Mangrove swamps
Media
Part of Forestry Leaves
- Title
- Mangrove swamps
- Language
- English
- Year
- 1953
- Rights
-
- Fulltext
- Mangrove Swamps FOR PROTECTION, FIREWOOD AND FOR FISHPOND PURPOSES By RAMON A. ACUNA Senior Forester Under Commonwealth Act 141 (Public Land Law) , the public domain is classified into (1) agricultural land, (2) timberland and (3) mineral land. Section 61 of the said law provides that "marshy lands or lands covered with water bordering upon the shores or banks of navigable lakes or rivers" may be disposed of only by lease. However, upon the passage of Republic Act No. 273, this kind of public land may be alienated thru sa.le, if certified alienable and disposable pursuant to the Forest Law, or Section 1827 of the Revised Administrative Code. In accordance with the aforementioned provisions, the Bureau of Forestry has administrative control and jurisdiction over all public mangrove swamps. Excluding the fresh marshy lands (169,340 hectares) the mangrove swamps in the Philippines cover 443,400 hectares, wlti,ch is about 1.49 per cent of the total land area of the Islands. Summarizing, they are as follows: 1. 158.598 hectares for firewood and other forest uses. 2. 142,63-1 hectares for fishponds. 3. * hectares for protection purposes. 4. 142,168 hectares of vacant areas for investigation as to its suitability for firewood, fishpond and for protection purposes. 443,400 hectares-Total area of mangrove swamps. * For the present it can not be determined yet how much area will be needed for proGRADUATION ISSUE -March, l~!'i3 tection purposes until the Flood Control Commission jointly with the Directors of Forestry and Fisheries have studied or investigated all mangrove swamps in accordance with Forestry Circular No. 140, dated January 23, 1941. However, swall?-ps under firewood licenses and for other forest uses may be partly devoted to or used for protection and other multiple forest purposes. There is no income from the 26,749 hectares under 337 parcels of communal forests as the forest products are cut and utilized by the residents for which they are set aside free of charge. The utilization is wholly for local domestic use for the construction and repair of houses, fences, etc. The economic value of the trees in the mangrove swamps lies in some fruits ( edible), bark (for tanning, cutch, ingredients used in tuba, wine) wood (for fuel, house construction) (ashes from api-api, used for the manufacture of soap), and the roots (for cork and daluru for sharpening razors.) The nipa sap is used for making wine and vinegar. Further research is needed to find out uses of other mangrove swamp species. An approximate area of 55,000 hectares operated as private fishponds are mostly located in Pampanga, Bulacan, Bataan and Iloilo. Over 5,000 hectares are being squatted, claimed or illegally used for fishpond purposes. Most of this alleged private fishponds and those illegally used need to be thoroughly examined to determine their legal status, etc. in connection with flood con( Continued on page 41) PPge 35 boach" new building on dairy and experimental farms of the University of Wisconsin observing experimental farms of the University of Wisconsin observing research on breeding, product, management, and utilization of grassland copra and farm mechanization including "electrified farming." Overnighted in Madison, Wisconsin. Members of the Midwestern Tour Group were special guests of Dr. and Mrs. Wilbur Carlson. Dr. Carlson was our Chairman, General Tours Committee of the 6th International Grassland Congress. Traveled 48 miles only today. Thursday, September 4. Visited the Madison Forest Products Laboratory and met Forester Eugenio de la Cruz then on his 6month U.S. training program under MSA auspices. In the afternoon, visited Dairyland Cooperative Dairy and soil plots en route to Juneau, Pabst Farm at Ocosnomoc, Wisconsin to see an outstanding Holstein herd and excellent grassland farm. Mr. and Mrs. Pabst gave a dinner in their farm residence followed by speech-making. Overnighted in Madison, Wisconsin in the same hotel. Traveled 125 miles. MANGROVE ... (Continued jrom page 35) trol projects and to protect public interests. As stated above most of these mangrove swamps ( 298.926 hectares) applied for and occupied under licenses or permits for fishponds, firewood and other forest "uses are mainly located in Luzon and Visaya5, while the remaining vacant areas of about 144,474 hectares are located in Zamboanga, Sulu, Surigao, Palawan, etc. These need to be examined to determine their status, use and suitability for fishpond, firewood and other forest uses and for protection purposes. An allotment of P150,000 will be needed to examine and zonify these vacant areas requiring 50 forest officers to do the work in three years. GRADUAnON ISSUB--March, 1953 Friday, September 5. Packing my things. Visited the J. I. Cane Manufacturing Company Plant at Racine, Wisconsin. Luncheon offered by them followed also by speechmakin.g as usual. In this case particularly a closing one. Tour concluded in Chicago, Illinois, arriving at 6 :15 P.M. stopping at Morrison Hotel at Corner Clark and Madison. Traveled 178 miles. Saturday, September 6. Short meeting of our Widwestern Tour Group of 27 members representing 17 countries. Tour practically terminated this date here in the windy city of Chicago, Illinois. Some left immediately after lunch today. Sunday, September 7. Packing things and fixing various notes at random between sightseeing of Chicago parks, lawns, exhibits, campuses, etc. Still nighted at the same Hotel Morrison, Corner of Clark and Madison, Chicago, Illinois. More members of our group left today as our trip having been terminated yesterday. Compliments of Vizcaya Esperanza Lumber Dealer 1n Lumber and Hardwares Wholesale and Retail Bayombong, N. Vizcaya Page 41