Regeneration of Mangrove Forest Devastated by Typhoon Haiyan in Eastern Samar, Philippines

The mangrove forest devastated by typhoon Haiyan in November 2013 was assessed to determine the rate of regeneration of trees and natural regeneration of seedlings in four sites in Eastern Samar. Two sites in the Pacific coast and two sites in the Leyte Gulf coast of Eastern Samar were studied. A 10 X 10 meter plot at 100 meters interval was laid parallel to the coast line at the center of damaged mangrove forest. The dead trees, length and number of regenerated shoots, number and height of seedling were counted and measured inside the plot. The dead trees were identified by formation the basal roots. Result showed that the highest rate of regeneration of mangrove trees differ from the Pacific and Leyte Gulf Coast; Sonneratia (40%) and Avicennia (25%) in Balangkayan, Avicennia (19 %) and Sonneratia (18%) in Hernani, Xylocarpus (88%) and Bruguiera (86%) in Giporlos and Xylocarpus (50%) and Ceriops (33%) in Lawaan. The natural regeneration of seedlings was highest in Giporlos (875/ha) with Bruguiera as highest percentage (71%), followed by Hernani (375/ha) with Avicennia as highest percentage (73%), and Balangkayan and Lawaan (100/ha) with Rhizophora and Ceriops with highest percentage (42%) respectively. It is recommended that the mangrove species with highest percentage of regeneration in a specific area will be prioritized in planting in mangrove rehabilitation projects.