Finally, the concluding phase of the transplantation project took off and the massive operations started few days back. The stakeholders eagerly waited for the completion of the project, it has been delayed and long been overdue from its timelines. To finish it off, the one hectare nursery from the six hectares marine protected area will be transplanted with acropora corals, twenty five modules will be fully planted, approximately about 4000 pvc pipe molders will be in placed. It’s a formidable task, as of last week they planted about 1/10 of the total target area.
Despite a long week at work, I chose to spend my weekend in Linamon for the underground work. The desire was so great and the Lord again perfectly arranged things for the trip. The last time I went down the area was twenty months ago when few substrates were plant-tested with acropora corals taken from the nearby area of the sanctuary. There had been great changes after such period, I would say for the better. The plantlets have grown and branched out greatly – the tower substrates now looked like full-grown shrub or a small tree. The concrete substrates withstood two typhoons that hit the region during the period, which could only mean it could last long from water currents and fierce movements underwater.
On a larger scale, the socio-economic impact of this project has favorably affected the community, beginning to understand the obligation to protect the environment and the resources where they are dependent for their livelihood. The fisherfolk association of Samburon and Magoong have unite themselves to enforce and support the ordinance for the marine protected area.
The descents didn’t just freshen my gills but in more ways renewed my hope that we still can do something to protect and enhance our degrading underwater world. We just need to get our acts together.
Note:
Linamon is situated in Lanao del Norte, the first town after Iligan City. The famous Tinago Falls (western bank) is under the jurisdiction of this municipality. Another Natural Resource Management (NRM) project, the Preservation and Protection of Tinago Watershed under the MRDP is also in place.
Life in the Great Beyond 