Mangrove forests make up the transitional zone between land and sea anchoring shoreline and buffering against typhoons and storm surges. They protect coral reefs and seagrass beds from sedimentation, breeding and nursery grounds for many wildlife species including many fishes, crustaceans and mollusc population, sequester massive amount of carbon to combat climate change and provide a host of essential ecosystem service to local communities. Mangroves are now integrated into marine protected areas. Current MPAs are largely focussed on coral reefs with the average size of an MPA in the Philippines between 10-30 hectares. By adopting a strategy of combining mangroves, seagrasses and coral reefs the average size of these MPAs could increase to around 400 hectares.

ZSL-PH joins World Ocean Day celebrations. (2017, June 5). Panay News, pp. B6, B10.