Awareness of mangrove importance, particularly for coastal protection, has grown among the general public over the past several years. In turn, this has led to numerous planting initiatives by various groups. However, most of these programs did not yield positive results mainly due to lack of science-guided protocols, particularly on what species to grow under certain conditions.

This field guide is an attempt towards broader awareness and appreciation of the common mangroves found in the Philippines. It is based on the original material, “Field Guide to Philippine Mangroves,” developed with support from the Pew Fellows Program in Marine Conservation and SEAFDEC PREFACE Aquaculture Department, and published by the Zoological Society of London-Philippines.

Seeing the vitality of this field guide, Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PTFCF) partnered with ZSL-Philippines and Foundation for Communication Initiatives (FOCI) in repackaging this field guide for distribution to groups and individuals keen on mangrove rehabilitation. Together with the “Community-based Mangrove Rehabilitation Training Manual” and posters, this hopes to increase prospects of success for mangrove rehabilitation efforts, particularly in areas hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda, the most destructive typhoon ever recorded in modern history