Assessment of Biodiversity and Environmental Health in IIEE NCC Adapted Mangrove Plants

Mangrove ecosystems serve as vital biodiversity hotspots and natural coastal defenses. However, the presence of macroplastic pollution increasingly threatens their ecological integrity in Southeast Asia, particularly in the Philippines. Despite legislative actions such as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003) and Extended Producer Responsibility (RA 11898), marine litter persists at alarming levels. Local assessments are necessary to quantify environmental degradation and inform regional action plans. This study assessed the environmental health of the IIEE NCC Adapted Mangrove Plants (IIEENCCAMP) using the Clean Coast Index (CCI) and visual categorization of macroplastics based on the Galarpe and Syakti classification. A total of 103 plastic items were collected and categorized to analyze plastic composition and pollution density. The site scored a CCI of 20.6, categorizing it as “Extremely Dirty.” The most prevalent materials were LDPE (29.13%) and PP (14.56%). These plastics were commonly represented by plastic fragments, bags, and disposable utensils. Variability in item types suggests a combination of domestic waste and localized pollution. Calculated variance and standard deviation of observed plastic categories highlighted a high spread of pollution sources. The findings reveal a pressing need for enhanced waste management and localized intervention. High levels of LDPE and PP waste point to the lack of plastic segregation and community-level awareness. The pollution level in IIEENCCAMP exceeds average coastal cleanliness based on previously reported Assessment of Macro Waste Density and Composition on Residential Coastal Zones in Surigao City, Philippines. Future efforts should include multi-season biodiversity surveys, implementation of localized recycling initiatives, and comparative monitoring of coastal CCI in different barangays. Quantitative metrics like SD and variance should be institutionalized to support targeted environmental policies.