title: Preliminary assessment of post-Haiyan mangrove damage and short-term recovery in Eastern Samar, central Philippines.
abstract: Strong winds and storm surges from Typhoon Haiyan caused damage of US$12-15billion and >10,000 human casualties in central Philippines in November 2013. To validate a proposed government US$22million mangrove replanting program, mangrove damage and short-term recovery were surveyed in seven natural and planted mangrove sites in Eastern Samar province at 2.5month and 4.5month post-Haiyan. The preliminary assessment showed that natural mangroves (except for those directly hit by the storm) were recovering by means of tree sprouts and surviving seedlings and saplings compared to the devastated plantation. Likewise, tree mortality was higher in the plantation and natural forests hit by the storm surge, compared to more undamaged and partially damaged trees in natural mangroves. Hence the main recommendations to government are (1) to protect recovering mangroves by not releasing rehabilitation funds (that will inadvertently pay for clearing of live trees and for removal of seedlings), (2) to only plant in totally damaged sites (e.g., plantations), and (3) to only plant naturally dominant species, e.g., Sonneratia alba and Avicennia marina (instead of the popular Rhizophora apiculata, R. mucronata and R. stylosa).
authors.affiliation: Zoological Society of London-Philippines, La Paz, Iloilo City, Philippines. Electronic address: georginehp@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Primavera
authors.affiliation: University of the Philippines in the Visayas Tacloban College, Tacloban City, Philippines.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dela Cruz
authors.affiliation: Zoological Society of London-Philippines, La Paz, Iloilo City, Philippines.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montilijao
authors.affiliation: Environmental Leadership and Training Initiative, Yale University School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, United States.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Consunji
authors.affiliation: Haribon Foundation, Aurora Blvd., Quezon City, Philippines.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dela Paz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology, University of the Philippines, Quezon City, Philippines.
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Rollon
authors.affiliation: Conservation International, E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave., Quezon City, Philippines.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maranan
authors.affiliation: De La Salle University, Binan, Laguna, Philippines.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Samson
authors.affiliation: Zoological Society of London-Philippines, La Paz, Iloilo City, Philippines.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blanco
mesh_terms: D032407:Avicennia; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D055867:Cyclonic Storms; D004777:Environment; D065928:Forests; D010679:Philippines; D043982:Rhizophoraceae; D036226:Seedlings; D014197:Trees; D053833:Wetlands
keywords: Eastern Samar; Haiyan; Mangroves; Philippines; Recovery; Storm damage