Environmental groups demand DENR halt mangrove relocation program

MANILA — Environmental organizations have launched a fresh appeal to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to immediately halt the earth-balling and relocation of mangrove trees, warning that the technique poses significant risks to forest ecosystems across the Philippines.

The groups contend that earth-balling—a process that involves excavating trees with a ball of soil around the root system for transplantation elsewhere—results in extremely high mortality rates. According to conservation experts cited in the appeal, up to 80 percent of mangroves removed through this method do not survive relocation, effectively negating any environmental benefit from the exercise.

Mangrove forests play a critical ecological role in Philippine coastal areas, serving as breeding grounds for fish and shellfish while providing protection against typhoons and storm surge. Environmentalists argue that relocating mature mangrove trees disrupts established ecosystems and may cause irreversible damage to biodiversity.

The push for regulatory intervention comes as lawmakers have also weighed in on the matter. A House resolution has been introduced calling for a comprehensive examination of the DENR's earth-balling policy and its effectiveness as an environmental management tool. The measure seeks to establish whether current practices align with conservation standards and international best practices for forest protection.

The DENR has not yet publicly responded to the latest calls for suspension of the mangrove relocation program.