Marking their first-ever collaboration and to kickstart the research on mangroves’ potential to alleviate climate change, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) approved the project, “Mangrove-Sediment-Microorganism Carbon Dynamics to Enhanced CO2 Sequestration Capacity of Mangrove Forests” of the Southern Leyte State University (SLSU).
Previous studies have shown that storing carbon or ‘carbon sequestration,’ is one natural solution to climate change mitigation. Due to mangroves’ potential and the knowledge gap of this mechanism in their sediments, the PCAARRD-funded project aims to study mangroves from Surigao del Norte, Palawan, and Southern Leyte and identify the microorganisms responsible for enhancing the transfer of carbon dioxide (CO2) into sediments through mangrove roots and leaf litter.
DOST-PCAARRD’s Executive Director Dr. Reynaldo Ebora signs MoA with SLSU President Dr. Jude Duarte and Project Leader Dr. Ian Navarrete
To officially ink the momentous occasion, SLSU President Jude A. Duarte, and Project Leader Ian A. Navarrete, personally visited the DOST-PCAARRD office to sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director Reynaldo V. Ebora. DOST-PCAARRD Deputy Executive Directors Juanito T. Batalon and Melvin B. Carlos; Forestry and Environment Research Division’s (FERD) Officer-in-Charge Nimfa K. Torreta; Industry Strategic S&T Program (ISP) Manager for Climate Change Marcelino U. Siladan; along with the members of DOST-PCAARRD’s Directors’ Council witnessed the signing.
The two-year project is also expected to analyze and compare the microorganisms and biochemical processes in the three sites and to develop a carbon dioxide-methane flux model incorporating existing biochemical activities within the mangrove ecosystem.
Outputs from the project may serve as baseline information in policymaking and implementing management practices to highlight the importance of mangroves and their protection, ultimately benefiting the local communities while maximizing their role in mitigating climate change.