Bruguiera Sexangula: A Philippine Mangrove
A Philippine Mangrove Tree
Description and Rationale
The Benefits of the Mangrove in the Philippines
What is a mangrove? A mangrove could refer to a single plant or a plant community that grows in coastal areas. Mangroves inhabit saline
areas exposed to tides, and may be a shrub or a tree. These plants have many beneficiary qualities, such as a silt trap against erosion,
marine life shelter, a natural filter, and a barrier against storm surges. The Mangrove tree’s scientific name is Rhizophora mangal,
and there are about 100 different kinds of mangal. However, since the 1970’s, 90% of the Philippine mangroves have been cut down.
Realizing this mistake, the Philippine conservation organizations are trying to preserve the mangrove and it is now illegal to cut them down.
What are the exact uses of the mangrove? Why are they being cut down at such alarming rates? What is the complete list of benefits of
the mangrove? What are some drawbacks of these plants? Do the benefits outweigh the drawbacks? How could we successfully
replant, or restore the mangrove in the Philippines? Exactly how disastrous would it be if all the mangroves in the Philippines were
eliminated? How can we inform the public about the many merits of these plants? Since 90% of the mangrove population has been
destroyed, could it be possible to replace at least 60%? Will the thousands of uses of the mangroves be lost to us forever?
How could we help restore the Philippine mangroves? They have many environmental benefits, and are vital to the Philippine
ecosystem. For instance, the mangroves’ elaborate systems of roots attach the plants to the shoreline and river mouths, and
slow down the velocity of the river. The deceleration in the water’ speed causes it to drop much of its carried sediment. This not only
produces fertile land, but also prevents silt from being dumped onto the coral reefs (which kills them). Another benefit of mangroves is
its value as a toxin filter. Microorganisms in the roots of the mangrove and the soil around the roots help remove toxins, which purifies the soil.
An extremely important role of mangrove trees is its role as a marine life habitat. Statistics show that three-fourths of commercially
caught fish have spent time in the coastal mangroves’ root systems or are part of food chains that trace to these forests. That’s not all,
because many fish, shrimp, and other such life forms lay their eggs in the maze of mangrove tree roots, where their offspring grow up.
Adult predators cannot maneuver this maze, making this root system a haven for the young. Even our diet depends somewhat on the
mangroves. Here’s why: microorganisms that eat the mangrove’s leaf litter are eaten by young fish and shrimp, who then grow up, venture
out of the mangrove tree roots, and are devoured by bigger fish. We humans then catch these fish and eat them. So if it were not for the
mangroves, then we could lack much seafood in our diet. You may think that about sums up the multiple uses of the mangrove, but you’d be
wrong. Besides all these benefits, mangroves can be used for many kinds of modern medicines, which can cure skin disorders and sores
including leprosy, headaches, rheumatism, snakebites, boils, ulcers, and diarrhea.
The initial purpose of the project is to research the biology and ecology of the mangroves in the coastal areas and mouths of rivers in the
Philippines. This will be carried out through internet research, books, and possible firsthand observations and interviews. These initial
findings will help the experimental phase, where key variables in the mangrove tree’s restoration will be further explored.
It is hoped that the destruction of mangroves will not only dwindle, but instead come to a complete stop. If the general populace of the
Philippines understood the endless uses and environmental benefits of the mangrove trees, it is possible that they will assist in their
restoration. If mangroves could be restored to the coastal areas and river mouths, the environment of the Philippines would greatly
improve, new medicines could be obtained from this salutary plant, the marine life population would increase, and coral reef would be protected.
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Biology
Common Names and Synonyms
Bruguiera sexangula, also known as the Oriental mangrove, is the scientific name for a specific type of mangrove tree. Bruguiera sexangula is also called Burmese mangrove and Largeleaf mangrove. Another name for B. sexangula is Bruguiera gymnorrhiza. Sometimes the B. sexangula is referred to asBruguiera gymnorhiza or Rhizophora gymnorhiza, but these names are scientifically incorrect.
Classification
Kingdom: Plantae (Plants)
Phylum: Tracheobionta (Vascular plants)
Class: Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons- two sectioned seeds)
Order: Rhizophirales (Of Mangrove family)
Family: Rhizophoraceae (Red Mangrove family)
Genus: Bruguiera (Related to Red Mangrove family)
Species: Bruguiera sexangula (Oriental mangrove)
The B. sexangula’s scientific symbol is BRSE11. There are about 100 different kinds of mangrove trees, all under the scientific name Rhizophora
Mangle. Each of these specific species has different scientific names.
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Morphology and Physical Description
Advantages:
1. The replanting of the mangrove trees would be ensured, as many people will want to earn money.
2. The environment would benefit.
3. The villages would have partial protection against future tsunamis.
4. The fishing industry would benefit from the replanting of the mangroves, which in turn would benefit the villagers.
5. The village will benefit from the Village Fund, as they could use it to improve the water systems, buildings, electricity, or sewage systems of their village.
6. The individual villagers would benefit, as they could have a way to earn money and improve their standards of living.
Disadvantages:
1. I could not directly help in this project, as I do not have the money or resources to carry out this project.
2. It would be difficult for me to convince the government to undertake this kind of project.
3. A project of this type would take lots or organization, and specialized personnel, government or social workers, participants, and lots of money. None of these things are available to me.
4. Because of the possibility of extensive costs, the Philippine government might deem other projects, like welfare or humanitarian efforts, as a more productive use of taxpayers’ money.
5. It would take years to prepare and complete a project like this, and I have to be done by May 7, 2007.
Possible Solution 2 Children’s Book
I could design and create a children’s book telling about the importance of mangroves to marine life, the fishing industry, the environment, medicine, Philippine biodiversity, oxygen production, and coastal safety. The book would use simple language and include lots of illustrations. It could hand out and/or explain the booklet to an elementary class here at Faith or at an off campus Filipino school.
Advantages:
1. I could directly communicate with others about the problem.
2. The children could one day grow up to be environmentalists, because of my influence.
3. If I handed out the booklets, then I could reach many of the elementary children, who could possibly share the problem with their parents, who could take action.
Disadvantages:
1. My teachers might not allow me to leave their class to go talk to elementary children.
2. I would be hard to arrange a time to share with the elementary kids, as I do not know their schedule.
3. It might be hard for me to convince a teacher to let me take their class time to talk to their class about endangered trees, because I don’t know any of the elementary school teachers.
4. If I talked to a class, I would only be able to reach one class, only about 20 people.
5. The children would probably be bored and uninterested.
6. Even if the kids were interested, there’s not much they could actually do to replant mangrove trees, or stop people from chopping them down.
7. If I handed out the booklets, the kids might just throw them away or forget about them.
Possible Solution 3/4 Pamphlet and/or Posters for the Romblonmanos
I could design a pamphlet about the uses of the mangrove tree, the benefits to the environment, and/or the ways to replant them. I could also design posters for visual aid. The Posters would basically cover the same information as the brochure, but in larger, more colorful writing and with more pictures. Then I could give the posters and/or pamphlets to my parents, who translate the Bible in Romblon. My parents could distribute the brochures to the people and put the posters on display.
Advantages:
1. There are already mangrove trees on Romblon, so the information provided could be applied.
2. It would be a direct step to reach the Romblonmanos, and could affect the Filipinos.
3. The Romblonmano people could be educated on mangroves.
4. It would be a reasonable and do-able project for me to undertake.
5. If the Romblonmano people read the pamphlets and took action, their environment would benefit, their reefs would be healthier, and they would be able to catch more fish.
6. The project would be low cost, but could make a big impact.
Disadvantages:
1. Most Romblonmanos don’t understand English very well, so they might have trouble reading the brochure and the posters.
2. The Romblonmano people might still chose to ignore the information in the brochures, even if they do understand it.
3. My parents might be too busy to distribute the pamphlets.
4. There may be no appropriate time for my parents to display the posters.
5. I would not directly reach the people.
6. The pamphlets/posters wouldn’t reach the Romblonmanos before May 7, 2007.
7. I would have to give the pamphlets/posters to my parents, instead of me doing it myself.
Possible Solution 5/6 Mangrove Song and/or Posters to Squatter Children
I could get the Mangrove Song off the Internet and teach it to the squatter children who live just off Faith campus. In addition, I could also make poster to accompany the Mangrove Song. One poster could have the words of the song, and the others could have pictures of the mangrove tree and reasons why they are important. I could go off campus on the weekend and teach the children the song and explain the posters to them in person.
Advantages:
1. I would be in direct contact with the children and be able to share the information with them in person.
2. It would be a practical and do-able project, able to be completed before May 7, 2007.
3. The project is low cost and realistic.
4. I could educate the children and provide some entertainment for them.
5. The children could be impacted and realize the importance of mangrove trees to the Philippine environment.
6. I have friends who are relatively fluent in Tagalog who may be able to assist me on this project.
Disadvantages:
1. I might not be able to find any squatter children.
2. The children that I do find may not want to learn a song about mangroves or listen to me talk about them.
3. The children probably won’t be able to do anything about the mangrove deforestation problem.
4. The children will probably be entertained, but may not take the information to heart.
5. I don’t know Tagalog well, so it may be hard to communicate.
6. The children might be disinterested and not care about the seemingly distant and unimportant problem, when they have enough problems of their own.
Possible Solution 7 Mangrove Booklet to Squatter Children
I could make a booklet in Tagalog and distribute it to the squatter children who live just off Faith campus. The book include lots of illustrations and would also explain in simple language why mangrove trees are important, and why we should preserve them. I could go off campus on the weekend and hand out the booklets and explain them to the children in person.
Advantages:
1. Since I would personally explain the book to the children, I would have a chance to make direct contact with them.
2. Putting into the consideration of the May 7, 2007 deadline, this project is practical and do-able.
3. Not only is the project reasonable and realistic, but it also has the benefit of being low cost.
4. Besides education, the children would also receive entertainment.
5. The children could come to realize the importance of mangroves and be impacted.
6. With the assistance of friends who are fluent in Tagalog, I would be able to establish communication with the children.
Disadvantages:
1. I might not be able to find any squatter children.
2. The children that I do find may not want to learn about mangrove trees.
3. The children probably won’t be able to do anything about the mangrove deforestation problem.
4. The children may not be able to read, so the booklet may lose some of its usefulness to them.
5. The children might be disinterested and not care about the seemingly distant and unimportant problem, when they have enough problems of their own.
6. The children will probably be entertained, but may not take the information to heart.
7. I don’t know Tagalog well, so it may be hard to communicate.
Biblical Rational/Principles
In Genesis 1:26, it says “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’”
And in Genesis 1:28, it says “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’ “
These two verses plainly state that God put us humans in charge of the earth, as stewards to take care of His creation. God told us to “rule over… all the earth”. Since God appointed us this important duty, it is vital that we are responsible and make sure that we do not harm God’s earth, or abuse the position of power He has put us in.
Preserving the beauty of God’s creation would not only please Him, but also benefit those around us. It is our Christian duty to live selflessly and help others in whatever way we can. Stopping the deforestation of mangroves and then replanting them would help the reefs, boost the fishing industries, provide many useful medicines, improve agriculture, slow erosion, counter the greenhouse effect and global warming, filter toxins, fulfill dietary needs, create fertile land, and improve the lives of the worldwide population.
Not only does it improve the earth’s environment, but also it would benefit the lives of almost every individual human on earth. Helping others would honor God, and we would be fulfilling His command to take care of His creation.
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Bibliography
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Hardeman, Maddy. Personal interview. May 2, 2007.
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“Bruguierasexangula”. Plant’s Profile. October 20, 2003. USDA. April 27, 2007. © 1999. <http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=BRSE11>
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