Journals Information
Environment and Ecology Research Vol. 13(4), pp. 521 - 534
DOI: 10.13189/eer.2025.130406
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The Coastal Greenbelt of Basilan, Philippines: An Initial Record of the Floristic Diversity and Conservation Status of the Beach Forests in Malamawi Island
Ashikeen S. Tampipi 1,*, Frandel Louis S. Dagoc 1, Ivane R. Pedrosa-Gerasmio 2, Chris Rey Lituanas 3, Wella A. Tiu-Tatil 1
1 Department of Environmental Science, School of Interdisciplinary Studies, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, Philippines
2 Department of Marine Science, College of Science and Mathematics, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, Philippines
3 Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Central Mindanao University, Philippines
ABSTRACT
Beach forests, along with mangroves, serve as a buffer against natural calamities and provide other relevant ecosystem services. In an island ecosystem, this type of forest plays a significant role, especially in the absence of mangroves as frontlines. However, information regarding species composition and management strategies for this ecosystem is lacking in the island province of Basilan, Philippines. This study therefore assessed the species composition, diversity, and management of the beach forests in Malamawi Island, Basilan. Field sampling was conducted in July-August 2024, using the standard methods for beach forest assessment but with modifications. Three 100-meter transect lines were established along the beach forest areas. The transect lines were laid five meters above the highest tide mark with five 10x10m quadrats. Twenty-three species belonging to 18 families were recorded. Species diversity in Panigayan is low (H' = 2.23), while Marang-Marang and Lukbuton displayed very low diversity (H' values of 1.65 and 1.56, respectively). The evenness value across three sites ranges from 0.51-0.75, showing a semi-balanced species distribution. Among the species present, Cocos nucifera had the highest relative abundance value (30.303), indicating its dominance in the ecosystem and its significant ecological role in the area. Additionally, the management status of the ecosystem revealed that the beach forest is given the least attention compared to the other ecosystems, underscoring the lesser familiarity of this ecosystem. Hence, this study serves as a baseline in developing appropriate resource management strategies to conserve the integrity of the beach forest ecosystem of the island.
KEYWORDS
Cocos nucifera, Coastal Forest, Terminalia catappa, Coastal Barrier
Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Ashikeen S. Tampipi , Frandel Louis S. Dagoc , Ivane R. Pedrosa-Gerasmio , Chris Rey Lituanas , Wella A. Tiu-Tatil , "The Coastal Greenbelt of Basilan, Philippines: An Initial Record of the Floristic Diversity and Conservation Status of the Beach Forests in Malamawi Island," Environment and Ecology Research, Vol. 13, No. 4, pp. 521 - 534, 2025. DOI: 10.13189/eer.2025.130406.
(b). APA Format:
Ashikeen S. Tampipi , Frandel Louis S. Dagoc , Ivane R. Pedrosa-Gerasmio , Chris Rey Lituanas , Wella A. Tiu-Tatil (2025). The Coastal Greenbelt of Basilan, Philippines: An Initial Record of the Floristic Diversity and Conservation Status of the Beach Forests in Malamawi Island. Environment and Ecology Research, 13(4), 521 - 534. DOI: 10.13189/eer.2025.130406.