Isramart : First Gas sees potential carbon credits from mangrove plantation

Isramart news:
Protection from climate change's wrath, a cleaner air, and an alternative livelihood source are among the greatest benefits that energy firm First Gas Power Corp. (FGPC) is seeing in its mangrove reforestation.

Since it started conceptualizing in 1996 a mangrove plantation in the bay area of its power plants in Sta. Rita, Batangas, FGPC is now reaping the reward of potential carbon credits, fresher air to breathe for its people, and a community much harmonious to live with.

Ramon J. Araneta, FGPC vice president for operations, said that the company had really envisioned to put environmental protection a priority in its power plant operations. Of course, natural gas which runs its 1,000 megawatt (MW) Sta. Rita and 500 MW San Lorenzo plants, is a clean fuel in itself.

But the company has been rewarded with so much natural resources in its site so as to just put them to waste. In 1996, FGPC carried out an environmental impact assessment in Sta. Rita as part of the requirement of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for its operations.

Also as part of this, it completed a baseline study after which it decided to invest in the development of a 9.9-hectare swampy perimeter area into a mangrove forest that is now home to many mangrove tree species, chirping birds, and occasional visitors- pawikan or the olive ridley sea turtles.

"The only way for us to become sustainable is for us to take care of our environment," Araneta said.

When the company started putting up the plantation in 2003, there were only 29 mangrove trees in the coastal area. By 2005, tree density increased to 29 trees per 100 square meters or 2,900 trees per hectare.

With thicker forest cover, carbon stock of the area increased substantially. This is assessed by biomass analysis method which determines carbon dioxide level absorbed by the mangrove forest both above ground and on the soil surface. To date, a total of 4,662 metric tons of carbon dioxide was sequestered by existing mangrove stands at the FGPC area in the Sta. Rita Bay, reported the Growth Revolution Magazine.

This is why FGPC is considering to file its application for a certificate of emission reduction (CER) with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change for its mangrove plantation.

"Mangroves act as carbon sink that sequester and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to their plant tissues, a cost-effective tool to fight the global warming phenomenon," said Araneta and FGPC General Manager Jori P. Liimatta.

However, since the plantation area in the Sta. Rita bay is still limited, the company may need to get this project bundled with other smaller projects to come up with a good carbon credit volume that can be collectively granted a CER.

Mangrove trees are generally defined as those that grow in saline (salty) coastal areas.

A monitoring of a third party consultant indicated that this coast showed stability and that it was transformed into an area conducive for marine organisms to flourish. A total of 37 sea turtle hatchlings were recorded here. The bay waters definitely has to remain to be prohibited as area for recreation or bathing, but the presence of the sea turtles clearly indicates ecological friendliness of the bay.

A rapid assessment on the avian (bird) community there conducted in November 2008 showed that a total of 46 species have been identified as resident, or endemic, or migratory in the area as the birds find the mangrove plantation a source of food and a nesting place.

FGPC considers its mangrove reforestation program as an important component of its operations with its benefits too as an important nursery for fishes and crustaceans of commercial value. It had put up a mudcrab farm that gives occasional employment to some people in the community.

Melchy Enriquez, FGPC environment and chemical service chief, said the company is also promoting aquasilviculture in the area which allows for the co-existence of the mangroves and of fish ponds as source of livelihood for people.