PAGASA Island’s beach forest plays a vital role in capturing and storing carbon while sustaining coastal biodiversity, a new study revealed.
The study by researchers of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) was published in the Philippine Journal of Science, and presents the first scientific account of Pagasa Island’s beach forest ecosystem.
It says that the 32-hectare island stores nearly 10,000 tons of carbon dioxide or equivalent to the annual emission of about 2,000 cars, while supporting native coastal vegetation that plays a vital role in shoreline stability and island resilience.
The study, an ERDB contribution to the country’s beach forest research, underscores the ecological and climate importance of coastal forests in remote Philippine territories, highlighting their role in carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and natural coastal defense amid growing environmental pressures in the West Philippine Sea.
The DENR-ERDB research team recorded 20 plant species from 19 families, including resilient coastal trees such as Barringtonia asiatica (botong), Calophyllum inophyllum (bitaog), and Terminalia catappa (talisai). Despite limited species diversity, the forest stood out for its exceptional carbon storage capacity, thanks to its tall, large-diameter trees.
‘Pag-asa’s beach forest may be small, but its ecological value is immense,’ said Jose Alan Castillo, co-author and head of the Mangrove and Beach Forest Research team of ERDB said in a statement.
‘These large coastal trees are nature’s living carbon vaults and serve as the first line of defense against storms and rising seas.’
Further, the study found that B. asiatica alone accounts for 85 percent of the island’s carbon stock, while C. inophyllum contributes 9 percent. These two native species, known for their resilience to coastal conditions, can serve as key anchors for future reforestation programs. Lead author Alvin Gestiada added, ‘Each tree lost is not only a loss of carbon storage but also a loss of coastal protection and biodiversity.’
With Pag-Asa Island’s beach forest vegetation cover declining from 11 hectares in 2017 to less than seven hectares in 2023, the researchers stress the need to prioritize beach forest ecosystems in climate change mitigation and coastal management efforts.
‘Beach forests, though often overlooked compared to mangroves and coral reefs, play an equally crucial role in stabilizing shorelines and regulating the climate,’ Castillo emphasized.
The researchers recommend integrating beach forest protection into the National Greening Program and other climate adaptation strategies.