The Katunggan Ecopark in Leganes, Iloilo is an excellent example on how communities, government agencies, and international organizations can come together and help each other in conserving and protecting our environment.
The Ecopark started as an area filled with abandoned, underutilized, and undeveloped (AUU) fishponds used for milkfish growing and production. After a strong typhoon destroyed the fishponds in 2008, the area was surrendered to the local government unit (LGU) of Leganes.
The Leganes LGU considered the prospect of reverting the AUU fishponds into a mangrove forest. They eventually partnered with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) Philippines, an international scientific, conservation, and educational charity, to restore the area to a mangrove forest through ZSL-Philippines’ Community-based Mangrove Rehabilitation Project.
A Memorandum of Agreement was signed between the Leganes LGU and ZSL Philippines in 2009. They started by reforesting 9.5 hectares of coastline. Assisted natural regeneration and active monitoring and maintenance were key meaures in reverting the area into a healthy mangrove forest.
Community participation and engagement of other sectors of society, including teachers, students, and other volunteer groups were essential in the success of the project.