MANILA – A new study has revealed that the small beach forest on Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea has the capacity to store nearly 10,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂), equivalent to the annual emissions of around 2,000 cars.

The research, conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (DENR-ERDB), was published in the August 2025 issue of the Philippine Journal of Science. It highlights the island’s vital role in carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and coastal protection despite its limited size.

The 32-hectare island, located within the Kalayaan Group of Islands, hosts a small but significant beach forest that acts as a major carbon sink—an ecosystem that absorbs more CO₂ than it releases, helping reduce greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.

“Pag-asa’s beach forest may be small, but its ecological value is immense,” said Jose Alan Castillo, co-author of the study and head of ERDB’s Mangrove and Beach Forest Research team. “These large coastal trees are nature’s living carbon vaults and serve as the first line of defense against storms and rising seas.”

Researchers identified 20 plant species from 19 families, including native trees such as Barringtonia asiatica (botong or sea poison tree), Calophyllum inophyllum (bitaog), and Terminalia catappa (talisay). The study found that B. asiatica alone accounts for 85 percent of the island’s total carbon stock, while C. inophyllum contributes about 9 percent.

Lead author Alvin Gestiada said that losing even a single tree from the beach forest equates to a loss in carbon storage and natural coastal protection. “Each tree lost is not only a loss of carbon storage but also a loss of coastal protection and biodiversity,” he said.

The study also showed that Pag-asa’s beach forest cover declined from 11 hectares in 2017 to less than 7 hectares in 2023, underscoring the urgency of conservation measures.

Castillo emphasized that beach forests deserve as much attention as mangroves and coral reefs in climate and coastal management programs. “Beach forests, though often overlooked compared to mangroves and coral reefs, play an equally crucial role in stabilizing shorelines and regulating the climate,” he said.

The DENR-ERDB team recommended integrating beach forest conservation into the National Greening Program and national climate adaptation strategies to protect small island ecosystems like Pag-asa.

“Pag-asa’s beach forest reminds us that even our smallest islands can make a big impact on climate action. Through ERDB’s continuing research on coastal forest ecosystems, we see how nature itself contributes to carbon neutrality and community resilience,” Castillo said. (PNA)