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The Agriculture, Environment and Planning Officers of 15 towns and cities in Panay and Guimaras provinces have resolved to conserve and rehabilitate mangroves in their respective areas by establishing nurseries, planting greenbelts, restoring degraded sites and conducting Information-Education campaigns among coastal communities. Around 30 municipal and provincial government officials participated in the Seminar-Workshop on Mangrove Conservation through Local Governance held 17-19 August 2005 at the Sampaguita Gardens Resort in New Washington, Aklan and funded by the Pew Fellows Program in Marine Conservation. The Governance Workshop followed the Mangrove Education Seminar-Workshop organized for teachers in May, also supported by Pew.
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Following lectures from experts in academe, government and civil society, a day-long fieldtrip, and intensive brainstorming, the LGU participants packaged their mangrove recommendations into proposals for funding by local executives. The field trip to two Aklan mangrove sites was an eye opener for the local officials and showed contrasting levels of diversity and protection. Although low in diversity, the 15-year old multi-awarded, well-conserved New Buswang, Kalibo plantation is an example of the successful convergence of political will, community involvement and NGO support.
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In contrast, the 75-hectare Bugtongbato-Naisud mangroves in Ibajay are highly diverse (with 27 of a total 35 Philippine species of true mangroves) but inadequately protected – participants saw firsthand both freshly-cut and older stumps of tabigi and other valuable mangrove species.
The lecture topics were “Mangroves and other Coastal Ecosystems” by Dr. Jurgenne H. Primavera of the SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department, “The Mangroves of Panay” by Dr. Resurreccion B. Sadaba of the University of the Philippines in the Visayas, “Mangrove Conservation Through Local Governance” from former Mayor and Congressman Atty. Allen S. Quimpo of KASAMA, “Mangrove and Related Policies”
by Dr. Dioscoro M. Melana
of the Department of
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Environment and
Natural Resources, “Fisheries Laws that Pertain to Mangroves and Fishponds” by Mr. Edwin Javier of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and “NGO Perspectives in Mangrove and Fishpond Laws” by Atty. Grizelda Mayo-Anda of the Environment Legal Assistance Center.
Aklan Governor Carlito S. Marquez and Congressman Florencio T. Miraflores graced the affair, promising full support for mangrove projects in Aklan province. A set of posters featuring various mangrove laws and promulgations in the country was presented to the participants as a step towards their dissemination and enforcement at the grassroots level.
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