The Ibajay Mangrove Forest (Katunggan It Ibajay) is a park run by two local communities, the fishermen’s cooperatives of Bugtongbato and Naisud. The park straddles these two communities, which is why both communities are involved.
The park is home to 28 of the 35 species of mangroves found in the Philippines and is home to the largest specimen of Avecinnia rumphiana in Asia. The mission of the park is to maintain these incredible natural resources through sustainable ecotourism—and in recent years has received international support planting and maintaining the mangroves.
It’s one of the top social enterprises to visit in the Philippines, and also needs committed volunteers.
Why Volunteer at the Park?
Currently, the park has incredible infrastructure, including a visitor’s center with a conference hall, a kitchen, bathrooms, and 800 meters of elevated trail. However, the community has developed all of this infrastructure and has given no thought to investments in advertising.
In addition, the park is located roughly 45 minutes from Boracay Island, which is one of the most visited tourist sites in all of the Philippines.
This is where volunteers can help this conservation project. The park needs more visibility in almost all respects: locally, nationally, and internationally. The two groups managing the park also need a bit of restructuring.
Since the park didn’t immediately start to generate money for the community, some of the community members have disengaged.
Anyone wanting to volunteer that is well-versed in advertising, community development, and conflict resolution would be greatly appreciated.
If you want to volunteer, you’ll need to reach out via the contact details on the Facebook Page. Although the Facebook page is not active, the park is still open to visitors and those with a mind to help could get in touch.