In 2020, Frances Camille Rivera, a young marine science student from Mindanao, Philippines, founded the environmental nonprofit Oceanus Conservation. Using open-source mobile data collection tools and blockchain technology, the organization trains local residents to become citizen scientists, protecting and restoring blue carbon ecosystems. To date, the organization has trained over 200 local members, planted over 8,000 mangrove seedlings, and established five mangrove nursery banks.
The theme of this year's International Youth Day (2023) is "Green Skills for Youth," highlighting the crucial need for young people to acquire the knowledge, abilities, values, and attitudes necessary for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and navigating a changing environment. The Environmental Information Center interviewed Li Weilai, showcasing the application of technology, intergenerational collaboration, and the resilience of local wisdom in mangrove restoration.
Environmental Information Center Question (hereinafter referred to as Q): What drew you, growing up in the mountains, to the ocean?
Rivera Answer (hereinafter referred to as A): Growing up in the mountains, my father worked in agriculture, so we were constantly exposed to nature and the forest. For birthdays or other celebrations, we often went to the beach, but because commuting was inconvenient and time-consuming, going to the beach was a luxury for us. Curiosity drew me to the ocean. When I applied to university, all Filipino students were expected to become nurses or doctors, but I found that marine science truly captivated me, and so I dove right into marine research. It wasn't until university that I learned how to swim and gained a deeper understanding of the ocean.
Q: Why did you choose to study mangroves? A: Mangroves weren't my original area of interest. In 2018, while working for another nonprofit organization (NGO), I was on an island, on a small boat with Evelyn, a local leader. In the mangroves, you couldn't hear any human or traffic sounds; everything was so quiet, just the sound of birdsong. I remember looking around and suddenly thinking, "I really want to protect this and give this ecosystem a voice." Although mangroves aren't as vibrant as coral reefs, and you don't see turtles and other creatures among the seagrass, people's first impression of them is often that they're "a bit unsightly and full of mud."
Another reason I'm drawn to mangroves is the local community. The communities I've worked with benefit from this ecosystem because the nearshore mangroves mitigate the impact of waves and typhoons. Mangroves also provide a source of food for the people. Residents don't need to go out to sea to fish; they can simply catch fish from the mangroves to feed themselves. This is why I feel their value is severely undervalued. I'm drawn to this neglected ecosystem, and I hope to raise awareness of it and understand its value and importance.
Q: What threats do mangroves face in the Philippines? What is the status of mangrove restoration?
A: In the 1980s, the Philippine government encouraged residents to engage in aquaculture to increase fish catches. At the time, mangroves were not valued, leading to deforestation and clearing of land for aquaculture. It wasn't until 1989 that the government issued a ban on mangrove deforestation and the construction of fish ponds, halting the destruction.
At my previous NGO, we inspected nearly 200 hectares of mangroves. Although only 6 hectares were ultimately deemed suitable for restoration, at least we had found our first potential restoration site. Later, the NGO lost revenue due to the pandemic, and we had to lay off staff and terminate the project. I realized I wanted to continue the project, so I founded Oceanus Conservation to continue the effort.
The Philippines actually has many areas in need of restoration, but most people focus solely on the ocean. Due to rising sea levels, mangrove forests are gradually being lowered, pushed off-shore and submerged in the sea. Consequently, soil loss due to wave erosion is ongoing. As a result, there are few alternatives for restoration except abandoned fish ponds. Therefore, Oceanus primarily uses abandoned fish ponds to restore mangroves.
Regarding the restoration of mangroves, research by renowned Filipino mangrove scholar Jurgenne Primavera found that the survival rate of restored mangroves is only 2-10%. This low restoration rate is not unique to the Philippines but also occurs worldwide. This is because many organizations and individuals lack understanding of mangroves and tend to plant species that are easy to harvest, automatically produce leaves upon landing, and grow quickly. However, pioneer plants used in mangrove restoration should be selected from species whose seeds, like terrestrial plants, require time to shed their outer shells during germination, making growth more time-consuming.
Furthermore, most people plant seeds in low-lying mudflats, which means the young trees are constantly submerged in saltwater and salt. Remember, these seedlings are like babies; they need fresh water to excrete salts. Restoration is a process, yet many organizations view it as a one-time effort: plant the seedlings, take a photo, and leave.
When restoring mangroves, understanding what trees to plant and when to plant them is crucial. Simply look at the native species in the area, and they'll inform the right trees. When restoring mangroves in abandoned fish ponds, we first raise the soil level before planting trees and then monitor the progress. We've found that this approach can achieve a mangrove survival rate of 79-80%.
A case of restoration gone awry occurred at one of our sites. During a site survey by a government agency, the local community advised the agency to temporarily suspend the restoration plan due to the rainy season. However, the agency ignored the advice. As a result, the next day after planting the saplings, residents watched them wash away, wasting their investment. This is why we learn from local residents. I believe everyone needs to learn from and integrate community practices, their experiences, and their wisdom.
Q: As a marine scientist, how do you view traditional wisdom when you're in the field? What's the key to engaging with local communities?
A: When surveying mangroves, I note their characteristics and take photos to help me identify them. However, the locals can easily tell which species are similar and which are different. I always find myself skeptical and asking, "Are you sure?" But you have to trust them, as the locals have visited these areas many times.
Before the dawn of technology, ancient people derived their wisdom from their connection to nature, such as finding their way through stargazing. Today, the knowledge held by local residents is no longer valued. A community member once told me that the mangroves are her best friends because she grew up with them. That was the most beautiful statement I've ever heard, demonstrating the deep connection between locals and nature.
Locals call the viviparous seedlings of mangroves "Lapis-lapis" (lapis means pencil in Filipino). Not only do they resemble pencils, but they also use them as such. Locals translate their way of interacting with nature and the wisdom they've learned into their own language, and the language and translated words become the names of the trees.
During the pandemic, we've stayed in touch with community members we've worked with. They've said life is manageable. While the pandemic has imposed some restrictions and caused job losses, they've been able to return to the ocean to fish. I believe this kind of wisdom and skills are truly valuable and should be appreciated and incorporated into our projects. Local residents possess the power to protect the mangroves, moving through them and maintaining a close connection with nature.
Q: In your previous interview, you mentioned that Oceanus primarily combines three elements: technology, local communities, and coastal habitats. Why the emphasis on technology?
A: Because technology helps us scale, and if we want to protect the ecosystem, we also need the participation of local communities; both are essential. As technology continues to advance and become more ubiquitous, we need to adapt, such as incorporating smartphones, the cloud, or remote sensing. Our Measure-to-Earn Concept project trains communities on how to use smartphones to monitor mangroves and earn income through the Open Data Kit (ODK) app.
This is a project developed at MIT with support from GainForest, a decentralized environmental NGO based in Switzerland. We partnered with them because of their transparent platform, and the goal is to monitor 3,000 trees.
I would like to emphasize three key features of this project. First, we leverage community data collection. Traditionally, scientists collect data, but due to the pandemic and restrictions on movement, monitoring must be maintained by local communities. Second, we simplify data processing. Citizen scientists measure and input data, and upload it to the cloud with a single click. This eliminates manual data entry by staff and makes data organization much easier on the back end. Finally, NGOs play a role in motivating communities.
Some NGOs use citizen science as a form of volunteer work, but drawing on previous experience working with communities, they sacrifice their fishing time and income to monitor mangroves. Communities tend to have a short-term perspective, focusing on daily survival, so you need to motivate them through income.
Therefore, we partnered with GainForest, asking communities to download their digital wallets onto their phones. Once the community collected and uploaded data using the Open Data Kit, NGO staff reviewed the data, confirmed it was correct, and then passed it on to our partner, GainForest. GainForest, having previously provided residents with their wallet addresses, then distributed funds from their accounts to community residents with a single click via a connected cryptocurrency platform (originally using FedoraCoin, later switched to Decaf).
We initially used the FedoraCoin cryptocurrency platform, but because not everyone has a mobile phone or e-wallet, we later switched to Decaf. Decaf has partnered with the remittance company MoneyGram, which has a global presence. So even those without a mobile phone or e-wallet can go to a MoneyGram location near them and convert the cryptocurrency they earn into cash and withdraw it.
On GainForest, you can see our projects, the tags for each mangrove tree, and who is helping to collect the data. Through this transparent system, the public can see where funds are flowing, which not only attracts more global sponsors but also helps us expand the scale of our monitoring. This operating model can be applied not only to mangrove monitoring, but also to collecting seagrass data, monitoring tree felling, and more.
Leila, a community member, told us that they used to wait for government payments, sometimes never even receiving them. Now, they receive their payments promptly after collecting information. They are all very excited and keep asking me when I can go back for another survey.
Q: Could you please share some of the intergenerational collaboration you've seen in the citizen scientist project?
A: When we started the project, we never imagined we'd have young people joining. Approximately 45% of participants are between 40 and 50 years old, and some are high school graduates who are struggling to afford college. Although most participants are older, they grew up in mangroves and are familiar with them. During the two-day training workshop, they quickly learned about mangrove ecology on the first day, but struggled to learn how to use mobile phones. So, on the second day, they brought their sons and daughters with them, as they knew how to use mobile phones.
Q: When you first started Oceanus, how did you gather the necessary resources? Were local residents aware of the importance of mangrove restoration? A: When I founded Oceanus, it was just me. I handled everything, from administrative work, establishing standards and systems, operations, and applying for registration. The establishment of Oceanus was built on three foundations. The first was finding sites for mangrove restoration. I used Google Earth to search for suitable restoration sites and surveyed all of them.
The second foundation is to confirm whether there are active local organizations. Because sometimes when a project ends, the staff stationed in the area will leave the site. However, we hope that the project can be sustainable and will not be terminated due to staff departure or insufficient organizational revenue. Therefore, we will ensure that the local community is active.
The final foundation is to review local government land use planning. Local governments in the Philippines have their own land use plans, which prioritize development and ecological conservation. To ensure our efforts are not in vain, I will sign a memorandum of understanding or agreement with the local government to protect the organization's efforts.
To summarize, the three foundations are: scientific assessment, ensuring active local community organizations, and support from government agencies. If you examine these three elements, you'll find that two-thirds require extensive personal connections and community ties, which determine the project's progress and success. Without community and local government support, a restoration project is doomed to fail. Only after these three foundations are established can we incorporate technology.
Local residents don't need to have prior knowledge or understanding of mangrove restoration. Before we visit a site, we conduct a questionnaire survey. The most common question is, "Do you know what mangroves are?" Once we're on site, we conduct a needs survey, asking, "What do you need to restore the mangroves?" Local residents often answer truthfully. Most organizations often provide things that the local community doesn't need. Listening to the needs of local communities builds trust, as they know their opinions will be heard.
A community we previously worked with in Negros Province expressed a need for sustainable tourism (ecotourism), which is why we're promoting it. The locals already have healthy mangroves and don't need restoration; they simply need us to help them find funding for ecotourism. During the development process, I noticed that they suddenly became incredibly motivated to protect their mangroves. This was because their voices were heard from the very beginning, and healthy mangroves became their livelihood.
Q: What are the current achievements and impacts of the project? A: It's probably too early to say whether restoration has been successful. Restoring an ecosystem is a long process, and mangroves take 5-10 years to grow, so we're still in the initial stages of restoration. The project has had a significant impact on the community, as it has improved their livelihoods and raised awareness of mangroves. However, in terms of biodiversity, we need more time to see our impact. Before the restoration, we are also monitoring macroinvertebrates, investigating carbon sequestration, and establishing a baseline period to understand the differences before and after the restoration of the mangroves.
Source: Environmental Information Center (https://e-info.org.tw/node/237387)
