Guardians of the coast: Philippine scientists unlock the climate power of mangroves in Eastern Visayas

Groundbreaking blue carbon study led by Dr. Hannah Alexis Melquiades Asilo at University of the Philippines Tacloban College reveals how mangrove restoration strategies can supercharge climate action

2025-10-23

(Press-News.org)

What if the front line in the fight against climate change wasn’t in a high-tech lab or a global summit—but in the muddy, tangled roots of a mangrove forest?

In the coastal heart of the Philippines, a quiet revolution is taking root. A new study published on September 5, 2025, in the open-access journal Carbon Research, shows that mangroves, those hardy, salt-tolerant trees lining tropical shorelines, are not just nature’s coastal defenders. They’re also carbon vaults, quietly locking away tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. And now, thanks to the work of Dr. Hannah Alexis Melquiades Asilo and her team at the University of the Philippines Tacloban College, we finally have the numbers to prove it.

The Blue Carbon Breakthrough

While the world talks about “green” solutions to climate change, scientists are increasingly turning to the blue—blue carbon, that is. This term refers to the carbon captured by marine and coastal ecosystems, especially mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes. Among them, mangroves are the undisputed champions, storing up to four times more carbon per hectare than tropical rainforests.

Yet, in the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines, a biodiversity hotspot still recovering from the impacts of typhoons and deforestation, detailed data on blue carbon stocks has been scarce. Until now.

Dr. Asilo’s team conducted a rigorous, field-based assessment across three types of mangrove stands:

Natural (undisturbed, mature forests) Reforested (areas where mangroves were replanted after degradation) Afforested (areas where mangroves were planted on land that previously had none)

Using allometric equations, mathematical models that estimate biomass from tree measurements, and sediment sampling, the researchers calculated the Total Ecosystem Blue Carbon (TEBC) stored in both plants and soil.

The results? A striking average of 387.4 ± 47.4 Mg C ha⁻¹—and up to a massive 1,432.6 ± 231.4 Mg CO₂ equivalent per hectare. That’s like taking hundreds of cars off the road, one forest at a time.

Natural Forests Lead, But Afforestation Shines

As expected, natural mangrove stands held the highest carbon stocks—proof that protecting existing forests remains critical. But here’s the surprise: afforested sites (newly planted mangroves on previously non-mangrove land) outperformed reforested areas (replanted after loss), challenging the assumption that restoration always beats starting from scratch.

“This finding shifts the narrative,” says Dr. Hannah Alexis Melquiades Asilo, corresponding author and environmental science leader at the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of the Philippines Tacloban College. “We’ve long prioritized reforestation. But our data shows that well-planned afforestation can be just as powerful—especially when done right, with the right species and conditions.”

The study highlights that biological diversity, soil composition, and local hydrology all play crucial roles in carbon storage, emphasizing the need for site-specific assessments rather than one-size-fits-all policies.

Why It Matters: Science for Policy and Protection

This research isn’t just about numbers—it’s about action. With the Philippines on the front lines of climate change, facing rising sea levels and stronger storms, mangroves are more than carbon sinks: they’re natural storm barriers, fish nurseries, and livelihood sources for coastal communities.

By providing quantitative, localized data, Dr. Asilo’s work empowers policymakers, conservation groups, and local governments to make smarter decisions—whether it’s designating protected areas, designing restoration projects, or accessing international climate funding through carbon credit programs.

“Blue carbon isn’t just a scientific concept,” Dr. Asilo emphasizes. “It’s a tool for resilience, for justice, and for sustainable development in vulnerable coastal regions like ours.”

A Beacon of Science in Eastern Visayas

At the center of this discovery is the University of the Philippines Tacloban College, emerging as a vital hub for environmental research in the Western Pacific. Despite limited resources and the challenges of post-disaster recovery, the institution is producing world-class science that speaks to global issues—from climate mitigation to ecosystem-based adaptation.

Dr. Asilo’s study is a powerful reminder that local knowledge and local research are essential to solving global problems.

The Future is Blue—and Rooted in Science

So next time you walk past a mangrove forest, don’t see it as just a swamp. See it as a carbon vault. A climate shield. A living laboratory.

Thanks to pioneering scientists like Dr. Hannah Alexis Melquiades Asilo and the team at University of the Philippines Tacloban College, we’re learning to measure, value, and protect these incredible ecosystems like never before.

The message is clear: when it comes to fighting climate change, sometimes the best solutions aren’t high-tech—they’re rooted in mud, sustained by tides, and powered by science.

Stay tuned for more insights from this dynamic research group—where every tree tells a story, and every measurement brings us closer to a cooler, safer planet.

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Title: Understanding blue carbon management strategies: quantitative assessment of blue carbon stock among three mangrove stands in Eastern Visayas, Philippines, W. Pacific Border Keywords: Blue carbon stock; Carbon sequestration; Mangrove stands; Sediment blue carbon; Biomass blue carbon; Management strategies Citation: Asilo, H.A.M., Yap-Dejeto, L.G. Understanding blue carbon management strategies: quantitative assessment of blue carbon stock among three mangrove stands in Eastern Visayas, Philippines, W. Pacific Border. Carbon Res. 4, 63 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44246-025-00216-6

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About Carbon Research

The journal Carbon Research is an international multidisciplinary platform for communicating advances in fundamental and applied research on natural and engineered carbonaceous materials that are associated with ecological and environmental functions, energy generation, and global change. It is a fully Open Access (OA) journal and the Article Publishing Charges (APC) are waived until Dec 31, 2025. It is dedicated to serving as an innovative, efficient and professional platform for researchers in the field of carbon functions around the world to deliver findings from this rapidly expanding field of science. The journal is currently indexed by Scopus and Ei Compendex, and as of June 2025, the dynamic CiteScore value is 15.4.

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