Published on: March 05, 2023
By Samuel Candido
BORONGAN CITY (PIA) -- The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Arteche in Eastern Samar, through the leadership of Mayor Roland "Boie" Evardone, has mappled out plans to strengthen the protection of Beri Mangrove Forest through Beri Eco-Tourism Development.
According to Mayor Evardone, Brgy. Beri is home to the largest mangrove forest in Eastern Samar.
Evardone disclosed that the said mangrove forest, which has a 169-hectare stretch of mangrove surrounding the island, is facing threat of deforestation.
He added that site inspection and evaluation was done and developmental plans are being discussed.
Recently, Beri-anons reported illegal loggers chopping down mangroves for charcoal and timber. Mayor Evardone then immediately addressed the issue and talked to the violators and instead offered them a job to be the Beri Mangrove Eco-Warriors.
Mangrove forests are productive wetlands that occur in coastal intertidal zones. These forests grow mainly at tropical and sub-tropical latitudes because mangroves cannot withstand freezing temperature.
Also, mangroves provide natural infrastructure and protection to nearby populated areas by preventing erosion and absorbing storm surge impacts during extreme weather condition such as hurricane or typhoon.
Mangroves provide essential habitat for thousands of species, stabilize shorelines by preventing erosion, and protect the land and the people who live there from waves and storms.
By protecting Beri Mangrove forests, LGU Arteche is set to develop the area to be one of the tourist destinations of the Arteche Island Tour Package on April 2023. (MMP/SDC/PIA Eastern Samar)
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