Mangrove Reforestation Project Vol. 5 (Aired March 7, 2025)～ A Forest of 15 Million Trees and the Hopes of Its People, Connected by a Single Sapling

“Weekly Kurashiki Happy Radio” airs every Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

In the “Mangrove Planting Project” segment, the program’s MC, Charlie Otani, travels to the Philippines to report on the mangroves there and the planting efforts.

With the support of kanepackage Inc. and under the guidance of the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources, FM Kurashiki has launched an initiative to plant mangroves!

Here is a look at the fifth Mangrove Planting Project, broadcast on March 7, 2025.

This article was contributed by FM Kurashiki Co., Ltd. It was edited and published by the editorial team of Haretoco General Incorporated Association.

The information in this article was current when it was published in June 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.

Mangrove Planting Project

FM Kurashiki’s Mangrove Planting Project.

To prevent the decline of mangroves, which play an important role in protecting coastlines and maintaining ecosystems, the project works in partnership with kanepackage Inc..

Approximately 15 million mangroves have been planted on Olango Island in the Philippines (as of 2025).

We visited the first place on Olango Island where mangroves were planted. We’ll explore the island’s future as seen through the Mangrove Planting Project, while speaking with local people involved in the initiative.

From One Seedling to a Forest of 15 Million

We visited a lagoon surrounded by mangroves on all sides.
All the mangroves had grown impressively. “I think the first ones were planted around there…” Tessei said.

The first place on Olango Island where mangroves were planted

Mangrove planting apparently begins with planting a small seed.

Tessei

A single tiny seed grows to about 60 cm after one year and 1.2 m after two to three years, and now the mature trees are three or four meters tall. It’s amazing that the first tree has led to the 15 million we have today.

This lagoon is shallow, with just the right water level, making it a good place to plant mangroves. But we don’t plant them everywhere.

That’s because this is also a feeding ground for migratory birds. If we plant too many, their habitat will shrink, disrupting the local ecosystem and natural environment. I think planting mangroves while maintaining a balance is part of our responsibility to “improve the natural environment.”

As Tessei told us before, simply increasing the number of mangroves through the Mangrove Planting Project is not enough to protect the local environment. By planting while protecting the natural environment, the project also safeguards wildlife ecosystems.

Growing a Mangrove Forest Through Community Collaboration

The Mangrove Planting Project depends on the cooperation of local people. Among the many people involved, two who play particularly important roles came to speak with us.

Stella is the representative of the people’s organization that first offered its support when mangrove planting began. She has been involved in the project since 2009.

The organization Stella belongs to collects litter along the route to the planting site twice a week, and the project pays them for it. Indeed, there was little litter along the way to the site, and the surrounding environment was kept clean. We asked Stella what she thought when she first heard about the Mangrove Planting Project.

Stella (translated by Onodera)

I was very happy when I first heard about the project. In 2009, mangroves were declining and there was a lot of typhoon damage, so I was glad that planting mangroves meant “the trees would protect our lives again” and that “we could live in safety.”

Another person who spoke with us was Christopher. He is an environmental ranger dispatched by the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources. His main responsibility is environmental projects on Olango Island.

Christopher and Onodera during the interview

Christopher has been involved in local environmental conservation for more than five years. Remarkably, he also travels to various Philippine islands for work on his days off. We asked him what he thought of this project.

Christopher (translated by Onodera)

I think this Mangrove Planting Project is a very good initiative for protecting the local natural environment. As Stella mentioned earlier, typhoon damage has decreased somewhat, and the natural environment has improved. Perhaps it is also gradually helping to address climate change.

Mangrove planting on Olango Island has been so successful that there are already few places left to plant. I think collaboration and cooperation with local people who have been involved for many years are the keys to its success. We look forward to seeing what these two do in the future.

Hope for the Future, Connected by the Mangrove Planting Project

After the interview, we finally got to try planting mangroves.

The seedlings had sticky notes bearing the names of listeners who supported the project attached to them.

The sticky notes were removed after the photos were taken.

Seedlings bearing the names of listeners

Tessei was delighted, too, saying, “I’m happy to see so many names of listeners I often hear about. Thank you for taking an interest.”

It is deeply moving to see your small actions reaching across the sea to support conservation efforts on a Philippine island.

Tessei

It’s amazing how being surrounded by beautiful nature cleanses our hearts and minds, too. I feel that this also gives us the energy to continue conservation activities.

I think projects like this are not just about protecting nature; ultimately, what matters is connecting people’s hearts. For example, those helping with the project pass on the importance of nature to their children. When local residents, from children to adults, work together, initiatives like this can become even more successful.

Someday, I’d like to invite FM Kurashiki listeners to join us for a mangrove-planting tour. Simply experiencing nature firsthand might even change how we use soap and water.

As connections between people grow stronger, the future of beautiful nature becomes clearer. Thank you to all the listeners who joined the project!

From the Writer

FM Kurashiki participates in the United Nations’ “SDG Media Compact,” and works to promote the Sustainable Development Goals by clarifying the connections between its programs and the 17 SDGs.

The Mangrove Planting Project is also part of a program based on the SDG Media Compact, and is still ongoing.

For every guest on “Weekly Kurashiki Happy Radio” who arrives by car, we plant one tree per car.

We also plant one tree for every 500-yen button badge purchased. As of February 2025, 80 badges had been purchased!

We will continue to provide information that is useful to everyone in the community.