Mangrove Revegetation Potentials of Brackish-Water Pond Areas in the Philippines - Aquaculture and the Environment: A Shared Destiny - page 37

CONSIDERATIONS
Ecological If farm was constructed in an inappropriate site such that:
Farm density is already too high
Occurrence of diseases
There is insufficient water supply
Too much rainfall; Unsuitable soils
Frequently hit by typhoons (Stevenson et al 1999)
Poor productivity level due to high acidity and poor shrimp survival
(Stevenson et al 1999)
Further degradation of the ecosystem - i.e. acidification, soil erosion - if
some rehabilitation activity is not undertaken (Stevenson et al 1999)
Arrest surface erosion and subsidence and compaction of soil profile
within and in the adjacent environment (Burbridge and Hellin, 2002)
Tidal hydrology can still be restored (Lewis 2005)
Availability of water borne seedlings and propagules from neighboring
mangrove communities (Lewis 2005)
Possibility of occurrence of natural process of secondary succession (Lewis
2005)
Economic Non - sustainable and unproductive pond operation (Stevenson et al 1999)
If degradation not arrested, repair may become progressively more
expensive and difficult - rehabilitation costs would be balanced by costs
avoided (Stevenson et al 1999)
Social Willingness and cooperation of stakeholders (Stevenson et al 1999)
Provide additional protection from strong waves; if infrastructures for
protection against strong waves and typhoons are more costly than
revegetation efforts (Stevenson et al 1999; Primavera 2000)
Institutional Expired FLAs
Existing comprehensive land - use plan
Maintenance of mangrove greenbelt as required by law - Fishery Reform
Code (Primavera, 1995)
Table 3. Factors to consider before deciding the reversion of idle or underproductive ponds
to mangrove areas.
The issues surrounding the decline of mangrove areas in the Philippines and the
proliferation of idle and underutilized brackish-water ponds in terms of area covered are
inextricably linked and may be addressed in a more integrated and adaptive approach
( Figure 4 ). Figure 2c illustrates what may be the best management options for mangroves
and brackish-water ponds in the Philippines. As cited by Primavera and Esteban (2008),
Saenger et al (1986) recommended the 4:1 mangrove to pond ratio to sustain the ecological
function of the mangrove ecosystem. However this recommendation poses a great challenge
to the Philippine government as the basic information on the present state of ownership and
operation of these brackish-water ponds are lacking.