Sinandigan Mangrove Reforestation

Overview

Sinandigan Mangrove Reforestation is a community-based coastal rehabilitation project in Barangay Sinandigan, Ubay, on Bohol’s eastern coast. The initiative involves replanting and restoring mangrove forest, led by multiple organizations including the Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation (CCEF) and the Ubay local government. Sinandigan was one of the first sites in Bohol where mangrove planting was undertaken — the program started in the late 2000s.

The restored mangrove belt does three jobs at once: it buffers coastal communities against storm surge, supports marine biodiversity as nursery habitat for fish and invertebrates, and generates livelihood income through ecotourism. Community-based mangrove rehabilitation has been a fixture of Philippine coastal conservation policy since the 1980s; Sinandigan is a provincial example of that national approach put into local practice.

Visitors arrive by boat and are guided through the mangrove channels, spotting different mangrove species along the way and the coastal scenery beyond them.

Location

Barangay Sinandigan, Ubay municipality, eastern Bohol. The reforestation area is on the coast, close to the BFAR Multispecies Hatchery and the Sinandigan Giant Clams sanctuary — all three can be visited in a single half-day stop.

Getting There

Ubay is approximately 90 km from Tagbilaran City via the trans-island highway. From Ubay town, proceed to Barangay Sinandigan by tricycle or private vehicle. Boat tours of the mangroves depart from the barangay shoreline. [TO ENRICH: boat hire rates, tour duration, contact for coordination]

Practical Info

• Barangay: Sinandigan, Ubay
• Program start: late 2000s
• Key organizations: CCEF, Ubay LGU
• Access: boat tour (guided)
• Boat hire fee: [TO ENRICH — confirm current rates directly with local operators]

What to Expect

A boat ride through restored mangrove channels. The guide can identify mangrove species and explain the forest’s ecological role. The bay is visible between the mangrove stands, and marine life — fish, crabs, shellfish — turns up in the root systems. The experience is low-key and educational rather than a packaged tourist attraction.

Pairing with the nearby Giant Clams sanctuary and BFAR Hatchery makes sense logistically; both are within Barangay Sinandigan.

Notes

• Mangroves are critical to Bohol’s coastal resilience — Typhoon Pablo (2012) and Typhoon Odette (2021) both caused storm surge damage in eastern Bohol, underscoring the practical value of this buffer.
• Source: BPTO Table 11 — Inventory of Tourist Attractions (2025 Bohol Tourism Profile)