New 'citizen science program' to focus on protection of mangroves

MANILA, Philippines -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is pioneering disaster risk reduction by rolling out a citizen science program. 

Spearheaded by DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, the program aims to manage and protect the Philippines' vital mangrove cover as part of the "BakaJuan Project", with volunteers and stakeholders actively implementing it.

The agency reported a reduction of the Philippine mangrove forests from 450,000 hectares in 1918 to 303,373 in 2015. Recognizing an urgency, the DENR and the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) established the Nationwide Mangrove Mapping initiative, which utilizes the National Mangrove Map 2023, a satellite-derived map designed to detect and validate mangrove cover in the country.

Yulo-Loyzaga has emphasized the power of citizen science in the initiative, urging public participation in tracking and protecting mangroves. Individuals can use the ODK Collect app to verify the presence of mangroves in coastal barangays and send drone-taken photographs to PhilSA.

Citizen scientists, called "BakaJuan" volunteers, are critical to the project's success. 

“Amid the climate emergency and destruction of mangroves, everyone has the ability to make a difference by tracking and protecting our natural resources,” Yulo-Loyzaga said.

As of May 22, 2024, 81% of the soft target — 4,955 out of 6,110 validation points — has been met, rising to 95% on May 26, 2024, with 5,828 entries. DENR hopes to finish the field validation of over 600 sites and 30,000 validation points around the country by June 2024.

But days shy of the target schedule, the DENR, through a post on its official Facebook page, has announced a 100% completion rate of its 6,000 soft target. The milestone is only Phase One of the campaign. Further announcements shall be made by the department to kick off the campaign’s Phase Two.

According to the DENR, validating the National Mangrove Map is critical for appropriately assessing the country's natural resources, which contribute to climate resilience and sustainable development. This endeavor is consistent with Secretary Yulo-Loyzaga's appeal to "measure what we treasure," and the