Forested mangrove area has decreased greatly in the
The culprits in the decline of our mangroves are many, but the primary one is conversion to aquaculture ponds and conversion to urban land reclamation and other land uses. If this trend continues, there will be virtually no mangroves left in the
Aside from natural or indirect threats to mangroves, human interventions, mainly fishpond conversion caused the decline of mangrove forests in the country. Now, mangrove forests remaining along the Philippine coasts are of much lower quality than those found in the early centuries. Other causes of mangrove decline include reclamation of mangrove areas for various developments such as wharfs, piers, airports, housing and industrial zones; Pollution and siltation; Dikes and structures obstructing waterways and tidal inundation that disturbs the tidal flow; Overexploitation and utilization, including harvesting of mangrove trees for charcoal, timber and other uses; and disturbance due to gleaning, fish landing.
