Youth Joint Statement of Philippine Reclamation Authority's Move to Relocate Mangroves for the Construction of Reclamation Projects

April 15, 2025

Despite covering less than 1% of the earth’s surface, mangrove forests are considered to be among the most productive ecosystems in the planet, providing highly valuable ecological and socioeconomic services to the people and to the environment, such as coastal protection against typhoons and storm surges; habitat provision for wildlife and commercially-important fishes for food security; provision of livelihood sources to coastal communities and fisherfolk who are among the poorest sectors in the country and most vulnerable from the impacts of climate change; and carbon sequestration for climate change mitigation and amelioration.

In the Philippines, mangroves used to have 500,000 hectares during the last century. However, due to logging and the introduction of fish ponds in the 1950s, the mangrove cover declined drastically. Currently, mangrove planting initiatives and implementation of environmental laws and policies have increased the mangrove cover with approximately over 250,000 hectares today.

Conversely, in a recently uploaded video on Facebook, the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) stated that mangrove forests can be relocated and planting more mangrove seedlings is seen as a solution after the construction of reclamation projects.

We condemn this move as this is unsustainable and it may bring potential ecological imbalance — especially in the Las Pinas-Paranaque Wetland Park which is declared as a Ramsar Site (Wetlands of International Importance) and part of the ENIPAS (Expanded National Integrated Protected Area Systems) Act. PRA must reconsider its decision to relocate mangrove forests for the following critical reasons:

The root systems of the mangroves are incredibly extensive and relocating and uprooting mature mangroves may lead to potential mortality — further degrading and fragmenting the ecosystem.
Mangrove soils are rich in carbon sources. Once mangrove forests have been removed, the stored carbon from the soil gets released into the atmosphere, oxidizing and will form as Carbon Dioxide (CO2) which is a greenhouse gas that drives climate change.
Mangrove planting activities cannot guarantee 100% survival rate. The country faces 20+ typhoons annually, making the growth and survival of newly planted mangroves difficult to grow. Additionally, species and substrate selection are really important aspects in mangrove planting to ensure it is sustainable. As such, consultations should be needed from experts and specialists and monitoring of the planting sites are of paramount importance to determine if these seedlings are in optimal conditions to thrive in the ecosystem. Removing mature mangroves and replacing them with newly planted seedlings is unsustainable.
The removal of mangroves loses their ecological and socioeconomic services. The different services that mangroves provide to us make us resilient from the impacts of climate change and to think that the Philippines is among the most vulnerable countries from this.

We are demanding the Philippine Reclamation Authority to conduct and release an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) aligned with international standards before they claim on mangrove removal in the process of establishing reclamation projects in the country. Hear the calls of the people and the youth sectors who demand and call for environmental protection against these projects.

As we solemnly observe Holy Week, let us reflect on the profound message of Revelation 7:3:

‘Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.’

May this sacred time remind us of our duty to cherish and protect God’s creation as stewards of the environment.

#HandsOffLPPWP

Signatories: Mangrove Matters PH

One Pawikan Initiative

Youth for Climate Hope

Neymatophores

Kidlikasan (SOCCSKSARGEN Region)

Organization of Mathematics and Natural Sciences Students (MSU GSC)

Marine Science Students Society (MSU IIT)

Business Administration and Accountancy Students Council (MSU GSC)