Greetings Steemians!

The participants listening to the closing message of Mr. Lumaan, the Head of Department of Environment and Natural Resources of the City of Mati (DENR). He emphasized the impact of the youth's participation in environmental awareness and tree planting, that youth should be the front lines of protecting our planet for the next generations.

Tree planting activity is important to give awareness to individuals about the importance of trees to the environment, to humans and animals and to our planet to lessen the effects of climate change.

Every year, the youth organization here in my province is conducting a tree planting. As a member of the youth organization and as a striving responsible youth, it is our obligation to support this program. A support in which we should not just share the knowledge but we should act too.
This is our turn to help back our planet as it gave life to many of us, the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink, we should take responsibility of all the things we are taking right now.

So I joined our recent activity which is the mangrove planting . I participated tree planting before, planted mahogany, narra, and other seedling of big trees, so the recent activity was different because it was my first time planting a mangrove. The activity was held in Mangrove Park,Guang-guang, Brgy Dahican, City of Mati.

What is a Mangrove?

One of the species of mangrove tree, the "Bantigi"

This the Mangrove Park from above. I was standing in a 50-feet tower.

Mangrove tree is a small tree or shrub tree. Mangroves can be found in coastal saline and also have different types or species. Mangroves are important not just to the fishes but also in the coastal communities. It serves as first line of defense from storm surge, hurricane and flooding.

How is it Planted?

The lecturer demonstrated how to plant the propagule.

And now, it is our turn to plant...

This is me planting the propagules. Still wearing mask because we are gathered and to follow the safety health protocol.

First we considered was the materials. These are essential so that the propagule will be planted properly and will not be washed away when high tide comes. We don't want to put to waste our efforts and especially the propagules, who would want that?

Materials:

• Bamboo Stick, 2-3inches long, 0.25inches width
• Tie box rope, cut into 3 inches (as many as propagules to be planted)

How we planted the mangrove propagules? Here are the Instructions:

1. Check the propagule (mangrove seedling) if which part should be put in the sand, the pointed part should be the part that can be seen in the surface after planted.

2. Put a hole on the sand (about 2inches deep) using the bamboo stick.

3. Leave the bamboo stick on the hole, and plant the propagule with the stick (you can put 1or 2 propagule)

4. Tie them carefully with tie box rope

That's me on the right, wearing a gray printed veil. This was a group activity, I only had one individual picture while planting.

My co-members of the youth organization

We planted 200 propagules

Group Picture after planting mangrove propagules.

My co-members of the youth organization. Another group picture with them after planting.

After Planting, There's More...

Our set up for the lecture

Before heading home, we had more lectures coming from the staffs of Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Miss Amnelyn's lecture is about the protected areas of Region 11 which is our region, Davao

Sir Wilson's lecture is about P. D. 705 or Revised Forestry Code, Wildlife Act R.A. 9147 and Native Trees of the Philippines

Miss Angelica's lecture is about R.A. 9003- Solid Waste Management.

Miss Applelyn's lecture is about Biodiversity

IEC materials given by lecturers.

Planting a mangrove was beyond my expectations, because I thought it is just like planting like normal tree that after you're done that's it and you leave the area. But the mangrove is different. In my experience, I was hesitant, I was afraid it would not live and grow. But, at the end, I still did it, and just followed the instructions of the lecturer and just planted it carefully and enjoyed seeing the plant babies and imagined they will grow and help the community in case there is a disaster.

I learned a lot more in this activity. We are still doing this every year to gather another batch of youths to give awareness and hopefully educate their family members, friends and classmates or their neighbors. ☺️ And hopefully this blog helps to readers too.

Thank You @belenguerra for making this contest possible.

All photos are mine and taken through my Huawei Y9 2019 mobile phone