Rehabilitating mangrove ecosystem services: A case study on the relative benefits of abandoned pond reversion from Panay Island, Philippines

Clare Duncan; Jurgenne H Primavera; Nathalie Pettorelli; Julian R Thompson; Rona Joy A Loma; Heather J Koldewey

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.05.049

Rehabilitating mangrove ecosystem services: A case study on the relative benefits of abandoned pond reversion from Panay Island, Philippines

Mar Pollut Bull. 2016 Aug 30;109(2):772-82. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.05.049. Epub 2016 Jun 9.

Authors

Clare Duncan¹, Jurgenne H Primavera², Nathalie Pettorelli³, Julian R Thompson⁴, Rona Joy A Loma², Heather J Koldewey⁵

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Outer Circle, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK; UCL Department of Geography, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK. Electronic address: clare.duncan@ioz.ac.uk.
² Conservation Programmes, Zoological Society of London, Outer Circle, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK; Zoological Society of London-Philippines, 43-E Burgos Street, Barangay Magdalo, La Paz, 5000 Iloilo City, Philippines.
³ Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Outer Circle, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK.
⁴ UCL Department of Geography, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
⁵ Conservation Programmes, Zoological Society of London, Outer Circle, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK; Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9EZ, UK.

PMID: 27289287
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.05.049

Abstract

Mangroves provide vital climate change mitigation and adaptation (CCMA) ecosystem services (ES), yet have suffered extensive tropics-wide declines. To mitigate losses, rehabilitation is high on the conservation agenda. However, the relative functionality and ES delivery of rehabilitated mangroves in different intertidal locations is rarely assessed. In a case study from Panay Island, Philippines, using field- and satellite-derived methods, we assess carbon stocks and coastal protection potential of rehabilitated low-intertidal seafront and mid- to upper-intertidal abandoned (leased) fishpond areas, against reference natural mangroves. Due to large sizes and appropriate site conditions, targeted abandoned fishpond reversion to former mangrove was found to be favourable for enhancing CCMA in the coastal zone. In a municipality-specific case study, 96.7% of abandoned fishponds with high potential for effective greenbelt rehabilitation had favourable tenure status for reversion. These findings have implications for coastal zone management in Asia in the face of climate change.

Keywords: Abandoned aquaculture ponds; Carbon stocks; Coastal protection; Ecosystem services; Mangroves; Rehabilitation.

MeSH terms

Carbon
Carbon Sequestration
Conservation of Natural Resources / methods*
Ecosystem
Environmental Restoration and Remediation / methods
Philippines
Ponds
Wetlands*

Substances

Carbon