October 14–15, 2025 | Brgy. Bugas, Badian, Cebu – As part of the Networking of MPAs thru Coastal LGUs Alliance Project (NMCLAP), funded by the Unico Conservation Foundation, the Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation (CCEF), in collaboration with LGU Badian, conducted a successful site validation and coordination meeting for the proposed Mangrove Nursery Establishment in Barangay Bugas.
The activity aimed to assess ecological suitability, engage local stakeholders, and identify strategic areas for mangrove propagation and rehabilitation. The proposed site, managed by the Bugas Farmers, Fishermen, and Livestock Owners Organization (BUFFALOO PO), was previously rehabilitated under the Kanepackage Group Japan Company’s mangrove project (2018–2020). BUFFALOO remains an active and committed partner in ongoing mangrove conservation efforts.
During the site validation, the team observed thriving mangrove stands across multiple zones — a testament to the long-term impact of past rehabilitation efforts. However, specific sections were identified as needing enrichment planting and targeted maintenance to improve survival rates and bolster ecosystem resilience. The validated nursery site spans 8.14 sqm, with an estimated 1,043.64 sqm planting area. Eleven mangrove species across seven families were recorded, including Avicennia marina, Rhizophora apiculata, and Sonneratia alba.
Outputs from the activity include technical assessments, photographic documentation, species recommendations, and stakeholder feedback — all of which will inform the design and implementation of Badian’s Mangrove Rehabilitation Plan.
Mangrove nurseries are where resilience begins. They give fragile seedlings a fighting chance — sheltering them from pounding waves, shifting tides, and salty soil until they’re strong enough to survive on their own. Without this early care, many wouldn’t make it past the shoreline.
The Mangrove Management Guidebook by the Forest Foundation Philippines points out how critical this approach is, especially in areas prone to sedimentation and tidal stress. But it’s not just about growing trees. These nurseries become spaces for learning, for stewardship, for communities to take ownership of their coastlines and their future.
In Badian, where mangroves protect homes, support fisheries, and buffer against climate impacts, the nursery validated in Barangay Bugas isn’t just a project site — it’s a commitment. A commitment to science, to local knowledge, and to working together to rebuild what nature once gave freely.
