Reef & Mangrove Appeal

Background to the Reef & Mangrove Appeal

Mangrove replanting will take place on Danjugan Island, part of the Visayan Island Group, the Philippines. See a larger map. (Use your back button to return here.)	Mangrove replanting and coral restoration will be undertaken in the Gulf of Kachchh, in Gujarat, India. See a larger map. (Use your back button to return here.)

The World Land Trust first became involved in mangrove regeneration in 1995 when we helped purchase Danjugan Island, now protected by the Philippine Reef & Rainforest Conservation Foundation. Back then the local community on the adjacent island of Negros realised too late that it had been a huge mistake to destroy the mangroves around their island. They were witnessing a good deal more coastal damage as well as soil erosion, and WLT helped them replant mangroves which are now well established. Gerry Ledesma, the Philippine Reef & Rainforest Project Director in the Philippines, now works with the local fishermen to protect the coral reefs around the island which have been declared a Marine Reserve and Sanctuary. Mangrove replanting is also being carried out on other islands in the Visayan group.

Following the 2004 tsunami the World Land Trust's partner organisations in India and other overseas NGOs contacted the WLT for help in the recovery of mangroves and restoration of coral reefs, and the Reef & Mangrove Appeal was established in response. The Trust is initially working with the Philippine Reef & Rainforest Conservation Foundation, based in Bacolod, Negros Occidental and the Wildlife Trust of India in New Delhi. We are also talking with other conservationists and NGOs with a view to forming additional partnerships to assist urgent coral and mangrove projects.

More information

Find out more about the Reef & Mangrove Appeal