PROTECT. CONSERVE. REHAB (PCR)
a volunteer initiative of Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology
Written by Gualberto Lantaya
A total of 30 student volunteers and 30 student participants took part in the Human, Groove: A Mangrove Protection, Conservation, and Rehabilitation Program last December 15, 2023, at the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST) Campus C, Barangay Victoria.
One of the highlights of the activity was the information drive on the role of mangroves and conservation initiatives. Select student volunteers served as lecturers and facilitators during the activity. Simultaneously, students actively participated during the mangrove planting activity which was recorded to have 150 saplings planted in the strategic areas with the aim to contribute to the reforestation efforts of ZSCMST. Lastly, the participants joined in the photography and essay writing contests about the activity and the role of the youth in the conservation efforts of the mangrove ecosystems.
Human, Groove Project recognizes the crucial role of human actions in sustainable mangrove conservation and management. This project was initiated by the Office of the Student Affairs and Supreme Student Council with the support of Learning to Earning Pathways, of the SUGPAT Program of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University’s Learning & Teaching Excellence Center (ALTEC), in partnership with SAP, UNICEF Philippines, Generation Unlimited, and YOMA.
The program envisions a future where communities actively contribute to the health and resilience of mangrove ecosystems, recognizing the symbiotic relationship between human actions and the well-being of these critical coastal environments. Through collective effort, this program aims to create lasting positive impacts on both mangroves and the communities that depend on them.
