DENR to evaluate abandoned fishponds for mangrove development
By Trixee Rosel
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will evaluate abandoned, undeveloped, and underutilized (AUU) fishponds to identify potential sites for mangrove development.
This, after an environmental group and scientists urged the government to convert all abandoned fishponds into mangrove forests, saying this would play a vital role in combating climate change by acting as natural shields against storms and capturing carbon emissions that contribute to global warming.
On Wednesday, a directive issued by Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga on February 26 mandated the prompt evaluation of AUU areas in the Bicol region, Western Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula.
The order requests suggestions for two types of reversion: administrative reversion which entails transferring authority over AUU fishponds back to the DENR from the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR); and biophysical restoration which aims to rehabilitate the environmental condition of deserted fishponds by converting them into mangrove forests once again using techniques such as replanting, enrichment planting, and assisted regeneration.
Regional field assessment teams will collect information including topographic, fishpond, mangrove, and flooding maps, along with DA-BFAR data on regions with abandoned, unused, and underdeveloped fishpond lease agreements (FLAs).
Teams will carry out on-site verification to evaluate the characteristics and physical condition of designated regions and engage in discussions with non-governmental organizations, educational establishments, and local administrative bodies.
After the evaluation, a regional technical working group (TWG) will propose regions for administrative and biophysical reversion. Subsequently, these proposals will be submitted to the national TWG for examination and ultimate endorsement by the secretary.