Wednesday
NewsScottish researcher urges reforestation of mangroves
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Author: Jun Ariolo Aguirre (375 Articles)
Philip Sage, who heads the Philippine International Centre for Mangrove Studies, said the parasite was discovered last January in the 102.5-hectare mangrove forest in Brgy. Old Buswang.
Sage said the pest outbreak has seriously damaged nine hectares of the Avicenna marina mangrove specie while eight hectares have suffered complete mortality.
The researcher identified the parasite as a Lepidoptera larva, a small black wood boring caterpillar which feeds on the sap of tree stems.
It is believed that the parasite attacked the mangroves after Typhoon “Frank†struck Panay Island in June last year.
The pest was reported to have damaged the mangroves in coastline areas of Iloilo and Capiz in November last year.
Sage said the loss of the A. Marina specie is of critical importance to the long-term stability of the mangroves due to the role it plays in the structure of the mangrove ecosystem.
“The A. Marina currently provides foreshore protection from storm inundation and high winds to the main mangrove plantation, which is vulnerable when exposed. Sediment and coastal erosion is controlled directly by the A. Marina due to its location along the foreshore and riverbanks. Any loss here may lead directly to the destabilization of mangroves and erosion,” the Scottish researcher explained.
Because of this, Sage recommended that the local government and DENR implement a long term reforestation of the A. Marina specie in the area. He said the DENR should also train the local DENR mangrove personnel in identifying and preventing parasitic outbreaks in the area.
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