Mangrove forests are one of the most severely threatened and undervalued

ecosystems on Earth on these days. It is a forest that serves as the nature’s buffer between

terrestrial and marine ecosystem. Mostly, it is found in tropical and sub-tropical areas such

as the Philippines which are located at intertidal areas and estuary mouths between land

and sea.

In the last period of years, mangrove forests have contributed a lot of benefits to

mankind especially in the economic sectors and environment. It acts as a protector to

coastal communities from storm surges caused by typhoons. They become the shield from

the strong wind and waves to lessen the damage it may cause by. It also controls soil

erosion along the shoreline by stabilizing sediments with their tangled root systems.

In terms of economic sectors they provide food and other products for human

consumption or as a source of income. They produce a good source of wood and timber,

firewood and charcoals as well as poles for fish traps. And with its intrinsic beauty it has

become as tourists attraction.

Aside from that, mangroves become a vital feeding, nursery and breeding ground for

commercially valuable fish and species as this provide a safe hiding place for young animals

with the help of its tangled and intricate root systems. It also becomes a habitat place to

other coastal animals to roost, breed or take shelter from strong winds or heat of the sun.

In the Philippines, fishing remains the one and only income for Filipinos living near

the coastal areas. An estimated of 1.3 million small-scale Filipino fishermen begins their day

at dawn by busily baiting their nets and hooks, hoping to catch a variety of fishes to make a

living that will feed their entire family. But recently, a crisis arises in the condition of

fisheries in the Philippines and around the world. As overfishing, illegal fishing and

destruction of habitat takes place, the production of fisheries has not been enough to supply

food for the whole country and livelihood for millions of people.
 One fisherman said that "If there are no mangrove forests, then the sea will have no

meaning. It is like having a tree with no roots, for the mangroves are the roots of the sea.

"Nowadays, a number of efforts on mangrove conservation and rehabilitation have been

completed in the country to address the critical threats to fisheries and other coastal

resources. Some were successful, some were not. It is reported that out of the world’s more

than 70 salt-tolerant mangrove species, around 46 species exist in the Philippines. With the

help of mangroves, an estimated 75 percent of commercially caught fish spend some time in

the mangroves or depend on food webs that can be traced back to these coastal forests.

With the above premises, the research will be conducted to find out the importance

of mangrove and its benefits to the local fishermen in Barangay San Jose, Sitio Dalahican,

Roxas, Oriental Mindoro and to know of the possible ways to sustain the mangrove forest.