Escalante City maintains 200 has. of mangroves
The City of Escalante is maintaining 200 hectares of mangrove plantation found along its coastal barangays Environment Management Specialist 1 Stephanie Pamati-an, said.
She told PIA the shoreline trees protect coastal communities from flood, soil erosion and forms as habitat to the marine resources of the city.
The vast mangrove plantation is important to the lives of the people in the seven barangays of the city because fishing is the main source of their livelihood.
Another importance of mangroves in the city is that a huge number of bats use them as their abode by daytime as the nocturnal mammal stay awake during nigh time. According to experts bats help control insect population, help seed new plants and pollinate crops.
Planting of mangroves in the city seashores started several years back initiated by the provincial government that provided livelihood in exchange for coastal reforestation, Pamatian said.
Escalante City prides itself of a 16-hectare islet ( Kalanggaman )planted with mangroves at Brgy. Cervantes that provides a scenic view anytime of the day.
At present, the City Environment and Natural Resource Office (CENRO) is plotting projects to be implemented next year as it embarks on a massive planting activity. The office has just been established last year and is headed by Lawyer Voltair Pontevedra.
In support to the program, a mangrove nursery is now being constructed at Brgy, Cervantes, home to large tracts of mangroves. (PIA-LOL)
