MEXICOS’S MANGROVE MIRACLE: WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM IT?

MEXICO’S MANGROVE MIRACLE: WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM IT?

Sometimes, solutions don’t come from fancy laboratories or billion-peso budgets. Sometimes, they come from the hands of humble fishers—and if we’re wise, we’ll learn from them.

A recent report out of El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve in Mexico tells the remarkable story of David Borbon and his wife Ana Maria Peralta, a local couple who, without any formal scientific background, led a grassroots effort to reforest their local mangrove habitats. In just three years, their community planted over 1.8 million mangrove trees—and astonishingly, 92–94% of those survived.

Let me repeat that: 92–94% survival rate—a figure that would make many international conservation organizations sit up in envy.

It makes me wonder: Why aren’t we doing the same?

The Philippines has no shortage of mangrove experts. We have the brilliant Dr. Jurgenne Honculada Primavera, a global authority in mangrove ecology. We’ve seen models of success like the one in Kalibo, Aklan, thanks to the late Congressman Allen Salas Quimpo and Secretary Fulgencio Factoran Jr. But the harsh truth is, we still don’t have a national culture of replicating success, especially when it comes from unexpected sources—like a self-taught fisherman in Mexico.

Why do we so often wait for international grants, expensive consultants, or pilot programs when a proven, cost-effective, community-driven model is already thriving elsewhere?

Why Mangroves Matter (More Than We Think)

If there’s any ecosystem that punches way above its weight, it’s the humble mangrove. Here’s a short list of the things these tangled forests do for us:

• They fight climate change by absorbing up to five times more carbon than inland forests.
• They protect our coasts by softening the blow of storm surges, tsunamis, and flooding.
• They feed us, acting as nurseries for fish, crabs, and other marine life that end up on our tables.
• They clean our water, filtering out pollution and sediment.
• They reduce poverty by supporting fisheries, eco-tourism, and livelihoods.

And yet, what have we done in return?

We’ve turned mangrove areas into fishponds, subdivisions, and commercial zones. We’ve taken and taken, forgetting that these forests are not just scenery—they are lifelines.

Borrowing Brilliance from Borbon

Now here’s where I propose something simple but powerful: Let’s learn directly from Mr. Borbon.

No need to reinvent the wheel. No need for bureaucratic red tape. Just have our Embassy in Mexico pick up the phone, call Mr. Borbon, and say: “We want to learn.” From there, let’s link him with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and especially the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD).

We’re not short on brains. We’re short on action.

What Mr. Borbon has done is more than just ecological—it’s inspirational. He’s created a model where local communities are empowered, not sidelined. Where restoration isn’t a one-time project, but an everyday effort. And where survival rates aren’t just decent—they’re outstanding.

Imagine if every coastal barangay in the Philippines followed this model. We have more than 7,000 islands, many of them with degraded shorelines and vulnerable communities. How many floods could we prevent? How much food security could we restore? How many jobs could we create?

Let’s Put Economic Diplomacy to Work

This is another opportunity to activate economic and environmental diplomacy—the kind of foreign service that brings home real, working solutions. This is not about signing ceremonial MOUs or attending conferences. This is about technology transfer, community mobilization, and climate resilience.

Years ago, we missed the boat on various clean energy innovations because we were slow to act. Let’s not repeat that mistake with mangroves.

It’s time we look outside the box—and outside our borders—for good ideas. It’s time we elevate local heroes like Mr. Borbon to international partners, not just as tokens of success, but as teachers we can learn from.

Mr. President, if you're recalibrating this administration for better performance, as you've said, this is a simple place to start: one phone call, one technology exchange, one green success story that could ripple across our archipelago.

Let’s not wait for another disaster to remind us that nature has already given us the tools to survive. All we need to do is listen, learn, and plant the future.

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

08-04-2025