Friday, May 30, 2008

Join Nationwide Simultaneous Mangrove Planting

Iloilo Philippines | Philippine News Agency: The Municipality of Ivisan has joined the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) nationwide simultaneous mangrove planting activity recently held to highlight the "Fisherfolk Month Celebration".

The planting activity dubbed as "Mangrove and Watershed Reforestation: Healthy Environment and Sustainable Fisheries Development" was participated in by around 105 employees from the municipal government of Ivisan, Environment and Natural Resources, and BFAR.

Students from Capiz National High School, Filamer Christian College in Roxas City, other schools and the fishermen were also among those who trooped for the mangrove planting activity which was has held in a one-hectare of the total estimated 10 hectares coastal area in Barangay Balaring, Ivisan.

Before the actual mangrove planting activity, a short program was held whereby Ivisan Municipal Agriculture Officer Leticia Andrade encouraged the community people to take care of the mangroves along the coast as these serve as breeding areas for the fishes.

Former Barangay Balaring captain and currently Fisherfolk Director (Mangingisdang Direktor) Norberto Apaitan also thanked all the participants for helping them plant the mangroves and assured them they will take care of it.

Erwin Ilaya of BFAR, for his part, talked about the importance of mangroves and its relationship to other ecosystems in the coastal zone. He emphasized the healthy environment impacts on the lives of the coastal communities and the sustainable fisheries development on the long-term viability of the livelihood of fishermen.

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