Banacon Mangrove Forest

Famous for its beautiful, appealing and charming tourist destinations, Bohol features several alluring eco-tourist spots. One of the fascinating eco-tourist spots in the Philippine province that many Filipino travelers and foreigners like to see is Banacon Mangrove Forest. To lure individuals who have interest in seeing this spot, let us have an interesting and inviting tour to the attractive mangrove forest of Bohol

The History of Banacon Mangrove Forest in Bohol

Before becoming a tourist destination in the province, in 1950, some residents in Banacon Island experience dismay and frustration as excessive cutting in mangrove forests of the island was done by a small group headed by Pilot Camacho. Since mangrove forests in Banacon Island are good sources of firewood and poles that residents use for their fish pens, the destruction of forests affect the income of residents.

In 1957, a resident in the island, Eugenio Paden, decided to create or develop a Rhizophora Stylosa plantation or what Filipinos call as bakauan plantation to have a good source of income and at the same time help other residents in Banacon island who were affected by the destruction of the forests. After nine years, Paden started to harvest wood, which encouraged other residents to establish their own bakauan plantation. Since then, the number of bakauan plantation in the island improved and later on became an eco-tourist destination in Bohol.

Description of Bohols Banacon Mangrove Forest

Banacon Mangrove Forest in Bohol, the largest mangrove plantation in the Philippines, has an estimated area of 425 hectares. To provide good and attractive sites to visitors who want to see the plantation, the Municipality of Getafe creates scenic trails along the beautiful mangrove trees in the forest.

Aside from Rhizophora Stylosa, Banacon Mangrove Forest in Bohol is also a home to other creatures such as seahorses and blue crabs. In present times, approximately 196 families depend on the mangrove forest for their daily source of income. Other marine resources in the forest are shells, mollusks, crabs and shrimps. Above all, Bohols Banacon Mangrove Forest is the primary source of charcoal and firewood in the island.

Located in the northern area of Getafe, Bohol, tourists and travelers can reach the island from Cebu City in just two hours since there are pump boats that travel from Cebu to Banacon Island. On the other hand, travelers from Manila City can go to Bohol by air or by sea since a great number of travel companies like Cebu Pacific and Super Ferry offer travel packages to the island. Hence, to make tourists travel experiences in Bohol more memorable, it is best that they see the famous Banacon Mangrove Forest.