Science-backed project maps threats to La Union mangroves

With La Union’s mangrove ecosystem facing mounting pressure from coastal development and human activity, scientists are calling for stronger conservation policies through a research project that mapped the province’s most vulnerable sites.

- 

Project MARVELS, or Mangrove Diversity Research as a Vulnerable Ecosystem for La Union's Sustainability, was launched in 2019 to help communities balance environmental protection and economic growth.

The project used a multidisciplinary, science-based approach to assess mangrove diversity, identify high-risk areas and guide sustainable coastal management.

“This research is a product of transdisciplinary and collaborative engagement with the city government,” project leader Nikki Herson Aldea Dagamac said.