The community-led Bogtong MPA Eco Tour offers guided experiences through the mangrove channels, featuring serene boat rides and immersion in nature’s restorative power
Photo by Khristine Custodio Gudczinski
In the quiet coastal village of Barangay Bogtong, located on the island of Busuanga in Palawan — the Philippines last ecological frontier — the rhythm of life is intertwined with the tide.
For the over 1,200 residents of Bogtong, the green belt of mangrove forests is more than just scenery; it is their "bioshield," their nursery, and their supermarket.
Following the catastrophic impact of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, which left a trail of damaged ecosystems, the community realized that their survival depended on the health of these salt-tolerant trees.
Today, with the support of the GEF/UNEP/UNOPS Implementing the Strategic Action Programme for the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand (SCS SAP), Bogtong has emerged as a modest beacon of community-led restoration. In a joint effort with the Tagbanua indigenous community on adjacent Calauit Island and the local government, residents planted 30,000 mangrove seedlings to fortify the Sagrada-Bogtong-Concepcion Marine Protected Area (MPA). This MPA is a cornerstone of the Calamianes Islands' biodiversity, protecting critical fisheries and wildlife habitats including dugongs which are classified as critically endangered in the Philippines.
Jocelyn Francisco, a member of the Bogtong Women’s Association, inspects mangrove propagules, the start of a new life and a future "wall" against climate change.
Photo by Khristine Custodio Gudczinski
A local fisher and the C3 Philippines team celebrate a successful harvest, underscoring the thriving productivity of Busuanga’s well-managed coastal waters.
Photos by Khristine Custodio Gudczinski
The architecture of a coastal wetland
Mangrove areas are a unique classification of coastal or tidal wetlands, situated at the muddy interface between land and sea. These ecosystems thrive in brackish waters — a mix of fresh and salt water, often found at the mouths of rivers where salt-tolerant trees like the Rhizophora (Bakau) or Bruguiera (Pototan) form dense, protective canopies in Bogtong.
Their intricate, web-like root systems act as a natural filtration system, trapping sediment and nutrients that would otherwise suffocate nearby coral reefs. Beyond filtration, these "blue carbon" sinks are global climate heroes, sequestering up to five times more carbon than terrestrial forests by locking it into the anaerobic soils beneath their roots.
A legacy planted in the heart
To date, volunteers from the local organization Bogtong MPA Ecotour Association — a unified coalition of fishermen, women’s associations and the Barangay Bogtong Bantay Gubat (3BG forest wardens) — continue to drive restoration efforts in Bogtong. They nurture mangrove seedlings and carefully replant them wherever there is space for the forest to reclaim its ground.
"The contribution of mangroves to our lives is enormous"
— explains Archie Samar, President of theBogtong MPA Eco Tour Association and a local Barangay Councilor.
Archie continues,
"Mangroves are a sanctuary for many living things — fish, crabs, and birds. Replanting them isvery important for us. When Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) hit, we saw first-hand how the mangrove forest absorbed the wind and storm surges to shield our homes, even as the trees themselves suffered. Since then, we know by heart that we must maintain their growth and health to ensure our community continues to benefit from the food security, tourism, and protection they provide against climate-related disasters".
This sentiment is echoed by Emilio Albag, the association’s Vice President. "This is what we value for our protection," Emilio notes, emphasizing that the mangroves are the community's primary defence.
"Mangroves are a great help to us because they area breeding ground for fish and crabs. When there are strong storms and the fishermen cannot go out to sea, we can still collect shells as alternative food from the mangroves".
On a voluntary basis, Archie Samar, Emilio Albag and members of the Bogtong MPA Ecotour Association, partner with local authorities to patrol and safeguard the rich biodiversity of their MPA.
Photo by Khristine Custodio Gudczinski
Nanette Cadutdut, President, (left) and Armelyn Manongol, Secretary, of the Bogtong Fish Processors Association, highlight that the Fish Processing Center serves as more than an income-generating facility; it is a dedicated community hub providing essential social and emotional security for its members
Photo by Khristine Custodio Gudczinski
Empowering the "Sea Guardians"
The success ofthe mangrove rehabilitation lies in its inclusive nature. Through the combined commitments offishermen, women’s associations, and the 3BG forest wardens into a unified force, supported by the local government, the community has turned the 969-acre Sagrada-Bogtong-Concepcion Marine Protected Area (MPA) into a strictly monitored, community-led "no-take" zone.
For the women of Bogtong, the Fish Processors Association, founded and registered in 2018, has provided a platform for both economic and social empowerment. Women process octopus, squid, and fish, providing livelihood for families at the barangay's solar-powered fish processing center, and creating community savings shared by members at the end of the year.
"In Bogtong, it’s not just the men who earn; it’s the women and mothers too"
— Nanette Cadutdut, President of the Bogtong Fish Processors Association, explains. Beyond the income, the center serves as a social safety net where women share personal challenges and support one another during their work.
A future beyond funding
While the SCS SAP, through lead partner the Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands and its sub-grantee C3 Philippines, provides technical training and nursery support, the true engine is the "voluntary spirit" of the barangay. The community has learned to identify suitable mangrove varieties and establish nurseries to ensure the long-term survival of their coastal forest.
This local ownership is vital as they battle ongoing pressures, such as illegal cutting for charcoal and the clearing of mangrove stands for fishpond development. By building a 50-meter boardwalk through the mangroves, the community aims to attract eco-tourists, to prove that a standing forest is worth more to the local economy than its weight in timber. Alongside their supporting partners, the Bogtong MPA Eco Tour Association is proactively exploring sustainable mechanisms to ensure their conservation efforts remain resilient and long-term.
Bogtong’s story is a reminder that the most effective "paper shield" for our oceans is one written by the hands of the people who depend on them most. In Bogtong, the mangroves are a "wall" against the wind, a sanctuary for diverse wildlife including birds, reptiles and mammals, a biodiversity hotspot, and most importantly, the foundation of a resilient and dignified future.
An aerial view of Bogtong’s healthy mangrove bioshield
Photo by Helbert Garay and Rey Ramilo/C3 Philippines.
About the SCS SAP
Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) are productive ocean areas near continents, crucial for both the environment and coastal economies. Because LMEs face threats like pollution, habitat loss, and overfishing, they require transboundary cooperation. The "Implementing the Strategic Action Programme for the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand" (GEF/UNEP/UNOPS SCS SAP Project) addresses these challenges in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand LMEs. Funded by the GEF and implemented by UNEP, the project unites six countries, namely Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Philippines,Thailandand Viet Nam, to promote sustainable management. With UNOPS support, SCS SAP helps these countries achieve the Strategic Action Programme(SAP) goals through regional and national actions. This aims to maintain healthy, productive, and resilient LMEs.
For more information,contact the Senior Project Manager, Anders Poulsen (andersp@unops.org), and visit the project website (www.scssap.org).
Words and photos by Khristine Custodio Gudczinski.