Protecting Mangroves with DroneDeploy

Coastal ecosystems like mangroves are frontline defenses against storms and erosion. In Catanduanes, an island regularly impacted by typhoons, these ecosystems are not only vital for climate resilience but also for sustaining biodiversity and local livelihoods. Yet, many of these areas remain undocumented, unmonitored, and increasingly at risk.

With support from the DroneDeploy Resilient Futures Technology Grant, Help.NGO has launched a large-scale effort to map and monitor mangrove forests across the island. This initiative builds on a successful proof-of-concept that demonstrated how drone data can inform and unlock national funding for restoration.

Technology meets local engagement

The project, implemented in partnership with Catanduanes State University (CatSU) and the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), combines advanced drone operations with strong local engagement. Using DroneDeploy’s platform, the team processed and visualized more than 10,000 high-resolution images, covering a total area of nearly 20 square kilometers.

For local partners like CatSU, the collaboration was not only about data but also about building long-term capacity. “The mangroves here in Catanduanes are important because typhoons often pass through the region. Mangroves play a big role in protecting our region,” said Nediel Masada from Catanduanes State University. “It really helped us that Help.NGO shared their knowledge about drone mapping because that's exactly what we need when preparing project proposals.” Using this data, the university and its partners were able to secure funding from government agencies to support mangrove restoration.

Project outcomes

In total, the campaign involved 34 drone flights, generating 82.57 GB of raw data that now forms a critical baseline for environmental monitoring. All imagery collected was uploaded to OpenAerialMap to support open data initiatives and ensure continued access for researchers, decision-makers, and community partners.

In addition to data collection, Help.NGO worked closely with local government units and academic partners to build technical capacity. A joint training session held earlier this year brought together dozens of participants from government, university, and community sectors to learn the basics of drone operations and environmental mapping, including practical sessions on the use of DroneDeploy.

This initiative is part of Help.NGO’s broader Technology Advocacy and Resilience Programme, which promotes the responsible use of digital tools in addressing complex environmental and humanitarian challenges. By combining technical expertise with community involvement, the mangrove monitoring project in Catanduanes contributes to building practical, locally driven solutions for coastal protection.