PCHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A mangrove is a shrub or small tree that grows in coastal saline or brackish

water. It is used for vegetation and is adapted during harsh coastal conditions.
Mangroves also helps prevent erosion by stabilizing sediments with their tangled
root systems. They maintain water quality and clarify, filtering pollutants and
trapping sediments originating from land.
Mangrove is part of the ecosystem and the environment that we lived in.
Human lives on their own not realizing the importance of environment to them.
They keep on doing what they think is good for their living, not knowing that some
of their habits are already hurting the environment. This doings are already
destroying and breaking our environment and making it imbalance. Mangrove,
specifically, is already affected by this harmful human activities. Humans are doing
unnecessary things that might harm the mangrove forest not even realizing and
appreciating the good things and benefits that mangroves brings. Typhoons and
other occurrences served as a wakeup call to all humans that it is important to
keep and value our forest specially the mangrove forest. “Eco Park is evidence
that as long as communities and organizations prioritize the environment, the
environment will also prioritize us.”

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Mangrove plays a big role in keeping the ecosystem balance. Mangroves

provide a number valuable ecosystem services that contribute to human wellbeing,
including provisioning (timber, fuel wood, and charcoal), regulating (flood, storm
and erosion control; prevention of salt water intrusion), habitat (breeding, spawning
and nursery habitat for commercial fish species; biodiversity), and cultural
services. Mangroves serve as valuable nursery areas for fish and invertebrates. It
also gives safety for it deflects the waves and lessen the impact. Deforestation is
a mass activity that creates a big difference in the ecosystem. Mangrove forest is
also affected by deforestation. This harmful human activity leaves ecosystem
imbalance. The effect of those harmful activities has been noticed and several
programs and activities were conducted trying to end this continuing effect of
deforestation.

Reforestation is an activity that was adapted in almost every part of the

Philippines. Reforestation intends to bring back the life of many affected forest.
Continuous planting of trees and mangroves is a type of activity which seems very
effective in bringing back the life and real color and beauty of the forest. Mangrove
forest was given attention by Local Government Unit (LGU), Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and other concerned agencies. It is
because they already realized how big is its role, not just for the balancing of
ecosystem, but also in terms of safety and protection it gives especially during the
calamity.
Here are some status of mangrove research and management in the
Philippines:

SECTORAL, REGIONAL AND TOPICAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE

MANGROVE LITERATURE

Figure No. 1 Figure No. 2

Regional distribution of literature on Contributions by institutions or sectors

Philippine mangroves. to the literature on mangroves in the
Philippines (Fortes & Salmo, in press)

The protection and proper management of the coastal ecosystem is not just
a government concern, it is also involve the private sector and the community. The
involvement of this group must be active to prevent the continued exploitation and
over usage of the coastal ecosystem. As such realization, they were encourage to
think of an alternative ways to develop the coastline by not harming this
ecosystems. That there shall be a center to administer the coastal ecosystem that
will conduct the research works and trainings for the community in order to
enhance it for economic necessity and for the protection of the community near
the coastline.
 The condition of coastal ecosystem in the municipality of Sorsogon is being
monitored by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that
there is a need to control the overuse and exploitation of the ecosystem for the
benefit of the town. Under the DENR is the Ecosystem Research Development
Bureau (ERDB) that absorbs the functions of the Forest Research Institute and the
research functions of the National Mangrove Committee, which is responsible for
all the technical researches of the DENR.
With this problems, the
researchers took the advantage to
propose the Buhatan Eco-Park with
complete facilities and amenities
needed by its tourists, staffs, officers
and researchers.
THE SITE

THE SITE

CITY MAP

THE SITE

LOCATION MAP
1.2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The Mangrove area in Brgy, Buhatan was given attention by the late Miss
Gina Lopez, an environmental advocate that cares a lot to the environment. Gina
Lopez had encouraged the residence for a community based tourism. With the
unity, they are now having a clean and clear river and healthy mangrove areas,
making it a good tourist spot. A good tourist destination needs a good
development. The Mangrove area in Buhatan is a well good tourist attraction in
Sorsogon. The Proposed Buhatan Mangrove Eco-Park intends to develop the said
tourist spot and make it to its full potential. This will give the users different variety
of experiences during their stay on the site and will receive a positive feedback
from them because this project proposal will ensure the tourist or visitor’s safety
and enjoyment when they are inside. Specifically, this study and proposal pursue
to find the answers to the following problems:

1. What is the present status of Brgy. Buhatan in terms of tourism with regards to
calamity safety and awareness to the importance of mangroves?

2. What will be the facilities and amenities for the proposed project?

3. What are the laws and ordinances, sustainable methods and design standards
to be considered for the construction of the proposed project?

1.3. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The Proposed Buhatan Mangrove Eco-Park is a big help not just in

beautifying the city and being one of the tourist spot, but also it helps in protecting
the land by serving as a barrier and trap against strong waves and storm surge,
regulates the flow and circulation of strong wind, clarifying, and maintaining the
quality of the water. This can also help in increasing the tourism and economic
growth in Sorsogon City and gives safety to the residence near the area.

The Visitors/ Tourists. The proposed project will contribute a lot to the Visitors
because this proposed project is not just a normal park and tourist spot, but also a
place where they can learn on how to take good care and appreciate every simple
thing about the environment. They will leave the place with lots of learning and
they can adapt those learning to their everyday lives.
The Government. This project proposal will help the government in terms of
economic growth and this will help Sorsogon City to become more beautiful and
green.

To Community. The purpose of this proposed project is to show and know the
worth of mangroves to be appreciated. With this, it can help the community not just
by protecting the land from disasters caused by water and wind, but it can also
help in giving job opportunities to the Sorsoganos for it is a community based
tourism.

Brgy. Buhatan. The project will be beneficial for the barangay for it will be known
throughout the region and hoping to the nation as well.

To Future Researchers. The data and information that were gathered and derived
from this study may serve as a guide and reference for future researchers.

To Architecture. The design that will be applied to the proposed project will
introduce and showcase new techniques that will give an idea for those who can
see and witness it.

1.4 PROJECT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

This study’s main goal is to design an Eco Park wherein once they enter the
place, they will be able to know already the purpose of why does this project was
proposed and built, and while they are on their walkway, they will be able to learn
everything about mangroves and ecosystems. This will improve the knowledge
about ecosystems.
The following are the objectives:

1. To know the present status of Brgy. Buhatan in terms of tourism with regards to
calamity safety and awareness to the importance of mangroves.

2. To determine the facilities and amenities for the proposed project.

3. To know and the laws and ordinances, sustainable methods, and design
standards, to be considered for the construction of the proposed project?
1.5 SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

The result of this study will provide site data, such as size, location,
technical description, vegetation, land use and other useful information of the
development of the Proposed Project. This study also includes related works and
literature, standard principles and guidelines useful in designing the structure and
applicable laws to meet the best design solution for the proposed project.

The research development study of the Center will cover the entire
Sorsogon province. Therefore, the proponents shall gather data regarding the
coastal resources present in the province.

The study will focus more on the architectural design. The proponent will
focus in site planning interrelationship of spaces and conceptualization of the
structures and area development. Other matters such as marketing plan, financial
viability, structural analysis and electrical computation, mechanical and electrical
layout are outside the boundary of this study.

1.6 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY

Mangrove reforestation is an advocacy of many localities in the Philippines

because mangrove forest was slowly destroyed by harmful human activities. The
negative effect of the mangroves when destroyed was noticed by the human
especially during the disasters like floods, strong waves, and storm surge. The
importance of mangroves has caught the attention of many localities. In Sorsogon
City, mangrove areas were given attention by the city government. Because of this,
the government encouraged others to plant more mangroves to be able to help
improve the beauty of our nature and improve its benefits to human. One of
mangrove area is located at Buhatan, Sorsogon City. The government saw the
potential of this mangrove area as one of the tourist spot in Sorsogon Province.
Allocating budget for the development of Buhatan Mangrove Eco-Park and
Research Center is one way of showing that Sorsogon City is paying attention to
the needs and improvement of the ecosystem of Sorsogon Province.
1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Coastal Ecosystem- Includes estuaries and coastal waters and lands located at
the lower end of drainage basins, where stream and river systems meet the sea
and are mixed by tides. The coastal ecosystem includes saline, brackish and fresh
waters, as well as coastlines and the adjacent lands.

Conservation- The protection of an area, or particular element within an area,

whilst accepting the dynamic nature of the environment and therefore allowing
change; means preservation and sustainable utilization of wildlife, and/or
maintenance, restoration and enhancement of the habitat.

DENR- Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall be the primary

government agency responsible for the conservation, management, protection,
proper use and sustainable development of the country's environment and natural
resources.

Estuary- A more or less funnel shaped river mouth, affected by tidal circulation.

Bakawan or Mangrove- is a shrub or small tree that grows in

coastal saline or brackish water. The term is also used for tropical coastal
vegetation consisting of such species. Mangroves occur worldwide in
the tropics and subtropics, mainly between latitudes 25° N and 25° S.

Brackish Water- Brackish water is water having more salinity than freshwater, but
not as much as seawater. It may result from mixing seawater with fresh water
together, as in estuaries, or it may occur in brackish fossil aquifers.

Building- Public or private buildings and other related structures for public use.
Those design to accommodate and serve persons in the pursuit of educational,
recreational, religious, occupational, medical, political, social activities of similar
nature.

LGU- Local Government Unit. An administrative and political government unit

subsidiary to the national government which could itself consist of sub-units as in
the case of a province or a municipality.
Resilience- is the capacity to adapt to changing conditions and to maintain or
regain functionality and vitality in the face of stress or disturbance. It is the capacity
to bounce back after a disturbance or interruption.

Sediments- Sediment is a naturally occurring material that is broken down by

processes of weathering and erosion, and is subsequently transported by the
action of wind, water, or ice or by the force of gravity acting on the particles.

Stabilizing- to cause something to become fixed and stop changing, esp .in order
to keep it from becoming worse, or to become fixed and stop changing.

Buhatan Mangrove Eco-Park- Is a park with a 3.5 kilometer river bounded with
different species of mangroves and marine life that is located in Brgy. Buhatan
Sorsogon City,