Redefining Restoration: Ely Cruz on Mangroves, Misinformation, and Environmental Commitment at Samahang Ekolohiya ng UPLB’s Educational Discussion “PUNO: Makina sa Ekolohiya ng Pilipinas”

Los Baños, Laguna - At a university known for producing some of the country’s most passionate environmental advocates, Samahang Ekolohiya ng UPLB (Samaeko UPLB) hosted “PUNO: Makina sa Ekolohiya ng Pilipinas”—an educational discussion designed to explore the ecological, cultural, and symbolic importance of trees in the Philippine landscape. The event brought together voices from different sectors, and one of the most compelling came from Ely Cruz, who delivered a talk that went far beyond botany.

Representing Mangrove Matters PH, Cruz took the stage not to celebrate tree planting, but to interrogate it—to question how we define restoration, who gets to do it, and what real commitment to ecosystems actually looks like.

Her talk, “Planting Hope, Restoring Life: Growing a Future with Mangroves,” unfolded as a deeply grounded, science-informed, and heartfelt narrative about the importance of mangrove forests in coastal ecosystems. But more than that, it was a call to transform how we think about environmental action itself.

“Mangroves are not just trees. They are whole worlds.”

Cruz highlighting the structural and physiological adaptations of mangroves at the Lansigan Auditorium, University of the Philippines Los Baños - College of Forestry and Natural Resources

With clarity and calm conviction, Cruz guided the audience through the biology and complexity of mangrove ecosystems—halophytic trees that grow along the intersection of land and sea. These unique trees are often praised for their ability to stabilize coastlines, act as carbon sinks, and nurture marine biodiversity. Yet, Cruz challenged listeners to look closer. She explained the different species of mangroves, their ecological preferences, their specialized root systems (prop roots, pneumatophores, cone, and knee roots), and their physiological adaptations to high salinity.

But it wasn’t just a biology lesson. It was an attempt to deepen the relationship between people and place.

Cruz described mangroves as ecotones—zones of transition, negotiation, and balance. “These forests aren’t just environmental features,” she said. “They’re living indicators of how nature thrives through complexity, adaptation, and community. They’re mirrors of how we could live, if we listened more closely to the ecosystems we claim to care for.”

“Mangrove planting is not a photo opportunity.”

One of the most powerful threads in Cruz’s talk was her critique of surface-level activism and institutional greenwashing. “We’ve seen the same mistakes repeated—planting in the wrong zones, using non-native species, treating mangrove planting like a PR event,” she said. “And to be honest? It’s exhausting to constantly remind people.”

Cruz didn’t hold back. With examples of ill-planned reclamation and development projects—like the destruction of mangroves in Cavite and Bulacan—she pointed out how even well-intentioned environmental efforts can go wrong when science is ignored or sidelined.

“Mangrove planting isn’t inherently good,” she reminded the crowd. “It only becomes meaningful when it’s rooted in understanding, in respect for local ecosystems and communities, and in long-term commitment.”

She then laid out a framework for what meaningful mangrove rehabilitation actually looks like:

• Assessing site hydrology, salinity, and soil before any planting

• Using native species adapted to local conditions

• Avoiding monocultures that reduce biodiversity

• Involving fisherfolk, residents, and Indigenous groups from start to finish

• Monitoring growth and being ready to adapt

  
  

Cruz also highlighted the importance of proper propagation—raising mangrove seedlings in nurseries, waiting for the right season, and ensuring they’re planted with care and local context in mind. “Planting is the easy part,” they said. “What comes after is what truly matters.”

“We plant hope. We restore life.”

Despite the critique, Cruz’s tone was not pessimistic—it was purposeful. In the final part of her talk, she returned to the heart of why this work matters: communities, resilience, and future generations.

Mangroves, she explained, are not just environmental assets. They’re woven into the livelihoods, food systems, and spiritual lives of coastal communities. Restoring mangroves means restoring the balance between people and nature. It means creating spaces where fish can return, where storms don’t break families apart, and where ecosystems can begin to heal.

“With every mangrove that we plant, every habitat we protect, every community we empower—we get closer to a future where people and nature can live in harmony,” Cruz said in closing.

A Message That Lingers

Audience members didn’t just walk away with facts—they walked away with responsibility. In a world oversaturated with environmental slogans, Cruz delivered something deeper: a reminder that real ecological change doesn’t begin with planting. It begins with listening, learning, and staying when it is no longer easy.

And perhaps most importantly—it begins with the humility to know that nature doesn’t need us to save it. It needs us to stop doing harm, to do better, and to restore with intention.

As the event wrapped up, one message from Cruz lingered in the minds of many: "Don’t stop caring. Our future depends on it.”