Mangroves occur on tidal flats bordering coastal areas and along the mouths of rivers where water is brackish. These forests used to be the source of tan bark for the tannin extract industry, but now the wood is more commonly used for fuel and charcoal-making. The main tree species are Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora mucronata, Ceriops tagal, Ceriops roxburghiana, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Bruguiera parviflora, Bruguiera cylindrica and Bruguiera sexangula. Further upstream, where the water is not so brackish, nipa palm (Nypa fruticans) may form extensive and dense stands that are major sources of roofing materials in coastal areas.
FAO, UNEP. 1981. Tropical Forest Resourcess Assesment Project, Forest Resources of Tropical Asia. FAO, UNEP, 475 pp.
Year |
Area |
Source |
Trend |
Methodology/Comments |
1918 |
500 000 |
Brown and Fisher. 1920. Philippine Mangrove Swamps. Minor Forest Products of the Philippines Vol. I, 22, DANR, Bureau of Forestry Bul. No. 17 |
Cited in: Melana, E.E. 1994. Mangrove ecosystem: concept and some implications to rehabilitation and management. In: proceedings of the Conference: FSP-DENR Component Trainor's Training for CBMFM Nov.21-Dec 2. Owen's Hotel, Lucena City. | |
1918 |
450 000 |
Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development. 1991. The Philippines recommends for mangrove production and harvesting. Philippines Recommends series No.74. PCARRD / DENR. 96pp. |
Secondary reference, no primary source provided. This figure has been cited also by other authors and it is the real figure provided by Brown and Fisher, 1920. | |
1951 |
428 382 |
Primavera, J.H. 1995. Mangroves and Brackishwater pond culture in the Philippines Hydrobiologia 295: 303-309 |
Figure based on the information provided by: Fisheries Gazette of the Philippines. (data from the Bureau of Fisheries and Bureau of Forestry) 1952. | |
1960 |
365 324 |
Primavera, J.H. 1995. Mangroves and Brackishwater pond culture in the Philippines Hydrobiologia 295: 303-309 |
Figure based on the information provided in: BFAR. 1970. Fisheries Statistics of the Philippines. Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic resources, Department of Agriculture, Quezon City, Philippines. | |
1967 |
418 990 |
BFD statistics, 1967 |
Cited in: Melana, E.E. 1994. Mangrove ecosystem: concept and some implications to rehabilitation and management. In: proceedings of the Conference: FSP-DENR Component Trainor's Training for CBMFM Nov.21-Dec 2. Owen's Hotel, Lucena City. | |
1968 |
448 310 |
Lawas, L.M. 1974. Economic study on alternative uses of mangrove swamps: bakawan production or fish ponds. In: Proceedings of Indo-Pacific Fishery Council, p.65-69. 15th Session., 18-27 October 1972, Wellington, New Zealand, Section 2 Bangkok, FAO, |
Cited in: FAO. 1982. Management and utilization of mangroves in Asia and the Pacific. FAO environment paper 3. 160 pp. | |
1969 |
295 190 |
Bureau of Forest Development. 1981. Philippines Forestry Statistics. Diliman, Quezon City. |
Cited in: Jara, R. S. 1984. Aquaculture and Mangroves in the Philippines. In: Ong Jin-Eong and Gong Wooi-Khoon, 1984. Productivity of the Mangrove Ecosystem: Management Implications. p. 97-107. This figure is calculated by applying a fixed annual deforestation rate to the results of a previous inventory. | |
1970 |
288 000 |
Primavera, J.H. 1995 Mangroves and Brackishwater pond culture in the Philippines. Hydrobiologia 295: 303-309 |
Figure based on the information provided in: BFAR. 1970. Fisheries Statistics of the Philippines. Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic resources, Department of Agriculture, Quezon City, Philippines. BFD 1970 Forestry statistics of the Philippines. Bureau of forest development. Department of environmental and natural resources, Quezon City, Philippines. | |
1970 |
288 035 |
Gilbert, A.J. and Janssen, R. 1997. The use of Environmental Functions to Evaluate Management Strategies for the Pagbilao Mangrove Forest. CREED Working Paper Series No. 15. |
X |
Secondary reference, no primary source provided. |
1971 |
286 640 |
Bureau of Forest Development. 1981. Philippines Forestry Statistics. Diliman, Quezon City. |
Cited in: Jara, R. S. 1984. Aquaculture and Mangroves in the Philippines. In: Ong Jin-Eong and Gong Wooi-Khoon, 1984. Productivity of the Mangrove Ecosystem: Management Implications. p. 97-107. This figure is calculated by applying a fixed annual deforestation rate to the results of a previous inventory. | |
1972 |
284 211 |
Bureau of Forest Development. 1981. Philippines Forestry Statistics. Diliman, Quezon City |
Cited in: Jara, R. S. 1984. Aquaculture and Mangroves in the Philippines. In: Ong Jin-Eong and Gong Wooi-Khoon, 1984. Productivity of the Mangrove Ecosystem: Management Implications. p. 97-107. This figure is calculated by applying a fixed annual deforestation rate to the results of a previous inventory. | |
1974 |
256 456 |
Bureau of Forest Development. 1981. Philippines Forestry Statistics. Diliman, Quezon City. |
Cited in: Jara, R. S. 1984. Aquaculture and Mangroves in the Philippines. In: Ong Jin-Eong and Gong Wooi-Khoon, 1984. Productivity of the Mangrove Ecosystem: Management Implications. p. 97-107. 4-6 October 1983. Penang Malaysia. This figure is calculated by applying a fixed annual deforestation rate to the results of a previous inventory. | |
1975 |
254 016 |
Bureau of Forest Development. 1981. Philippines Forestry Statistics. Diliman, Quezon City. |
Cited in: Jara, R. S. 1984. Aquaculture and Mangroves in the Philippines. In: Ong Jin-Eong and Gong Wooi-Khoon, 1984. Productivity of the Mangrove Ecosystem: Management Implications. p. 97-107. 4-6 October 1983. Penang Malaysia. This figure is calculated by applying a fixed annual deforestation rate to the results of a previous inventory. | |
1975 |
400 890 |
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), 1976. Fisheries Statistics of The Philippines. Metro-Manila, Philippines |
Ground inventory and interpolation. Mangroves are defined as: 'all area reached by water during low and high tide. Area coverage based on the total mangrove ecosystem on the entire formation below the high tide mark'. Cited in: Prescillano M. Zamora. 1984. Philippine Mangrove: Assessment of Status, environmental problems, conservation and management strategies. In: proceedings of the Asian Symposium on Mangrove Environment Research and Management, p. 696-707. Kuala Lumpur, August 25-29, 1980. Edited by E. Soepadmo, A.N. Rao and D.J. MacIntosh. 1984. This figure is calculated by applying a fixed annual deforestation rate to the results of a previous inventory. | |
1975 |
253 782 |
Umal, R. M. 1977. Present status and distribution on mangrove areas in the Philippines. In Proceedings of the National symposium/workshop on mangrove research and development. Part III, p 1-5. 28-30 July 1977 Parañaque, Rizal, Philippines. |
Source of data: Timber Inventory Section, Timber Management Division, BFD. | |
1976 |
251 577 |
The Bureau of Forest Development. Statistics. 1976. |
Cited in: Arroyo, C.A. 1979. Flora of the Philippines Mangrove. In Proceedings of the Symposium on Mangrove & Estuarine Vegetation in Southeast Asia, April 25th-28th, 1978. Biotrop Spec. Publ. No. 10. This figure is calculated by applying a fixed annual deforestation rate to the results of a previous inventory. | |
1977 |
249 138 |
Bureau of Forest Development. 1977. Philippines Forestry Statistics. Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines. |
Regional ground survey, aerial photographs analysis and statistical projections. Mangroves are defined as: Forest stands in swampy tidal areas primarily of Rhizophora sp. and associated species. Cited in: Prescillano M. Zamora. 1984. Philippine Mangrove: Assessment of Status, environmental problems, conservation and management strategies. In: proceedings of the Asian Symposium on Mangrove Environment Research and Management, p. 696-707. Kuala Lumpur, August 25-29, 1980. Edited by E. Soepadmo, A.N. Rao and D.J. MacIntosh. 1984. This figure is estimated by applying a fixed annual deforestation rate to the results of a previous inventory. | |
1978 |
223 771 |
Bureau of Forest Development. 1981. Philippines Forestry Statistics. Diliman, Quezon City. |
Cited in: Jara, R. S. 1984. Aquaculture and Mangroves in the Philippines. In: Ong Jin-Eong and Gong Wooi-Khoon, 1984. Productivity of the Mangrove Ecosystem: Management Implications. p. 97-107. 4-6 October 1983. Penang Malaysia. This figure is calculated by applying a fixed annual deforestation rate to the results of a previous inventory. | |
1978 |
245 000 |
Bureau of Forest Development. 1979. 1978 Philippines Forestry Statistics – Manila. |
Cited in: FAO, UNEP. 1981. Tropical Forest Resourcess Assesment Project, Forest Resources of Tropical Asia FAO, UNEP, 475 pp. This figure is calculated by applying a fixed annual deforestation rate to the results of a previous inventory. | |
1978 |
146 139 |
Natural Resources Management Center. 1978. Mangrove inventory of the Philippines using LANDSAT data. Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines. |
Digital analysis of LANDSAT imageries with the Image 100 System, ground survey and analysis of topographic maps at 1:50 000 scale. The figure should be considered as on the lower side, since it represents only the "pure mangroves", characterized by Rhizophora sp. and associated species, based on wavelenght emissions. Cited in: Prescillano M. Zamora. 1984. Philippine Mangrove: Assessment of Status, environmental problems, conservation and management strategies. In: proceedings of the Asian Symposium on Mangrove Environment Research and Management, p. 696-707. Kuala Lumpur, August 25-29, 1980. Edited by E. Soepadmo, A.N. Rao and D.J. MacIntosh. 1984. | |
1979 |
218 000 |
Bureau of Forest Development. 1981. Philippines Forestry Statistics. Diliman, Quezon City. |
Cited in: Jara, R. S. 1984. Aquaculture and Mangroves in the Philippines. In: Ong Jin-Eong and Gong Wooi-Khoon, 1984. Productivity of the Mangrove Ecosystem: Management Implications. p. 97-107. 4-6 October 1983. Penang Malaysia. This figure is calculated by applying a fixed annual deforestation rate to the results of a previous inventory. | |
1979 |
220 241 |
Gomez, E.D. 1980. The present state of Mangrove ecosystems in Southeast Asia and the Impact of Pollution: Regional. Philippines. South China Seas Fisheries Development and Coordinating Programme, FAO, UNEP, Manila. 128 pp. |
X |
Remote sensing |
1979 |
200 000 |
Fortes, M.D. 1979. Studies on farming the seaweed Caulerpa [Clopohita, siphonales] in two mangrove areas in The Philippines. Biotrop Spec. Publ. No. 10. |
Secondary reference, no primary source provided. The "Year" is the publication year. | |
1980 |
215 793 |
Bureau of Forest Development. 1981. Philippines Forestry Statistics. Diliman, Quezon City. |
Cited in: Jara, R. S. 1984. Aquaculture and Mangroves in the Philippines. In: Ong Jin-Eong and Gong Wooi-Khoon, 1984. Productivity of the Mangrove Ecosystem: Management Implications. p. 97-107. 4-6 October 1983. Penang Malaysia. This figure is calculated by applying a fixed annual deforestation rate to the results of a previous inventory. | |
1980 |
242 000 |
Primavera, J.H. 1995. Mangroves and Brackishwater pond culture in the Philippines. Hydrobiologia 295: 303-309. |
Figure based on the information contained in: BFAR. 1980. Fisheries Statistics of the Philippines. Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic resources, Department of Agriculture, Quezon City, Philippines. BFD. 1980. Forestry statistics of the Philippines. Bureau of forest development. Deparment of environmental and natural resources, Quezon City, Philippines. This figure is calculated by applying a fixed deforestation rate to the results of a previous inventory. | |
1980 |
146 140 |
Tesoro, F. O. 1984. Traditional utilization of mangrove forests and management implications in the Philippines. Bakawan 3 (4) p: 6-8 |
The author reports an unofficial estimate done in 1980. | |
1981 |
213 350 |
Bureau of Forest Development. 1981. Philippines Forestry Statistics. Diliman, Quezon City. |
Cited in: Jara, R. S. 1984. Aquaculture and Mangroves in the Philippines. In: Ong Jin-Eong and Gong Wooi-Khoon, 1984. Productivity of the Mangrove Ecosystem: Management Implications. p. 97-107. 4-6 October 1983. Penang Malaysia. This figure is calculated by applying a fixed annual deforestation rate to the results of a previous inventory. | |
1981 |
239 382 |
The Bureau of Forest Development. 1981. |
Cited in: Melana, E.E. 1994. Mangrove ecosystem: concept and some implications to rehabilitation and management. In: proceedings of the Conference: FSP-DENR Component Trainor's Training for CBMFM Nov.21-Dec 2. Owen's Hotel, Lucena City. This figure is calculated by applying a fixed annual deforestation rate to the results of a previous inventory. | |
1983 |
240 000 |
Wacharakitty, S. 1983. Mangrove Ecosystem in General. In: ESCAP/UNESCO/NRCT Regional Remote Sensing Training Course of Mangrove Ecosystem. p. 22-33. Bangkok, Nov. 28-Dec. 16 1983 |
Cited in: FAO. 1994. Mangrove forest management guidelines. FAO Forestry Paper 117. Rome, 319 pp. Probably based on BFD, 1981 (see above) | |
1983 |
246 700 |
Saenger, P., Hegerl E.J. and J.D.S., Davie. 1983. Global status of mangrove ecosystems. Commission on Ecology Papers No.3. IUCN. Gland, Switzerland. 88 pp. |
Secondary reference, no primary source provided. The "Year" is the publication year. | |
1984 |
233 514 |
The Bureau of Forest Development. 1984. |
Cited in: Rogello C. Serrano and Miguel Fortes. 1987. Perspective on World and Philippine Mangrove Resources. Forestry Research Series No 4/1987 - State of the Art. Mangrove Research. This figure is calculated by applying a fixed annual deforestation rate to the results of a previous inventory. | |
1986 |
232 100 |
Tech. Staff, Philippine National Mangrove Committee. 1986. Country report: Philippines. In: R.M. Umali et al. Mangrove of Asia and the Pacific: Status and Management. Technical Reports UNDP/UNESCO Regional Mangrove Progject RAS/79002, Quezar City Philippines. |
Cited in: WCMC. 2000. Coral reefs and mangroves of the world. | |
1986 |
149 400 |
Sweden Satellite technology (SSC). 1988. |
X |
Cited in: Fisheries Sector Program. 1994. Mangrove Regeneration and Management. Ecosystem Research and Development Service DENR-Region IV A. |
1987 |
160 700 |
Spalding, M.D., Blasco, F. and Field, C.D., eds. 1997. World Mangrove Atlas. The International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems, Okinawa, Japan. 178 pp. |
Map analysis. Scale 1:250 000. Some of the smallest islands are not included. | |
1988 |
139 100 |
FMB. 1988. NFRI National Forest Resource Inventory |
X |
A combination of aerial photographs, satellite imageries and ground verification. Cited in: Fisheries Sector Program. 1994. Mangrove Regeneration and Management. Ecosystem Research and Development Service DENR-Region IV A. |
1988 |
139 725 |
Primavera, J.H. 1995. Mangroves and Brackishwater pond culture in the Philippines. Hydrobiologia 295: 303-309. |
Information based on: National Mapping and Resource Information Authority. 1988. The document provides the breakdown per province. | |
1989 |
150 000 |
Edwino, S., Fernando. 1990. The vegetation of the Philippines Islands and the Situation of the Flowering Plants. In proceedings of the IV International Congress of Systematic and Evolutionary Biology, 01-07 July 1990 |
Remote sensing. This figure includes the brackish-water forest. | |
1989 |
139 000 |
Edwino, S., Fernando. 1990. The vegetation of the Philippines Islands and the Situation of the Flowering Plants. In proceedings of the IV International Congress of Systematic and Evolutionary Biology, 01-07 July 1990 |
Aerial photographs and ground survey. This figure seems could be based on NFRI, FMB 1988 (see above). | |
1990 |
132 500 |
Auburn University. 1993. Philippines prawn industry policy study. Prepared for the Coordinating Council of the Philippines Assistance Program and U.S. Agency for international Development. International center for aquaculture and aquatic environments, Auburn |
Cited in: Primavera, J.H. 1995. Mangrove habitats as nurseries for juvenile shrimps (Penaeidae) in Guimaras, Philippines. College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon Ciy. | |
1990 |
127 610 |
Melana, E.E. 1994. Mangrove ecosystem: concept and some implications to rehabilitation and management. In proceedings of the Conference: FSP-DENR Component Trainor's Training for CBMFM on Nov.21-Dec 2. Held at Owen's Hotel, Lucena City |
X |
Data from: NAMRIA |
1993 |
123 400 |
Gilbert, A.J. and Janssen, R. 1997. The use of Environmental Functions to Evaluate Management Strategies for the Pagbilao Mangrove Forest. CREED Working Paper Series No. 15 |
Secondary reference, no primary source provided. | |
1993 |
170 400 |
Fortes, M.D. 1993. Sustainable use of mangroves in the Philippines: reality or an impossible dream? In Proceedings of the Asia-Pacific Symposium on Mangrove Ecosystem, Yuk-Shan Wong and Nora, F.Y. Tam, eds. The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, 1-3 September, 1993. 368 pp. |
Secondary reference, no primary source provided. The "Year" is the publication year. | |
1995 |
100 000 |
Kelleher, G., Bleakley, C. and Wells, S. 1995. A global representative system of marine protected areas. Vol.II-III-IV Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, IBRD, The World Bank, IUCN. IBRD |
Secondary reference, no primary source provided. The "Year" is the publication year. Rough estimate. | |
1996 |
140 000 |
WRI, UNEP, UNDP, The World Bank. 1996. World Resources 1996-1997. New York and Oxford University Press 365 pp. |
Secondary reference, no primary source provided. The "Year" is the publication year. | |
1997 |
112 400 |
Forest Management Bureau, Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources. 1998. 1997 Phillippine Forestry Statistics. |
This figure is calculated by applying a fixed annual deforestation rate to the results of a previous inventory. | |
2000 |
149 000 |
World Resources Institute. 2000. World resources 2000-2001: people and ecosystem—the fraying web of life. Washington, DC., UNDP. 400 pp. |
Secondary reference, no primary source provided. The "Year" is the publication year. Probably based onSweden Satellite technology, 1988 (see above) | |
2000 |
130 000 |
Aizpuru, M., Achard, F., and Blasco, F. 2000. Global Assessment of Cover Change of the Mangrove Forests using satellite imagery at medium to high resolution. In EEC Research project n 15017-1999-05 FIED ISP FR – Joint Research center, Ispra. |
Secondary reference, no primary source. |
The estimate for 2000 has been calculated applying FRA 2000 (FAO, 2001) annual forest cover change rate for 1990-2000 (-1.4 percent) to the most recent, reliable figure.
