The final round of monitoring for Project MARECON’s mangrove rehabilitation initiative was conducted on December 7, 2024, at the abandoned fishpond located between the areas of Nabago and Cabongbongan. Out of the 5,000 mangrove wildlings planted, an impressive survival rate of 90%—approximately 4,500 wildlings—was recorded.

This remarkable survival rate was attributed to the healthy wildlings that were used in the planting. Unlike nursery-raised seedlings, these wildlings were naturally grown mangrove seedlings collected from healthy parent trees. Their inherent resilience and genetic diversity made them well-suited to withstand the specific tidal ranges, soil types, and salinity levels of the local habitat, allowing them to thrive in challenging coastal ecosystems.

Despite these successes, the monitoring team identified a key challenge: maintaining the survival rate in an area prone to human disturbances such as prawn, clam, and crab harvesting by locals from the barangays of Nabago, Cabongbongan, and neighboring communities. To address this, the team requested the cooperation of BLGU Nabago and NACAMDA officials to help in monitoring the rehabilitated area. Their involvement is crucial in ensuring the continued success of the Mangrove Rehabilitation and Conservation (MARECON) project. The monitoring activity concluded with renewed efforts to strengthen community partnerships, highlighting the importance of safeguarding mangrove ecosystems to foster long-term environmental sustainability.