Mangrove Ecology

Ecology | Conservation | Restoration | Management|Philippines

Development of Integrated Indices of State of Ecosystem Health in Conserved, Recolonized and Restored Mangroves (SECuRe Mangroves)

Project Description

This project is funded under the University of the Philippines Diliman Emerging Interdisciplinary Research (EIDR) Grant. This aims to evaluate and compare the health and ecosystem services of three types of mangrove ecosystems in Oriental Mindoro: natural/intact mangroves, naturally recolonized abandoned fishponds, and restored/planted mangroves. The study focuses on key indicators of ecosystem performance, including biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and greenhouse gas (CO₂) emission reduction. The project will be divided in 5 sub-studies:

  1. Vegetation Assessment – evaluates mangrove structure and health through measurements of tree diversity, biomass, regeneration, and structural complexity.
  2. Carbon Stocks and CO₂ Emissions – quantifies aboveground, belowground, and sediment carbon stocks, as well as carbon sequestration rates and greenhouse gas emissions.
  3. Microbial Diversity Assessment – characterizes sediment, water, and rhizosphere microbial communities using metagenomics and physiological profiling, while identifying microbial indicators of ecosystem condition.
  4. Remote Sensing and Spatial Metrics – uses satellite imagery and spatial ecological indices to assess vegetation condition, structural complexity, and ecosystem health across larger landscapes.

These sub-studies will be tested for correlation and will be used as the basis for the development of a scorecard.

Figure 1. Conceptual framework of the SECuRE Mangroves integrating vegetation, carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity and spectral images in natural, recolonized, and restored mangrove stands. An integrative scorecard will be developed from the results of these studies which will serve as an indicator of the state of ecosystem health in the study site (Mindoro Oriental).