Mangrove Biophysical Condition and Community’s Socio-economic Profile as Managers of Mangrove Forest in Tagpait, Aborlan and Bacungan Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines
The mangrove forest in Tagpait, Aborlan, is being managed by the Indigenous Cultural Community (Tagbanua Tribe) through their organization, the Tagpait Coastal Development Association (TACDA). Bacungan Mangrove Eco-tourism Service Cooperative is managing the Bacungan mangrove forest. The area was engaged in tourism activity until now through paddle boating, floating restaurant, mangrove adventure. This study used the household interview to determine the socio-economic profile and quadrat to assess mangrove biophysical condition. Results show that Bacungan is more diverse, with a higher number of species present in the area with 13 mangrove species while eight in Tagpait. The most dominant mangrove species in Tagpait is Rhizophora apiculata (39%), while Rhizophora mucronata in Bacungan (22%). Most of the respondents in Tagpait are fishers, which about 20%, then 14% are involved in buy and sell of marine products, and 5% are engaged in the processing of marine products. In Bacungan, the majority are engaged in fishing livelihood (37%), 13% are involved in buy and sell of marine products, and 4% are engaged in the processing of marine products.