Mangroves, livelihoods, and purpose

Manulife joins Haribon in protecting coastal life in Quezon province

- By MILLIE MANAHAN

One weekend, I found myself standing in the mud of Real, Quezon—mangrove sapling in hand, sun on my back, and gratitude in my heart.

The scene wasn't typical of a tech columnist's beat, but it might be one of the most meaningful fieldworks I've done this year.

The occasion? The launch of Manulife Philippines and Haribon Foundation's expanded mangrove restoration program, now aiming to plant 15,000 mangrove trees in Quezon province over the next three years. Part of Haribon's larger Forests for Life movement, this partnership is grounded in ecosystem conservation, and its ripple effects go far beyond reforestation.

Tech meets tides: What innovation can do for biodiversity

Mangroves are more than just trees; they're coastal guardians. They shield shorelines from storm surges, act as carbon sinks, and create breeding grounds for marine life. As the urgency to protect these natural barriers increases, so does the opportunity for innovation to play a meaningful role.

In the broader context of global conservation, emerging technologies have already started transforming how we restore, manage, and protect ecosystems. Tools such as open data, GIS mapping, and drone-assisted monitoring offer scalable ways to enhance restoration accuracy and transparency. These technologies when applied effectively—can help optimize planting sites, monitor seedling growth remotely, and even detect early signs of environmental stress.

More than anything, it's a call to use digital tools to protect what's analog and alive.

By leveraging real-time environmental tracking, conservation-focused apps, and community-based digital platforms, governments, NGOs, and civil society can work more efficiently. These tools allow localized responses to biodiversity loss, giving communities data-driven insight into how their ecosystems evolve and where interventions are most needed.