ADD YOUR NAME TO HELP PROTECT MANGROVES!

Filipinos depend on fish for sustenance and livelihood. Declining fish stocks and unabated destruction of coral reefs, seagrass, mangroves and other habitats threaten our food and nutritional security.

Mangroves offer a solution. Among other services, they can help restore and rebuild our fisheries, provide wildlife habitat, protect our coastlines from storm surge and flooding, and combat climate change by absorbing greenhouse gases.

But our mangroves continue to decline year after year. 

We must pass the National Coastal Greenbelt/Integrated Coastal Management Act to protect mangroves and ensure healthy fisheries.  

Call on your Senators to pass the bill and pave the way towards a sustainable and secure future, now and for generations to come. 

petition text

Dear {user_data~Title}{user_data~First Name}{user_data~Last Name},

I am appealing for your support to pass the bill, The National Coastal Greenbelt/Integrated Coastal Management Act, that will require the establishment of coastal greenbelts comprising 100-meter-wide strips of mangroves and beach forest species along our coastlines. These greenbelts will serve as formidable barriers, absorbing wind and wave energy during storms, provide income and other opportunities for the community, and set the stage towards rebuilding our fisheries.

Majority of the Filipino population relies heavily on fish as a primary source of sustenance and livelihood. But the problem is, our fish stocks have been in alarming decline. This food security issue is even compounded by our vulnerability to the increasing frequency and intensity of typhoons which have become a serious concern especially in this climate change era.

What makes mangroves special is that they provide solution to these dual crises- first, they hold the potential to restore and rebuild our fisheries since it supports rich biodiversity and boast high levels of productivity, enabling them to supply seafood on a scale capable of feeding millions of people. Second, mangroves provide exceptional protection to our disaster-prone coastlines, serving as natural barriers against storm surges and coastal erosion. Moreover, its capacity to absorb significant amounts of carbon ten times greater than terrestrial forests largely contributes to climate change mitigation efforts and supports international commitments.

While our country is blessed with a vast expanse of mangroves, it is disheartening to witness their gradual decline year after year. Although there are existing provisions scattered in different laws prohibiting the cutting and conversion of mangroves, these have proven ineffective in providing the overarching framework needed to safeguard and manage these vital ecosystems to their full potential.

We need urgent legislative action.

We look at you as a champion in bringing meaningful change and addressing the challenges facing our country, nature, and people. Your leadership and support are crucial in paving the way towards a sustainable and secure future, not just for the present but for the future generations.

Please support the bill, The National Coastal Greenbelt/Integrated Coastal Management Act – Now!

Kind regards, 
{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}

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