. Other types of features may be moreor less important depending on the area in question.
Sometimes it will be necessary to locate other featuresin the field. The section on Field Mapping/Groundtruthing
gives details on how this is done. Figure 6.3 also shows afinished map showing all of the information discussed
above.
Once the mappers incorporate all features on thebase maps, show participants the details from existing
printed information sources (such as the NAMRIA
maps) and compare them to the maps just drawn.
Comparing the maps developed by the PO to the
NAMRIA maps is usually a positive experience as thegroup sees the strong similarity between their maps andthe maps produced by experts.
While these similarities are often striking, much canbe gained from examining the differences between thelocal and expert maps. As with PCRA results, look for
new or different information on spatial details (e.g., small
fishponds), details on features that vary over space (e.g.,
old growth vs. previously logged mangrove), and featuresthat vary over time (e.g., locations of seasonal fishingactivities in the mangrove forest).
After group members examine expert maps incomparison to their own, they often wish to amend theirmaps based on those features more accurately depictedon the expert maps. This should be encouraged provided
the original maps are retained for reference. What usually
results from the verification and correction process is acomposite map of expert and local perceptions, often

CHAPTER 6Resource

more accurate and useful than either map consideredseparately. Expert maps can provide exact scales, overall
distributions and consistent locations. Locally drawn
maps can add critical details and locally significant andrelevant features that make them useful for CBFMAplanning purposes.

Developing a Field Map—
Groundtruthing the Base or
Sketch Map
Field mapping, also known as groundtruthing, isused to check the accuracy of the PO map. This involves
walking through the area to compare the reality of what
is seen in the walk to what is on the map. This is usuallyaccomplished with only a few of the people who workedon the base map. Figure 6.4 is an example of a completed
field verification map.
Signboard maps can be prepared after the base map.
Box 6.1 presents information on how to prepare signboard maps.

mapping of mangroves

81

Groundtruthing involves determining if the POs
map reflects what is actually in the forest. There are
varying levels of effort the PO can use to perform this.
The activity with the least effort is a walk-through ofeach of the forest areas identified in the map to see ifthey possess the characteristics of the map. The activity
with the most effort involves sampling anywhere from
1% to 5% of the total forest area to identify tree species,
size and height.
For a CBFMA, the first approach is appropriate
because the application does not require any details about
the composition or characteristics of the forest.
However, in a few months when the PO begins to write
the Community Resource Management Framework, theAnnual Work Plan and the Resource Use Plan, a muchhigher level of forest characterization will be needed.
Low-intensity groundtruthingThis involves
locating the tree zones identified in the PO map to

Figure 6.4. Field verification map.

82

Box 6.1

Mangrove Management Handbook

Making a map for display.

For planning and education it is often useful to
produce a large map of the management area on asignboard or poster. Signboard maps are produced
in a group setting after fishers have finished drawing
over the tabloid-size base maps. The exercise issimilar to that of drawing over base maps, exceptthat the base map used is much larger and usually
prepared in a different way. Signboard maps should
be at least 120 cm x 120 cm and are best made ofmarine plywood with a 2.54 cm (1 inch) or larger
border around the edges to give it strength anddurability. It is best to hire a professional signboard
artist to prepare the signboard base map, but aresourceful CO or community member can also
handle the job. Since it is impossible to trace througha signboard, the lines of the map must be transferredfrom a reference map using a scaling or gridtechnique. Follow these steps:
1.

2.

On a tabloid-size (28 cm x 43 cm) sheet ofpaper, prepare a base map showing coastlines and a few other features, such as rivers and roads, to help orient the mappers.
Draw a grid of squares on the map so thateach square measures no more than 2.54
cm x 2.54 cm (1 square inch).

3.

Calculate a multiplication factor by dividing the length of the longest side of the basemap into the length of the longest side of
the area in which the map is to be drawn
on the signboard (leave space on all theedges of the signboard for a border).

4.

Multiply the size of the squares on the pa-

determine how close the composition of the zonereflects the information on the map. To do this, a small
group from the PO goes to the forest and visits each of
the zones identified on the map.

per base map by the multiplication factor to
calculate the corresponding size of the squares
to be drawn on the signboard. For transferringa tabloid-size base map onto a 120 cm x 120
cm signboard, one can draw a grid of 2.54 cm x
2.54 cm squares on the base map and a corresponding grid of 6.4 cm x 6.4 cm squares on
the signboard. (120 cm divided by 43 cm is 2.8,
which can be rounded down to 2.5 to leave room
for a border; 2.5 multiplied by 2.54 cm equals
6.4 cm).
5.

Draw the square grid on the signboard using
the size of the squares just calculated (e.g. 6.4
cm x 6.4 cm).

6.

Going square by square, copy the lines on thebase map into the squares on the signboard
using the lines of the squares as guides to theplacement of the map features.

After the basic lines have been drawn on thesignboard, paint of various colors can be used to fill inthe map (for example, light green for seagrass and green
for mangroves).
Fishers can then begin painting the features theymapped on their paper base maps. (The job is easier if
the fishers tape their maps on a corner of the signboard
base map, so they can glance from one map to the otheras they paint.) Fishers are typically good painters andshould have little trouble transferring the features of
one map to another. Enamel paints, available from mosthardware stores, are best for the job.

to do the work. As a group, determine:¨¨¨A single group of three to four people should be
identified for this task (in case it cannot be accomplishedin a single day those with experience can return to thetask later). It should be composed of the people who
frequent the forest on a regular basis. Good candidates
include firewood gatherers, nipa harvesters and shellgatherers.
Once a group is assembled, develop a plan on how

¨
¨
¨
¨
¨

When to begin (day and time)
The number of areas to visit
The order of visitation
How long it will take to complete the activity
The need for a banca or pumpboat
Who will record the information
Who will check the information against the map
Who will present the findings to the PO group

Next, decide how to record the groundtruthing
information. A helpful form is provided in Table 6.4.

CHAPTER 6Resource

Table 6.4

mapping of mangroves

83

Data record form.

Example data sheet (adapted from IIRR 1998).
MANGROVE ASSESSMENT DATA
SITE/PO NAME
DATE

ZONE
NUMBERTEAM MEMBERS

AVERAGE OBSERVATIONSSUBSTRATE MATURE
TREEHEIGHT
TYPE
DENSITY
S1/DENSITY S1/HEIGHT
S2/DENSITY S2/HEIGHT
S3/DENSITY S3/HEIGHT

Upon completion of the groundtruthing process,compare the groups findings to those placed on the map.
Any necessary changes should be discussed with the PO
in a general meeting. Then the map can be redrafted forsubmission in the CBFMA application package.
Determining the average and highest high andlow tides and their depthsKnowing the range ofthe tide in your CBFMA area is important because:¨¨It helps to determine if there are additional areas for plantation.
It helps to determine which species might succeed in a particular area.

To determine where tides reach in your CBFMA
area, observe the heights of the tides over several tidal
cycles. Box 6.2 provides a detailed discussion of how tomeasure tides.
It will be necessary to perform these activities morethan once to get accurate tidal information for the map.
Using tidal information from calendarsTo determine
the approximate height of the tide and when the average
low tide will be reached, use a calendar that lists tides.
These are commonly available in fishing supply storesand it is likely that someone in the PO will have one.

84

Mangrove Management Handbook

Box 6.2.

How to determine tides.

Using Tide Tables

live along the coast know this from watching thetides and moon every day.

What are tide tables?
Seasonal tides
Tide tables are written predictions of when highand low tides will occur each day, along with aprediction of how high or how low the water will beat the time. In the Philippines, most people arefamiliar with and can get calendars that have thetime of high tides and time of low tides listed bydate. There are many things you need to understand
before you can properly use these tide tables to map
your area.

Tides also change during the course of a year
due to the ever-shifting angle of the sun. There areusually two periods when the tides are higher than
the rest of the year. In the Philippines, the period ofhighest tides occurs around the end of June or earlyJuly. The annual highest high tides are called springtides. The opposite, a low tidal period, are known
as neap tides. Spring tides and neap tides occur indifferent months.

Kinds of tides
What do the numbers on the tide tables mean?
Daily and semidaily: At most places and at mosttimes there are two high and two low tides eachday. The time of high tide and low tide is determinedby the position of the sun and moon; theirgravitational attraction causes tides. In somelocations, there may be several days each monthwhen there is only one high tide and one low tide.
In other places, this occurs every day. However, mostof the Philippines experiences two high tides andtwo low tides every day.
Unequal tides: Usually when there are two highand two low tides, they will not be the same. For
example, it is normal for one high tide to be higher
than the other high tide. The higher of the two is
known as the Higher High Water, or HHW; the lower
low tide is called Lower Low Water, or LLW.
Daily tides
On average, the low and high tides occur about
50 minutes later from one day to the next. (Themoon rises about 50 minutes later each day as well.)
However, this is just a rule of thumb and tides arevery complicated. Use this estimate to determine
when the tides will occur next day, but do not counton an exact 50-minute change. Instead, look at thetide tables carefully when using the tides to map.
Monthly tides
Each month there will be one or two periods ofseveral days during which the HHW is very high,and the LLW is very low. These periods usually fallaround full moon and new moon periods because
at those times the sun and moon are working
together to pull the tide higher. Most people who

The number next to the time in tide tables isthe expected height of the tide in meters (level isoften used in place of height). If the table reads+2.4 (or just 2.4), for example, the water will be 2.4
meters higher than it will be on a low tide that is
0.0 meter. The 0.0 level is defined as the Mean
Lowest Low Water (MLLW), or the average LLW as
defined above. In other words, 0.0 is a standard
level that corresponds to a typical lowest low tide ofa typical day during the year. If people go out to theseashore on the day that a 0.0 tide is where the tideis at its lowest point on the shore, they would bestanding at a level of 0.0. If they stood there as thetide came in, the tide would rise on them to thelevel predicted on the tide table. For example, if thetide table predicted that the high tide would be +2.5,
the depth of the water would be very close to 2.5
meters.
Tide table locations
In the Philippines, exact tide tables are available
only for areas near major cities like Cebu or Manila.
Tides vary from location to location; even the
shoreline can affect the tide. To say the tides varymeans that the times may be different (the high andlow tides may be earlier or later than at Cebu or
Manila, and the levels the tides rise to or fall to also
might be slightly different). However, using the tidetables for the city nearest to you should be goodenough for CBFMA mapping purposes.
Estimating differences from tide tables
To estimate the difference between the tidetables and a specific location, go out and observe

continued

CHAPTER 6ResourceBox 6.2.

mapping of mangroves

85

continued.

high tides or low tides by watching the water rise or
fall on the shoreline or on a piling or stake. Whenthe tide reaches high or low, note the time and see
how much earlier or later the tide is than the tidetable predicts. Then add or subtract the difference
to determine high or low tide for the area. Often thetime differences will vary slightly for high and low
tides. For example, in a certain place the high tidemight be 40 minutes later than the table predicts,
but the low tide only 10 minutes later. People wholive and work along the coast or shore are generally
aware of the time difference. To actually learn the
differences, measure several times for the high andlow tides when it is not windy or stormy.
Weather
Be advised that weather can greatly change thetimes predicted on the tide tables. Storms and winds
can push water against or blow it away from theshoreline. The same kinds of winds and storms canalso delay the tide from coming in or going out, thuschange the time when the tide is highest or lowest.
When using tide tables to map or to adjust the tables
locally, do so only during calm, clear weather.
Currents and time lags in rivers/streams/bays
Incoming and outgoing tides are very different
from high or low tides. This is because some rivers,
streams or bays are not filled up to the level of thesea when the tide starts to recede at the river mouthand sea. The sea can still be higher than the riverfor many minutes after the tide has started to fall.
Because the sea is higher, the water continues toflow into the river and move inland, even though
the time of high tide has passed. In that kind of
situation, the high tide in the river, stream or bay islater than the time listed in the table. Similarly, thelow tide will be different. For areas quite a distancefrom the sea, it is important to determine the correct
tidal time for better mapping.

Tide lines
Simple and useful map features are the lines
indicating where the water is at low tide and hightide. Since one low tide can be lower or higher thananother and one high tide can be higher or lower
than others, standards are needed.
Standards
The standard for low tide is Mean Lowest Low
Water (MLLW), the place the tide falls to when the
low tide is 0.0. Mean Highest High Water (MHHW)
elevation determination is not as easy. Because
mangroves can grow even in places where the tide
reaches only on the highest tides of the year, it isimportant to know where that line is on the map. At
the same time, some mangrove species cannot growwell unless the tide reaches them almost every day;at least two standards are needed for high tide. Lookat the tide tables and see what high levels are reachedeach month. Select a high tide number like 3.0 or
2.8 (about the highest tide that occurs every month).
This is the high tide. It is important to record whatelevation that refers to high tide.
Determining the MLLW line

Mapping Mangrove Areas

Low tide, ideal case: The simplest way todetermine the MLLW line is for several participants
to go out on a day when the low tide is predicted tofall to 0.0. If the weather is calm, watch the water
fall and record the low tide for mapping. For example,
along a shallow shoreline the tide might fall until
the water is 100 meters away from the mangroves at
low tide (0.0). Along another stretch of shoreline
where the water is deeper closer to shore the tidemight only be 10 meters out from the mangroves at
0.0 low tide. It is important to have many people
doing this at the same time because if you try to doit alone, the tide would come up before you could
walk to other areas. Be sure to mark where thewater’s edge was for any land that was exposed
during low tide, including sand or mud bars.

One of the most important things to know andto map in a mangrove area is the elevation or thedepth of water at high tide. Both mean the samething when they are measured accurately. By
understanding tides as described above, you can
use them to accurately map an area.

Low tide, practical case: There are very few low
tides that fall to exactly 0.0. Those that do may beduring the night or stormy weather (remember not
to measure tide levels on windy days). Use thefollowing technique to map the MLLW (0.0) line when
the tide falls below (less than) 0.0. Go out at low tide

continued

86

Mangrove Management Handbook

Box 6.2.

continued.

when the tide is predicted to fall to -0.5, for example.
Watch the water recede and at its lowest put a stake
into the mud at the water’s edge. Use a ruler ormeasuring stick to make a mark on the stake exactly
0.5 meter up from the mud. Wait and watch the tidecome in until it reaches the 0.5 mark; now the water’sedge is back up to 0.0. Then do the same things asabove, as if the low tide had only fallen to 0.0 meter.
Record where the water is on the shoreline at 0.0(when the ruler is covered up to the 0.5-meter mark).
Highest tide detailed map
The only way to accurately map the highest hightide line in detail is to actually be there when thetide is high. Again, many individuals will have tohelp, because so much area is involved. In fact, thismay require a larger number of people and moredays if there is an “island” within the area that thetide never covers. It is especially important to know
where the high tide line is along all rivers andtributaries. This is a difficult task, and it may takeseveral years to complete accurately because thehighest tides only occur a few days each year.
The technique is simple. Place participants inselect areas with some overlap. For example, if
mapping how far the tide moves into a stretch ofmangroves along a shore, walk through themangroves, following the water’s edge for about 15
minutes before and after high tide. When one person
finishes at 15 minutes after high tide, he/she shouldreach about where someone else started 15 minutes
before the high tide. This ensures that all of theshoreline is mapped without any gaps. Similarly,
different people will have to walk along each side ofany river, tributary or other areas where water
extends into the forest.
Highest tide, approximation
Measuring the highest tide line takes a lot ofwork and time. It is something that should be done,
but in the mean time, this information can beapproximated. In most cases, there are people who
spend a lot of time in the mangrove areas and know
from memory where the highest tide line is. They
can transfer this memory onto the community-based
map. This could and should be incorporated into
the process from the outset. Where there are gaps
in knowledge/memory, it is possible to estimate the
HHW line by walking through the forest along theinterior of shorelines and observing the soil andfloating debris that indicates where tides havereached.
High tide, approximation
There is no apparent way to determine a hightide line without detailed measurements. Careful
examination of mangrove forests on Bohol did notreveal any indicators, as sometimes occur in otherwetlands (e.g., waterlines or periphyton lines ontrunks). Therefore, the high tide line must be
determined using the technique used to determine
the low tide (MLLW) line.
High tide measurement and mapping
Once the standard high tide elevation (e.g., 3.0)
has been selected (see above), the high tide line forthis standard can be measured any time when thetide is at or above this level. Just like for the low tidemeasurement, things would be simplest if the tide
was exactly equal to the standard (3.0, in thisexample) on the day the measurements are made.
However, as in the case of low tide, the tide will notbeexactly
3.0
on
many
days.
Therefore,
measurements can be made on any day the tide is
3.0 or higher, using a reference stake(s) as for the
MLLW measurements.
In this case, go to the mangrove areas to bemapped a little before the time of predicted high tide
and wait until the tide reaches its highest point. (Thepredicted level for that tide is already known; we’ll
use 3.5 in this example.) When the tide is at its
highest, walk into water that is more than 0.5 meterdeep and insert a stake. Measure down 0.5 meterwith a measuring stick and make a mark on the stakeat that point (one method is to use a bolo to cut a line
into the stake 0.5 meter down from the water surface).
Then watch the stake as the water falls. When thewater level goes down until it is level with the mark,the water is now at 3.0, because it is 0.5 meter lower
than what it was (3.5 meters in this example).
However, if the person at that site waits until thewater has fallen to the mark, he or she will be able tonote where the water line is but will only see where
the water is at 3.0 (or a little lower as the tide
continues to fall). Therefore, the observer should not
wait until the water falls to the exact mark on thestake. Instead, start the survey when the water isstill about 0.2 meter (2 centimeters) above the mark.
This gives the observer about 15 minutes to walk
while the water is still within a few centimeters ofcontinued

CHAPTER 6ResourceBox 6.2.

mapping of mangroves

87

continued.

being at an elevation of 3.0.

this by attaching a measuring tape to a piece ofbamboo or some other stick.

Other tidal level mapping
The procedure described above can be used tomap other critical elevations. For example, theoptimal elevation for planting apiculata may be
between 0.5 and 1.0 meter. The techniques describedabove can be used to map out areas between theseelevations. Mark a stake at a known low tide, suchthat marks at 0.5 meter and 1.0 meter are placedon the stake. The marks would be located relative tothe predicted low tide. For example, if the tide ispredicted to be -0.1 meter, then a stake would beplaced at a location slightly below the low tide line.
The mapper measures up 0.6 meter from the waterline at low tide, and makes one mark at 0.5 meter (0.1 + 0.6 = 0.5). A second mark would be made at
1.1 meters, and when the tide reaches that mark,the tide would be at an elevation of 1.0 meter. Then,
when the water reaches the lower mark, the area issurveyed and possibly marked out with stakes. When
the water reaches the second mark, the area issimilarly surveyed and marked to indicate the upper
extent of the area between 0.5 and 1.0 meter.
Reverse tidal mapping

The following example demonstrates thistechnique. At high tide predicted to be 3.1 meters, amark is made at the water surface on a stake. Usinga measuring stick (marked in 0.1 increments or
having a measuring tape attached to it) the distancefrom the water surface to the soil next to a tree ismeasured to be 1.6 meters. Thus, the elevation of
the sediments by that tree is 1.5 meters (3.1 - 1.6 =1.5). This can be repeated at other trees in the clump.
After a few minutes, the tide will have fallen. The
distance from the mark on the stake to the water
can now be measured. For example, the distancefrom the mark is 0.3 meter, because the tide has
fallen. This means that the water surface is now at
an elevation of about 2.8 meters (3.1 - 0.3 = 2.8). If
the depth of water next to a tree is measured at 1.1
meters, then the elevation of the soil surface there is
1.7 meters. In other words, the sediment had been
at 0.0 and the tide was at 2.8, then the measuring
stick would show 2.8 meters of water over the soil.
Since the measuring stick showed only 1.1 m of waterover the soil, the soil surface had to be at 1.7 meters
to make up for the difference between 0.0 and 2.8.
This method can be confusing; be sure you
understand it completely before using it.

Another important way that tides and water levelcan be used to map areas involves determining theelevations at which certain mangrove species grow.
For example, certain species grow well in a specificelevation range. If that species is to be planted in
the CBFMA area, it is best to plant at elevations
where it is known to grow well. To determine theelevation, the same elevation mapping techniques
described above can be used. When the location isfar from the low tide line (e.g., a clump of mangroves
several hundred meters in from the open water), a
reference point is established at high tide by marking
a stake located in the middle of the clump. Then
mappers measure the distance from the water
surface to the sediments next to selected trees. Do

Knowing the range of the average tidal height
and the points where the lowest and highest
tides reach allows your group to determine if
there are potential plantation areas outside
the mangrove forest. Be sure to include theseareas in the CBFMA application.

These calendars generally predict the tides for nearby
large cities and will not tell you the precise time or exact
range of local tides. But they will provide a goodunderstanding of the general trend of tides in your area.
The box shows typical tidal information found on acalendar.
Above the date are the days expected high tides;

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Mangrove Management Handbook

below, the days low tides. The numbers after each time
are the expected height of the tide. For example, reading
the information in the box tells us that on the 1st day ofthe month the first high tide will be at 7:30 a.m. and will

7:30 a.m. 1.0 m

6:37 p.m. 0.9 m

1

12:20 p.m. 0.3 m

1:24 a.m. 0.0 m

be 1 meter above the average low tide for the area. Notethe days second low tide height is 0.0 meters, or average
low tide.
Determining the height of the water and extent of low tideThis activity is done during the neap tide period. Since
every place has a slightly different tide time and height itwill not be possible to use the exact times and heights topredict tides. Use the calendar to determine theapproximate time and height of local tides. Simply lookat the heights of the low tides during the first and lastquarter of the moon. These are the neap tides.
Go out to the CBFMA area with several people
about an hour before the neap low tide is predicted on
the calendar. Watch the level of the water fall until it
falls no longer. Note the time this happens so you know
how far off the calendar is from your location. Put

The average low tide is also known as Mean
Lowest Low Water (MLLW). As the tide goesout, the shore is uncovered. The average low
tide represents the typical point at which the
low tide exposes the tidal flat. This point is
the reference for all other tide heights. Low
tide can be a positive number, negative orzero. Experience in the Philippines suggeststhat it is safest to extend plantations only tothe lowest tide lines of the year, or neap tideline, because the survival of trees planted
below the neap tide line decreases
significantly (due to the long amount of timespent wet).

bamboo or bakauan poles along the edge of the water atapproximately every 50 to 100 meters. The poles shouldbe about 3 meters long. Push each stake into the bottom
approximately 0.5 to 1 meter. This line of stakes will
mark the neap low tide for your area.
Return to the site the following day to compare theheight of the low tide on the stake with the calendar
information. For example, if the calendar says low tide
is 0.1 meter and the stake is covered by 30 centimeters(0.3 meter) of water, local tides are slightly higher thanthe place where the calendar was printed. You can safely
add this difference to the calendar tides and predict low
tides for your area.
Determining the tide line and depth of high tideThis tooshould be done during a neap tide period. Use theestablished low tide information to determine the hightide by observing when high tide goes back to the polesthat were placed on the low tide line and recording how
much of the stake is covered at high tide. If, at high tide,the pole is in 1.2 meters of water, that is the high tide.
Notice the time difference between the calendar and thetide for your area to predict future high tides.
It takes a group of people to obtain this information.
About one-half hour before high tide, put one personat the poles and then have people form a landward line
at a spacing of about every 100 meters to the far edgeof the CBFMA area. When the tide reaches its highest
point, the person at the low tide line calls out that fact,
then each person in the line determines the depth ofwater at their location. The individual farthest away may
be on dry land. He or she should walk back to the point
where the water ends and note the location. This
represents the furthest point landward that mangroves
should be planted.
How do we use this information?The information
gathered on tides helps to better plan the development ofplantations; for example, determining which species can beplanted in a particular area. This is discussed in more detailin Chapter 3. For a complete discussion on tides, see Box
6.2.
Identifying other important physical features
such as fishponds, streams, depressionsAs partof their activities, the sampling team should observe thegeneral surroundings. Does there appear to be recent

CHAPTER 6Resource

woodcutting to indicate illegal cutting or the beginningof clearing for a fishpond? Is amatong present? If so,does the group know to whom they belong? If nipa ispresent, does the group know who harvests it; and arethey in the PO? Are there any streams, or active illegal
or abandoned fishponds (evidenced by old dikes or water
control structures)? All this information should be notedas the team walks along the transect. Reference thelocation of each feature so they can be added to themap. For fishponds, streams, etc., make sure to include
size and shape.
How to use a global positioning system (GPS)as part of sampling activitiesGPS is rapidly
becoming more common in the Philippines as animportant development tool. One may be available fromthe municipality, the CENRO, or the PPDO. If so, makeevery effort to use it as part of the POs mapping
activities.
Using satellite technology, a GPS can pinpoint exact
locations in the CBFMA area, providing several
advantages for the field team. First, it easily identifies
latitude and longitude for each sampling point and eachfeature. Second, it acts as a compass. Third, it informs
the group how far it has moved from one point to thenext, e.g., the distance traveled along the transect. All
these features are valuable, especially the ability to note
latitude and longitude (generally referred to as lat. andlong.), a vital component when developing a high-quality
map.
There are different types of GPS available in thePhilippines so it is impossible to explain how to operatea GPS. The best chance for the PO is to either get help
from the group from whom the GPS is being borrowed
or for the PO to read the directions and get instructions
from the users.
GPS systems are not difficult to operate; simply
turning it on activates the system. Soon it acquires (finds)
the satellites and tells the user where he or she is locatedby displaying the latitude and longitude. Every time asample is taken or a feature noted, the GPS operator
must tell the group the latitude and longitude, andsomeone must record the information.
The GPS can also be used to help develop the

mapping of mangroves

89

boundaries of an area. This is done in a fairly
straightforward manner. After turning on the GPS andletting it determine the current location, simply walk ortake a banca along the edge of the area the PO intends toclaim. Every 100 meters or so write down the latitude
and longitude, as well as every time there is a distinct
change in direction.
Figure 6.5 shows examples of the points to notethe latitudes and longitudes. Circles represent every 100
meters; squares represent distinct locations that would
not have been recorded otherwise, e.g., a distinct change
in border direction that does not occur at a 100-meter
point.
After collecting a list of latitudes and longitudes,
see if there is access to a GIS group who can prepare
the area boundary map from the list. Alternatively, givethe data to a draftsman and he or she can transfer it to a
map by hand. This will increase the quality of the map
and make it less open to challenge.
Figure 6.6 shows what a final map drawn using GIS
looks like. It provides all the information captured during
both the community-based mapping and field verification
activities.
A finished map is useful for a number of purposes,
including:¨¨¨Preparing the map for submission with the
CBFMA application.
Understanding the resources available within the
area.
Planning how to manage the area.

Each is important in the quest to obtain a CBFMA
for a mangrove forest. By following the map
development process in this guidebook, a beneficial,thorough map can be created with little trouble.

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Mangrove Management Handbook

Figure 6.5. Examples of latitude and longitude points to note a boundary area. (Note the squarepoints. They are extra latitude and longitude points that are taken to mark a landmark.)

Figure 6.6. Final GIS-drawn map.

Chapter 7
Summary of management options
and when to use them
MANGROVE NURSERY ESTABLISHMENT AND MANAGEMENT

A

mangrove nursery is a place for raising and tending mangrove seedlings until
they are ready for field planting. This ensures good quality seedlings at the rightquantity by the time they are needed. It involves physical selection and preparation of the site and the application of nursery technology and operations (Figure 7.1). The former requires a nursery area and the construction of infrastructure necessary to produce seedlings such as storage/bunk house, potting and germination sheds,
seed/transplant beds and hardening beds. The latter involves the application of technology needed for the selection of mother trees; seedling/propagule collection; sorting andpackaging for transport to the nursery; sowing/germination techniques; proper care andmaintenance; preparation of seedlings for field planting which includes but is not limited
to hardening, packaging and transport to the planting site.
A mangrove nursery is neededin raising planting materials frommangroves with small seeds thereby
enhancing biodiversity; raisingseedlings intended for replanting
dead plants (approximately 20% of
the total planting stock requirement)
and in raising bigger-sized seedlings
needed for planting in sites which are
difficult to reforest. Difficult areas
can be mudflats less sheltered fromwind and waves; areas with shallow
water at low tide but need to beplanted; and areas infested withbarnacles and other pests.

Figure 7.1. A typical mangrove nursery operation.

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MANGROVE
PLANTATIONESTABLISHMENT AND
MANAGEMENT
Mangrove plantation is necessary to avert the
declining mangrove forest of the country from 4,500
hectares (Brown and Fischer 1918) to just 117,700
hectares in 1995 based on DENR statistics. Figure 7.2
shows a typical mangrove plantation. Mangrove
plantation establishment and management involve a
number of stages ranging from site selection andpreparation, outplanting, care and maintenance andmonitoring and evaluation. In all of these stages,
appropriate technologies have to be religiously applied
to ensure success. A number of site factors have to beconsidered such as technical, political and social factors.
Mangrove forest establishment, being mostly governedby edaphic or soil factors have to seriously consider thefollowing: type of substrate (sandy, muddy or coralline);
species indicator(s); tidal height/inundation; wave andwind exposure; pests; and the community being the
traditional users of the mangrove resources present in
the area. Community participation and empowerment
are best obtained through their inclusion (if qualified) to
the Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM)
Program of the government which issues a tenure
instrument to organized communities composed oftenured migrants.
Plantation should be conducted in areas where
natural regeneration is deemed difficult to perpetuate;
when the area is open tidal flat and is practically devoidof mother trees; and when regeneration potential is nil.
In all of these situations, tree establishment and growth

Figure 7.2. A typical mangrove plantation.

CHAPTER 7Summary of management options and when to use them93

have to be accelerated through plantation development.

COMMUNITY-BASEDFOREST
MANAGEMENTAGREEMENTA Community-Based Forest
Management Agreement (CBFMA) is aland tenure instrument for mangrove
habitats to be given to qualified andorganized coastal communities under the
CBFM Program of the government
implemented by the DENR (see Figure7.3). A CBFMA is a production sharing
agreement entered into between an
organized community and thegovernment to develop, utilize, manage
and conserve a specific portion offorestland and or allowable portion inprotected areas consistent with the
Figure 7.3. A CBFMA awarding ceremony.
principle of sustainable management anddevelopment and pursuant to an
Fishpond restoration is a management option thatapproved Community Resource Management
provides information on how POs can modify
Framework (CRMF) Plan. A CRMF Plan defines theabandoned fishponds reverted to the category ofterms and procedures for access, use and protection offorestlands or fishponds not covered by the Fishpondnatural resources within the CBFMA area. This plan
Lease Agreement (FLA) or permit and are thus illegal.
emanates from the concerned PO that was issued theThese areas can be restored and developed to plantation
tenurial instrument.
for benefits to the community in terms of firewood,
lumber or poles; an area for collecting shells, crabs and
The CBFMA provides a multitude of benefits tofish; or providing shelter and food for mangrove fauna
the holder ranging from management control over thesuch as crabs, shells, shrimps and fish harvested in coastal
area and exemption to pay taxes or rent normally leviedwaters. Figure 7.4 shows a typical abandoned fishpondby the government to natural resource users aside fromthat can be reverted.
being bankable. Besides, the holder is given preferential
access by the DENR to available assistance.
Fishpond restoration involves a number of steps as
outlined in Chapter 5. Some reminders are also given to
The CBFMA can be issued to organized coastal
provide legal guidance and the required knowledge tocommunities living in or adjacent to mangrove forestlands
POs in conducting the development and management
and in allowable zones in mangrove protected areas orprocess. These may include adherence to the Antito those who traditionally make use of it. However, thePollution and the Environmental Impact Assessment
community has to undergo the CBFMA application
System Laws and what and what not to do in conducting
process as outlined in Chapter 4.
restoration.

FISHPONDRESTORATION

Fishpond restoration shall only be conducted after
the fishponds shall have been reverted to the categoryof forestlands and shall have been granted to the
CBFMA holder by the DENR.

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Mangrove Management Handbook

Figure 7.4. A typical abandoned fishpond for reversion.

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