The status of mollusk diversity and physical setting of mangrove areas in Catanduanes island, Luzon (Philippines) are described. A total of 57 species of molluscs, consisting of 27 gastropods and 30 bivalves were recorded in the island. The most abundant of these molluscs are the prosobranch, Terebralia sulcata; corbiculid bivalve, Geloina coaxans; potamidiids, Cerithidea cingulata and Cerithidea rhizophorarum; and two other species of the genus Littorina (Littorinopsis). Using the physiographic model, majority of the mangrove areas under study follow the composite river and wave-dominated setting with some few areas having the wave-dominated, tide-dominated allochthonous setting following the physiognomic model. Keywords: Mollusk diversity, mangrove areas, Philippines

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Mangroves play very significant roles not only on the economic aspects but also on the ecological aspects as biobelting for tidal surges and tsunamis. The loss of human lives due to the deadly tsunamis in East Asia and the unabated destruction of coastal vegetation have resulted in a renewed focus on the mangrove resources. The purpose of this paper is to report the existing mangrove database of the typhoon-prone island province of Catanduanes in Luzon, Philippines which will be used as bases in determining the appropriate educational management initiatives of various sectors for mangrove rehabilitation and regeneration. A total of 37 species of mangrove vascular flora (13 species of major mangrove elements, 10 species of minor mangrove elements and 14 associated mangrove species) were identified in the island under study. Two species of the genus Avicennia (A. marina and A. officinalis) were noted in the island. The other genera (Bruguiera, Ceriops, Sonneratia and Rhizophora) are well distributed in the designated eco-zones. Nypa fruticans is the most important mangrove plant species and a member of the screwpine family (Pandanaceae), Pandanus tectorius which is an associated mangrove species is well-distributed all throughout the island.

This paper presents an early stakeholder involvement plan using SID-SIN-SEN scheme [Stakeholder Identification (SID) -Stakeholder Inputs (SIN)-Stakeholder Engagement (SEN)-]for planning and implementation of marine protected areas (MPA) in the typhoon-prone island province of Catanduanes Island, Bicol Region (Luzon) in the Philippines. An early engagement plan is presented for (1) Agojo Point Fish Sanctuary and Marine Reserve in San Andres as to stakeholder"s involvement and management; and (2) for preparing an enforcement plan of the MPA in Kalapadan Bay Area (KBA) of Baras town. This stakeholder involvement plan explored the importance of identifying the stakeholders, linking their inputs and engaging all major and minor stakeholders in the co-management process. The involvement plan developed from the devised scheme can help MPA managers and academic institutions in developing MPA management plans and monitoring stakeholder interactions in marine space protection of the island province and possibly other locations by using stakeholder theory and stakeholder analysis.

Despite the large ecological study of tree-climbing mangrove sesarmid crabs in other countries, the Philippine representatives appear to have not been investigated extensively. This paper presents the feeding ecology as to dependence on mangrove trees of sesarmids in different mangrove areas of southern Luzon. This is biased on the nature of the crab habitats, arboreal climbing skills and burrowing behavior of the sesarmids: Selatium elongatum and Episesarma versicolor − exclusive mangrove tree climbers (EMTC); Sarmatium germaini − occasional mangrove tree climber (OMTC); and the non-mangrove tree-climbing (NMTC) sesarmids-Neosarmatium smithii, Perisesarma bidens and Perisesarma eumolpe.