ISABEL, Leyte, December 17 (PIA) – Aquasilviculture,
a climate-smart and environmental-friendly agriculture will soon be showcased
in Isabel, Leyte through the public-private partnership scheme that the P-Noy
Administration is promoting.
The establishment of a 69.33-hectare
aquasilviculture project was launched with the forging of a memorandum of
agreement among the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through
its Regional Executive Director Manolito Ragub, the local government unit of
Isabel through its Municipal Mayor Saturnino Medina, Jr. and the Leyte
Agricultural Producers Cooperative (LAPCoop) represented by its Adviser Engr.
Rogelio Tantuico.
Under the agreement, the project proponent LAPCoop
in coordination with the LGU shall cause the establishment of the Bureau of Fisheries
and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) funded aquasilviculture project in Brgys. Apale,
Tolingon, and Marvel all in Isabel.
The MOA with DENR legitimizes LAPCoop’s
implementation of the LGU-proposed project following the suspension of the
Coastal Area Special Use Agreement (CASUA), a 25-year tenurial instrument
covering the development of idle and degraded areas for aquasilviculture and
non-extractive activities by individuals and entities. In 2006, then DENR
Secretary Angelo Reyes suspended the issuance of agreements for the special use
of coastal areas to facilitate consultations with stakeholders on the CASUA
guidelines.
Danilo Javier, Regional Technical Director for
Protected Areas Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management Service (PAWCZMS) of DENR
says, the MOA permits use of the coastal area for aquasilviculture under the
CASUA scheme for three (3) years, renewable for another three years, until a
CASUA is in place.
Five (5) hectares of the total project area shall be
developed for mudcrab hatchery and all degraded areas within the proposed
project site will be planted with appropriate mangrove species.
Aquasilviculture is the integration of
aquaculture, mudcrab culture in this case, and mangrove forestry, otherwise
known as silviculture. While it is new in the Philippines, aquasilviculture has
been practiced in Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and China.
The approaches differ among and within
countries but mainly constitute the integration of mangrove ponds and pens for
fish and crabs. Such systems not only sequester carbon, but they are also more
resilient to shocks and extreme events and also lead to increased production
due to improved ecosystem services.
The
advantages of this new method include low investment cost, ease of
construction, protection of mangroves, and the use of locally available
materials.
The Aquasilviculture project in Isabel will
be under the joint supervision and coordination of DENR, the LGU and BFAR. These
parties shall ensure that no existing mangroves including their root system
will be cut or disturbed in the implementation of the project.
DENR 8 Regional Executive Director Manolito
D. Ragub said that “While promoting the value of coastal protection and preservation
of the ecosystem, the DENR also aims to provide alternative livelihood to
fisherfolks.”
Thus aquasilviculture
which harmonizes fishery production and reforestation in coastal areas is indeed,
very noteworthy, RED Ragub said.
Climate change is bringing
about huge challenges to fisheries and aquaculture. Production systems and
livelihoods, already in crisis from over-fishing, poor management and impacts
from other terrestrial anthropogenic influences, are likely to succumb further
as the frequency and intensity of storms increase and extreme weather events
become more common.
Fishers, as well as other
community members, will be at greater risk of losing their lives and assets,
such as boats, fishing equipment and aquaculture infrastructures.
Aquasilviculture is among
the adaptation strategies that takes into account the increased frequency and
intensity of extreme events and the reduced productivity of aquatic ecosystems
phenomena.
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