SLSU Bontoc Faculty orients student organizations on strategies for sustainable mangrove rehabilitation

SLSU-Bontoc Faculty Jimmy E. Salamida holds a lecture to various student organizations that gathered for a collaborative mangrove planting on Nov 9, 2023, at Sto. Niño, Bontoc, Southern Leyte. Considering the varied disciplines of participating student organizations, Mr Salamida started by mentioning the biology of mangroves. He emphasized strategies for detecting the readiness of nursery-grown mangrove saplings for transplantation, including recommendations to sustain community-based mangrove rehabilitation programs.

The event was organized by the Science and Mathematics Society of SLSU- Tomas Oppus in collaboration with Brgy. Sto. Niño Fisherfolks Association, the Life-Giving Forest e.V. represented by Ms. Merrit Kaufer, a student intern from Germany, the Foundation for These-Abled Persons Inc., and the SLSU-Bontoc. Prior to the actual mangrove planting, a visit to a potential planting site was conducted by Ms. Alieza Del Socorro, also a Faculty of SLSU-Bontoc, to identify suitable species to plant, thereby increasing survival rates among planted saplings. Mr Alex Tumadlas, SLSU-Bontoc Research, Innovations and Extension (RIE) Staff, was also present to assist during the site inspection and actual planting. From the collaborative endeavor, a total of 87 mangrove saplings were planted. These saplings will be monitored monthly for survival and growth performance.