IN A BID to make scientific research more accessible and easy to digest, a Thomasian-led group developed an interactive mobile game app showcasing the rich mangrove biodiversity of Siargao.

Led by Prof. Cecilia Moran of the UST College of Science, the game, “Siargao Flora and Fauna Puzzle,” was developed under the Department of Science and Technology-National Research Council of the Philippines (DOST-NRCP).

The puzzle game, accessible on both the Google Play Store for Android users and the Apple App Store, offers more than 200 levels similar to the gameplay of Candy Crush, with varying degrees of difficulty. Each level offers players a visual way to learn about Siargao’s natural treasures, such as the Mindanao Tree Squirrel, Paka Gadikit, and Platymantis Paka.

The Candy Crush-inspired “Siargao Flora and Fauna Puzzle.”

In an interview with the Varsitarian, Moran said the game was one of the outputs produced by their biological field research on the mangrove forests in Del Carmen, Siargao Island.

“One of our primary goals was to present research findings in a way that is understandable to the general public, especially young people,” she said.

“We want to help them appreciate the importance of biodiversity conservation. The idea is (to learn) while having fun. You appreciate or you get to know which species are these species of animals.”

The different species of flora and fauna in the mangroves, according to the research, include more than 100 species of plants and 400 species of animals. 

Trivia about these species is provided as a reward for completing each level. Players can revisit the information through a journal feature.

One of the trivias of “Siargao Flora and Fauna Puzzle.”

“We made sure that the information that was used was accurate. So the information about the different species, the scientific names, and the common names using the game app are checked by the researchers and the scientists that were involved in the research.

Siargao is home to the 4,800-hectare Del Carmen Mangrove Reserve, the largest contiguous mangrove forest in the Philippines. 

Del Carmen Mangrove Forest. (Photo from SAKALAM Project)

According to Moran, the area was chosen for the study in an effort to have it declared as a Ramsar site, or wetlands of international importance for conservation and sustainable use.

In 2021, experts from the NRCP highlighted Del Carmen’s mangrove forest as having “high potential” for Ramsar designation due to its rich biodiversity. 

It was declared a Ramsar site on Nov. 25 by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources during the 10th Asian Wetland Symposium in Quezon City, making it the 10th Ramsar site in the country. 

This recognition places Del Carmen alongside other globally recognized wetlands, such as the Tubbataha Reefs and Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park.

For Moran, creating alternative ways to communicate scientific-based research is important.

“Not all researchers will have the skills to present their results as videos or mobile games, but it’s crucial that they learn how to make their work accessible to different stakeholders,” she said.

“We wanted our researchers to also have the skills to present in conferences and other forms. So even if the local community is not able to have formal education, they [can] still understand what we do and what the research results are.”

The game’s development was a collaborative effort involving non-governmental organizations, government agencies, the Philippine National Museum, and academic institutions like the University of the Philippines. Marielle F. Pesa

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