SMPC continues island envi rehab with endangered clam seeding, mangrove planting

(In Photo) Brgy. Alegria Chairman Joie Ebon (third from left), council members, and SMHL representatives during the Earth Day giant clam reseeding activity at Brgy. Alegria’s marine protected area.

Semirara Island, located off the coast of Antique Province, is a biodiversity hotspot with a rich variety of marine flora and fauna species. As the island’s community partner and the country’s leading integrated energy company, Semirara Mining and Power Corporation (SMPC) has long supported initiatives that contribute to the responsible management of local natural resources.  As part of this year’s Earth Month campaign, the company led new initiatives to support the resilience of the island’s marine habitats.

Reseeding endangered giant clams

On April 22, SMPC collaborated with Barangay Alegria to reseed 50 giant clams within the barangay’s marine protected area. Notably, giant clams are known as a keystone species –  organisms that have a significant role in maintaining the health and biodiversity of reef ecosystems. 

The clam reseeding activity involved three species: Tridacna gigas (giant clam), Hippopus hippopus (bear paw clam), and Hippopus porcellanus (china clam). T.gigas in particular is listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.

This activity builds upon the years-long efforts of the Semirara Marine Hatchery and Laboratory (SMHL), which has been cultivating and reseeding giant clams since 2010. Now on its 15th year, SMHL remains a pivotal part of SMPC’s continued investment in marine biodiversity, having successfully reseeded over 191,000 clams as of 2024 and initiating conservation efforts for other endemic marine species.

Strengthening coastal ecosystems with mangroves

As part of its broader campaign, SMPC also mobilized 61 employee volunteers on April 29 to plant 200 mangrove propagules and 75 inland trees in the Sibutong area, supporting efforts to promote biodiversity and coastal protection.

Mangrove forests provide breeding grounds for local species, protect shorelines against erosion, and absorb carbon emissions. As of 2024, SMPC has reforested 160 hectares of mangrove areas and planted more than 623,000 mangroves on Semirara Island.

With proven scientific methods, sustained investment, and strong community collaboration, SMPC continues to pursue meaningful initiatives to enrich Semirara Island’s biodiversity and build the long-term health of local ecosystems in its host communities.