DENR restores 98 hectares of mangrove forests on Quezon island

LUCENA CITY — Nearly 98 hectares of typhoon-damaged mangrove forests in the island municipality of Jomalig, Quezon have been rehabilitated, strengthening the town’s natural defenses against storm surges and supporting marine biodiversity, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said.

“Nature has its own built-in shield against the strongest storms, and in Jomalig, Quezon, that shield is growing stronger every day: the mangrove forest,” the DENR-Calabarzon said in a report released Saturday, July 4.

The agency said the rehabilitation covered about 98 hectares of mangrove areas damaged by successive typhoons and was carried out through the National Greening Program, the Yolanda Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program, and the Mangrove and Beach Forest Development Project.

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The restoration efforts focused on mangrove forests in Barangay Talisoy.

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“These initiatives helped restore vital coastal ecosystems, strengthen natural defenses against storm surges, and support biodiversity conservation in the municipality,” the DENR said.

The agency added that restored mangrove forests not only protect coastal communities from storm impacts but also provide vital habitats for marine species, helping boost fishery resources and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for residents.

Jomalig, the smallest and easternmost island municipality of Quezon, lies in the eastern portion of the Polillo Island Group facing the Pacific Ocean, making it highly vulnerable to typhoons and rough seas.

Often referred to as the “rainforest of the sea,” mangrove forests play a critical role in maintaining healthy coastal ecosystems.

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Their extensive root systems serve as breeding and nursery grounds for fish, crabs, and other marine life, while fallen leaves provide a natural food source for aquatic organisms.

The cutting of mangrove trees is prohibited under Presidential Decree No. 705, or the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines, and Republic Act No. 8550, or the Philippine Fisheries Code.

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In most parts of the province, the cutting of mangroves for charcoal and fishpond expansion has stopped due to strict enforcement of environmental laws by the DENR, provincial and local authorities.

Of Quezon’s 42 municipalities, 34 are coastal—17 fronting Lamon Bay, 12 along Tayabas Bay, and five bordering Ragay Gulf. /das

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