Science-based mangrove conservation and restoration in Catanduanes Island, Philippines: A SURMABIOCON framework for blue carbon, community engagement, and MANGROVIZATION

Abstract

Catanduanes Island harbors approximately 1,600 hectares of mangrove ecosystems across ten biodiversity zones. This paper synthesizes the coastal conservation initiatives implemented through SURMABIOCON and the MANGROVIZATION framework. It documents mangrove floristic composition, a first blue-carbon baseline for Catanduanes, six community-engagement modalities, and rehabilitation protocols aligned with international blue-carbon standards. The resulting model offers a transferable, university-anchored framework for typhoon-prone island provinces.