Last updated: June 2024
The Bakhawan Eco-Park is a 220-hectare mangrove forest located in Kalibo, Aklan province, Philippines, that started as a reforestation project in 1990. It was a joint project of the local government and a non-government organization, Kalibo Save the Mangroves Association (KASAMA), with the aim of reforesting the muddy shoreline of New Buswang district to protect the community from floods and storm surges [1,2]. Aside from preventing floods, the eco-park also provides locals with livelihood opportunities, mitigates the effects of climate change, and serves as a habitat for various mangrove tree species, birds, and marine life [1,2]. The project's success is largely attributed to the active involvement and support of the local community, with some families playing an integral role in the reforestation program. [2] Notably, the involvement of local women in the NBS initiative has contributed to the success of mangrove conservation. Some women have also taken on the task of policing the mangroves to prevent illegal tree-cutting by trespassers [4]. Today, the eco-park is acknowledged as one of the most successful mangrove reforestation project in the Philippines [1]
Mangroves at the Ecopark
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakhawan_Eco-Park#/media/File:Bamboo_bridge_and_Mangroves_at_Bakhawan_Eco-park_and_Research_Centre.jpg
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Coastlines
- Coastal wetland, mangroves and salt marshes
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Coastal resilience and marine protection (SDG 14)
- Coastal protection / hazard mitigation
- Marine and coastal biodiversity protection
- Marine and coastal research and/or education
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Green space creation and/or management
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Tourism support
- Employment/job creation
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Coastal landscape management or protection
Project objectives
The Mangrove Eco-Park has the following objectives:
-To prevent floods and storm surges in the local community during severe weather conditions;
-To provide livelihood and income generation opportunities for the locals residing in the area;
-To mitigate the impacts of climate change;
-To promote ecotourism;
-To serve as a habitat for diverse species of mangrove trees, birds, and marine life;
-To serve as a symbol of hope in a country striving to restore its mangroves;
-To serve as a research center for coastal studies
-To replace the mangrove trees that were destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan;
[1,2,3].
Implementation activities
The reforestation project of the Bakhawan Eco-Park started in 1990 with the creation of 50 hectares (120 acres) of reclaimed land in Barangay New Buswang by the Kalibo Save The Mangroves Association (KASAMA), a non-governmental organization. The local government of Kalibo, Aklan, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) provided assistance [1,2]. The DENR engaged local families to plant mangroves and KASAMA also removed the fish pens from the mangrove area to facilitate reforestation [2]. In 1990, 250 000 mangroves were planted and since then, mangroves have continuously been planted. To augment the mangrove population, the Economic Enterprise Development Department of the Provincial Capitol of Aklan planted 8,000 new mangrove propagules over 2 hectares (4.9 acres) of the Eco-park in 2014 [1]. Over the years, the mangrove site has expanded to cover 220 hectares [2]. An ecotourism destination was also established in the area, featuring a 1.3-kilometer bamboo trail leading visitors deep into the mangrove forest. Additionally, various amenities were constructed, including a watchtower, souvenir shop, canteen, massage area, charcoal briquetting area, picnic huts, and a Center for International Mangrove Studies [1]. KASAMA also cultivates and sells mangrove seedlings to visitors [2]. There is also a research center inside the park, which conducts soil assessments to determine suitable mangrove species for planting and researches soil erosion and its effects on the mangroves. [2] The regenerated mangrove forest is also attributed to protecting nearby villages from the severe impact of Typhoon Fengshen in 2008 and Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. It also offers a means of income and livelihood for the local families and helped locals to access fish and seashell during the COVID-19 pandemic have [2,3]
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Restore wetlands and/or coastal ecosystems to dissipate the effects of flooding and/or storms
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore native species
- Restore valued species
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- National government
- Regional government
- Local government/municipality
- Non-government organisation/civil society
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The project was created by the Kalibo Save The Mangroves Association (KASAMA), in collaboration with the local government of Kalibo and support from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) [1]. The concept of the mangrove reforestation project was proposed by Allen Quimpo, the mayor of Kalibo at the time. Quimpo decided to reforest the area after learning that the mangroves in the area had been cleared for illegal fishing activities [2]. As a community-based initiative, KASAMA members and their families were assigned specific areas to maintain and manage the mangroves and in return, they received salaries and were permitted to harvest mud crabs and shellfish from their allocated sites [3]. The United Services and Welfare Assistance Group (USWAG) also provided loans to participants in the reforestation effort [2]. In 1994, KASAMA was officially recognized by the DENR as the organization responsible for forest management. KASAMA was given the right to sell, process, or use all products grown in the mangrove area, provided it committed to the long-term maintenance and protection of the forest. KASAMA also manages the area and cultivates seedlings [2].
Later, the Economic Enterprise Development Department of the Provincial Capitol of Aklan was also involved in the project with planting 8000 new mangroves in the Eco-park in 2014 [1]
The Department of Tourism promotes the area for eco-tourism [3].
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
No
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public national budget
- Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO)
- Private funding by citizens
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
- Loan
- Membership or entrance fees
Non-financial contribution
No
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
- Environmental quality
- Improved soil quality
- Water management and blue areas
- Increased protection against flooding
- Improved stormwater management
- Enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Increased conversion of degraded land or soil
- Increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- More sustainable tourism
- Reduce financial cost for urban management
- Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)
- Generation of income from NBS
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved liveability
- Increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Increased access to healthy/affordable food
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Safety
- Improved community safety to climate-related hazards
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
[1] Wikipedia (2021). Bakhawan Eco-Park. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: Source link [Accessed 15 Feb. 2023].
[2] Aguirre, J. (2020). A Philippine community sees life-saving payoffs from restoring its mangroves. [online] Mongabay Environmental News. Available at: Source link [Accessed 15 Feb. 2023].
[3] Garcia, L. (2014). Bakhawan Eco-Park: Philippines’ most successful mangrove reforestation project. [online] WHATCHAMACALLIT. Available at: Source link [Accessed 15 Feb. 2023].
[4] Aguirre, J. (2021). In the Philippines, Women are Fierce Protectors of Mangrove Forests. [online] Earth Journalism Network. Available at: Source link [Accessed 20 Feb. 2023].
[5] Gian and Sheila (2016). Bakhawan Eco Park: Knowing the Protector of the Shores. [online] Adrenaline Romance. Available at: Source link [Accessed 20 Feb. 2023].
[6] Sama Sama Decoverte (n.d) KASAMA- Mangrove forest. Available: Source link
[2] Aguirre, J. (2020). A Philippine community sees life-saving payoffs from restoring its mangroves. [online] Mongabay Environmental News. Available at: Source link [Accessed 15 Feb. 2023].
[3] Garcia, L. (2014). Bakhawan Eco-Park: Philippines’ most successful mangrove reforestation project. [online] WHATCHAMACALLIT. Available at: Source link [Accessed 15 Feb. 2023].
[4] Aguirre, J. (2021). In the Philippines, Women are Fierce Protectors of Mangrove Forests. [online] Earth Journalism Network. Available at: Source link [Accessed 20 Feb. 2023].
[5] Gian and Sheila (2016). Bakhawan Eco Park: Knowing the Protector of the Shores. [online] Adrenaline Romance. Available at: Source link [Accessed 20 Feb. 2023].
[6] Sama Sama Decoverte (n.d) KASAMA- Mangrove forest. Available: Source link
Bamboo trail
https://adrenalineromance.com/2016/06/14/bakhawan-eco-park-knowing-the-protector-of-the-shores/
Eco-park entrance
https://adrenalineromance.com/2016/06/14/bakhawan-eco-park-knowing-the-protector-of-the-shores/
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the "NBS 2022" UNA Asian extension project funded by the Asia-Europe Foundation.