How It All Started

Martin Tyler Uy

As a kid growing up in the Philippines, I always wondered why the cycle of typhoon devastation and assistance never seemed to end.

A summer internship with USAID's Fish Right in 2021 exposed me to the importance of mangrove trees. I was surprised to learn that over 50% of the mangroves in the Philippines have been lost and it was evident that we needed to restore mangroves to protect the coastal communities.

As I started my junior year, I decided to form Mangrove Movement with a mission of improving the lives of Filipinos by planting mangroves and raising awareness of their importance to the environment.

With a goal of planting 10,000 mangrove trees, I needed to raise funds. By creating eco-friendly and sustainably-sourced products made of driftwood, dead-stock fabric, and scrap cyclone wires, I started selling my products online, through weekend trade shows, and directly to friends and family.

Thus, the Mangrove Movement's mission of helping local communities kickstarted my own journey of creating a circular economy. Join me in my journey as we plant mangrove trees for a better tomorrow.