A rare and endangered species of mangrove has been spotted thriving in Bohol, giving conservationists fresh hope for the protection of the province's coastal ecosystems.
The discovery was made during a Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring System (BAMS) Fauna Monitoring activity conducted within the Alburquerque-Loay-Loboc Protected Landscape and Seascape (ALLPLS). According to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Region 7, the monitoring team came across a specimen of Gapas-Gapas (Camptostemon philippinensis) — a mangrove species classified as Endangered under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and listed under DENR Administrative Order No. 2026-20.
What makes the find even more encouraging is that the team didn't just spot one lone tree. They found a mature, flowering Gapas-Gapas surrounded by several young saplings growing nearby — a strong sign that the species is naturally regenerating in the area.
Bohol's Role in Protecting a Vanishing Species
For Bohol, this discovery carries real weight. The ALLPLS — covering the towns of Alburquerque, Loay, and Loboc — is one of the province's key protected landscapes, and finding a naturally reproducing population of an endangered mangrove here reinforces just how ecologically important this stretch of coastline is.
Mangroves like the Gapas-Gapas play a critical role beyond just being trees along the shore. They serve as natural buffers against storm surges and coastal erosion, provide breeding grounds for fish and other marine life, and help capture carbon — all of which directly benefit coastal communities in Bohol that rely on fishing and tourism.
The presence of young saplings around the mature tree also suggests that the conditions within ALLPLS remain favorable for the species to propagate on its own, without the need for artificial rehabilitation — a positive indicator for the protected area's overall health.
Why This Matters Now
PIA Region 7 tied the discovery to the broader push for environmental protection under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., emphasizing that safeguarding natural resources like mangrove forests remains a national priority.
For residents and local government units in Bohol, the find is also a reminder to continue supporting mangrove conservation efforts, whether through community-based coastal management, stricter enforcement against illegal cutting, or continued biodiversity monitoring within protected landscapes like ALLPLS.
Quick Summary
Ano: Discovery of Gapas-Gapas (Camptostemon philippinensis), an IUCN-listed endangered mangrove species, complete with young saplings nearby
Saan: Alburquerque-Loay-Loboc Protected Landscape and Seascape (ALLPLS), Bohol
Kailan: During a recent Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring System (BAMS) Fauna Monitoring activity
Epekto sa Visayas: Confirms Bohol's ALLPLS as a viable habitat for an endangered species; boosts case for continued conservation of the province's mangrove ecosystems
Source: Philippine Information Agency (PIA) - Region 7
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