Bakhawan Eco-Park: Philippines' most successful mangrove reforestation project

If there is one thing Aklan can be proud of and contribute to the rest of the Philippine islands, aside of course from the huge economic gain and tourism potential of Boracay, is its highly successful eco-tourism project.

As huge bodies of water surround the country’s 7,107 islands and leave coastal residences vulnerable during natural calamities such as typhoons and tsunamis, a joint group of Kalibonhons in Kalibo, Aklan, has  devised a solution which could withstand  Mother Nature’s destructive forces.  The Kalibonhons has converted a mudflat into a mangrove forest, as the town’s first line of defense against strong surges, and it has become a tourist attraction known as Bakhawan Eco-Park & Research Centre. The word "bakhawan", in the local dialect, means "mangrove".

According to locals, an extensive range of mudflats sprawls on the coast of Barangay New Buswang in Kalibo  making the village prone to floods and storm surges during unfortunate weather. The local government, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the non-government organizations such as United Services and Welfare Assistance Group (USWAG),  Development Foundation and Kalibo Save the Mangroves Association (KASAMA) led by then Mayor Allen Quimpo, an environmentalist, took action against the problem in 1990 by turning the muddy shoreline into a mangrove reforestation site starting with 50-hectares expanding more than four times the size  as the project progresses.

The community-based project did not only address the barangay’s flood problems but also gave a means of livelihood for the participants. Areas were assigned to KASAMA members/families to maintain and manage. In return, they receive salaries and also allowed to harvest mud crabs and shell fishes within the allocated site. The Mangrove Reforestation Project has served the local communities in two ways, as a sustainable solution against flooding, and a means of income.

 

Photo by DOT's Larry Moran

Kalibo’s prime eco-tourism attraction

Today, Bakhawan Eco-Park  stretches into 220- hectare mangrove forest and serves as one of Kalibo’s prime attractions. During the recent Manila Media Fam Tour hosted by the Department of Tourism, media representatives enjoyed the relaxing ambiance and fresh air strolling through the 1.3-kilometer bamboo and wooden trail that runs deep into the forest teeming with different species of mangroves and wildlife and ends on a scenic view of the beach.  Indeed, a perfect hideaway where one could enjoy peacefulness and commune with Mother Nature!

When our group arrived, local men were busy nailing down woods in addition to the existing wooden trail while a young girl called our attention to sell her family's harvest of large clamshells at P20 per kilo!

The park also serves as a sanctuary for various types of birds and marine species. Other features in the park includes a watchtower, souvenir shop, canteen, massage area, charcoal briquetting, picnic huts and a Center for International Mangrove Studies.

We also had the chance to witness how tamilok or woodworm from bakawan trees are gathered and eaten fresh straight from the tree’s bark. According to locals, tamilok which tasted like oyster, is aphrodisiac in nature, and gathering them has become a major attraction among visitors.

Dubbed as the Philippines' most successful mangrove reforestation project, the bakhawan park has set a benchmark for a greener Philippines, garnering local and foreign recognitions. For one, the United Nations food and Agriculture Organization hailed it as one of the exemplary forests managed in the whole of Asia and the Pacific. It has also been awarded as the Golden Eagle award for excellence in Environment Preservation.

Enjoying  fresh air and the scenic view of the beach at the end of 1.3 kilometer mangrove trail!

On January 22, 2014, the Provincial Capitol of Aklan headed by the Economic Enterprise Development Department, planted 8,000 new mangrove propagules on a two-hectare area of the Eco-park. The mangrove-planting activity was aimed to minimize climate change and to replace the mangrove trees that were destroyed due to Super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda).