Young Men's Division Members Contributed
to the Green Revolution in Mindanao
Last February 11, 2006, an environmental project of members of SGI Philippines
Young Men's Division from Cagayan de Oro was finally realized, named, "Mangrove
Development and Restoration."
Together with Capitol University President, Casimiro B. Juarez, Jr., Mr.
Kazuya Saito and Mr. Akihiko Shinagawa both Soka University Exchange Students,
and the Lotus Sutra Research Group of Capitol University, cheerfully and
dynamically undertook their noble mission as 'Mangrove Protectors.'
13,000 Mangroves were planted
Baby Mangroves
For the bright future
The Mangrove Development and Restoration Joint Project was participated
by several groups such as the People's Organization (of Taytay), Capitol
University, the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary Unit, the Philippine Coast
Guard, Department of Environment & Natural Resources as well as SGI-Philippines.
The mangrove area is approximately composed of 70 hectares that cover shorelines of more than 3 provincial Barangays of Taytay, Amoros, and Molugan in the municipality of El Salvador, Misamis Oriental.
The joint project team is allocated through a Memorandum of Agreement by Department of Environment & Natural Resources an area of 3 hectares which they have planted 13 thousand mangroves to date (and still counting) since their inception on February 11, 2006.
This project is continuously carried out by bi-monthly schedule. A total
of 230 SGI Young Men's Division members participated with an average of
25 persons per trip as of today.
Right after the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement, 'A Call for Action'
by Rear Admiral and President Casimiro B. Juarez, Jr., of Capitol University,
as well as the Overall Director of this Mangrove Joint Project followed.
They gave participants a heart-warming encouragement, and likewise shared
with them his vision-mission directed towards protecting and preserving
the environment.
President Juarez said that the future is in the hands of the youth; hence,
one should create a strong foundation like the mangroves, when deeply rooted,
will never fail to tender us its protection and abundance.
By the way, what are mangroves?
Mangroves are plants within the intertidal zone. They are highly adapted
to sea water and have unique characteristics and growth habits that allow
them to survive in harsh environments.
Among the six different types of mangroves, only three dominant groups can be found in the Philippines. They are the Bakauan Group, Bungalon Group and Pagatpat Group.
Then, why are mangroves important?
Aside from a good source of firewood and construction materials, mangroves,
however, have important ecological functions as well as economic uses which
include protection of shoreline, sea grass beds and coral reefs; nursery
of some fishes, shrimps and mud crabs; food and sanctuary for other marine
life; potential ecotourism sites and protection of reclaimed land.
Mangroves also protect our shorelines from natural elements and provide
food and protection to marine animals.
Moreover, mangroves offer direct economic benefits. The economic equivalent
of one hectare of mangrove per year is estimated at
Php22, 800. This value comes in the form of wood and fish products.
(White and Trinidad, 1998)
Around 25 members participate in every trip
Planting
SGI President Daisaku Ikeda once wrote:
"Let us lead a contributive way of life that is based on an
awareness of
the interdependent nature of our lives-of the relationship that link us to
others and our environment."
Also, he wrote:
"Dependent Origination-as describe in Buddhism that our
life is
interconnected and mutually supporting. The key here is the
understanding that the desire for happiness lies at the very heart of
our interconnection. It is for this reason the teachings of Buddhism
stress our role as the Protagonist of Positive
Change.
While recognizing the influence that our surroundings
have on us,
the focus is more on our active and conscious engagement with our
environment and with other forms of life.
The powerful will that drives this dynamic process of change
is the concern and compassion we muster for others."
(Quoted from Seeds of Change by Daisaku Ikeda)
"We all want to be healthy. For that reason, we want
to breathe clean
air, to see beautiful flowers and greenery. We turn
to nature for this,
just as a sunflower turns to the sun. We must recognize
that
any action transgressing or negating nature is a terrible mistake.
All the money in the world won’t buy the blue sky.
The sun and the
breeze belong to everyone. Human beings can either destroy nature
or live in harmony with it. We must never forget that we are only a
part of nature. "
(Quoted from Discussion On Youth by Daisaku Ikeda)
"We are dependent of the Earth, not the other way around.
In our arrogance, we have flagrantly overlooked this. The Soviet
Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin (1934-68), the first person
to see the Earth
from space, declared it a blue planet. The blue of
the oceans, the
white of the clouds-they are proof that Earth is the water planet, a
planet sparkling with life.
The essential teaching of Buddhism is that the life
of the Buddha
resides in every plant and tree, even in the smallest dust mote.
No philosophy has more profound reverence for life."
(Quoted from Discussion On Youth)
Planting
With Mr. Juarez (Top row, 5th from the right)
With mangroves given their natural ecological roles and their various human beneficial products, they are similar to a powerhouse resource that needs to be protected and managed. As a life support mechanism for marine species, mangroves are a critical component of the marine and coastal environment that contributes significantly to food security. Given the trends of mangrove destruction and conversion in the Philippines, we urgently need to do the following:
- Save those areas that are still forested. Maintaining mangroves
in their
natural state is a far superior situation than converting
these for other
purposes. There is no justification whatsoever to remove
or convert
mangrove areas.
- Restore (converted) mangrove areas proximate to their natural
state.
There are large tracts of these areas covered by Fishpond
Lease
Agreements (FLA), which are now either abandoned or have
never
been developed. These areas can be restored as mangrove areas
rather than left idle and unproductive.
- Support the Community-based Forest Mangrove Agreement (CBFMA)
program for mangroves.
- Support mangrove forest protection activities.
Soon after, a 'Boardwalk of Mangrove's Park' will rise in order to serve
as an eco-tourism destination for Northern Mindanao.
The SGI Philippines YMD members of Cagayan de Oro, acknowledged as the
‘Mangrove Protectors’ and the 'Protagonists of Positive Change', will diligently
work on this dream. It is their earnest pledge for Mother Earth and as
Bodhisattvas of the Earth!
