To help preserve ecological balance and promote sustainability, the Environmental Concerns, Sustainability and Development (ECSD) Office of DMMMSU, in collaboration with the Local Government Unit of Santo Tomas, La Union, and the Barangay Council of Narvacan, organized a mangrove planting activity on February 5, 2025. 

This initiative was part of the global celebration of World Wetlands Day, held annually on February 2. This year’s theme is “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future.” World Wetlands Day aims to raise awareness about the critical importance of wetlands. This year’s theme underscores the vital role wetland conservation plays in ensuring a sustainable future. Mangroves, in particular, are essential for maintaining ecological balance, supporting biodiversity, and bolstering food security. This year’s theme is “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future.

With the generous support of Fostering Education & Environment for Development, Inc. (FEED), seventeen volunteers planted 100 Rhizophora mangrove seedlings at the “nagpanawan” site in Barangay Narvacan. This location, once home to an elementary school and residences, was submerged following the devastating 1990 earthquake. The visible ruins of the school stand as a poignant reminder of this tragedy.

The ECSD, along with its partners, has committed to nurturing the newly planted mangroves and plans to expand the area’s green space further. The Barangay Council of Narvacan pledged to regularly monitor and promote the growth of these vital coastal ecosystems, recognizing their importance to local resource management and resilience against climate-related challenges.

This initiative received additional support from the Institute of Environmental Governance (IEG) and the Institute of Environmental Studies (IES), reflecting a community-wide commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable development. (by Mr. Celso Jucutan)