Adopt-A-Marine Protected Area (MPA) is a conservation fund-raising program to help the Philippines protect and conserve biologically-important coastal and marine areas in North Palawan, Oriental Mindoro and Batangas City which have been legislated as MPAs, marine management zones or fisheries management areas.
The Philippines has been identified among the world’s conservation hotspots despite having been cited among the earth’s 17 megadiversity countries on the planet (World Atlas, 2017). This is likewise amidst findings by distinguished international marine scientists in various scientific researches that the Philippines is the center of the center of marine biodiversity in the world (Carpenter and Springer, 2005; Allen, 2008; Tittensor et al, 2010; Sanciangco et al, 2013), indicating the urgent need to have in place on-site effective management and protection of the country’s marine ecosystems by resource owners and users. It has been determined that less than 10-15% of the Philippines’ designated protected areas have effective management (Campos and Aliño, 2008).
The Philippines: Center of the center of marine biodiversity
The Philippines possesses the most number of marine species per unit area on the planet as evidenced by scientific data collected and published by several studies conducted from 2005-2013 by internationally-renowned scientists and specialists in the field of marine biology.
From Dr. Kent Carpenter and Dr. Victor Springer’s 2005 scientific research paper after overlaying nearly 2,983 species distribution Indo-Pacific maps that concluded the Philippines as the center of marine species richness in the Coral Triangle. (Carpenter, Kent & Springer, Victor. (2005). The center of the center of marine shore fish biodiversity: The Philippine Islands. Environmental Biology of Fishes. 72. 467-480. 10.1007/s10641-004-3154-4.)
From Dr. Gerald Allen’s 2008 scientific research paper that overlaid 3,919 Indo-Pacific coral reef species distribution maps, affirming the Philippines as the center of fish species richness. (Allen, Gerald. (2008). Conservation hotspots of biodiversity and endemism for Indo-Pacific coral reef fishes. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. 18. 541 - 556.10.1002/aqc.880.)
From Dr. Derek Tittensor et. al.’s 2010scientific research paper that overlaid 11,567 global marine species distribution maps, showing marine species richness in the Coral Triangle, observing “hotspots around the Philippines, Japan, China, Indonesia, Australia”. (Tittensor, Derek & Mora, Camilo & Jetz, Walter & Lotze, Heike &Ricard, Daniel & Vanden Berghe, Edward & Worm, Boris. (2010). Global patterns and predictors of marine biodiversity across taxa. Nature. 466. 1098-101.10.1038/nature09329.)
Figure 1. Patterns of species richness from range overlap raster data from 10,446 species. Each change in color represents an increase or decrease of 82 species (40 total classes or a 2.5% change per class). (A) Pattern of species distribution in the entire Indo-Pacific region. The top 10%for the highest species richness is found in the Coral Triangle (marked in red, pink, and yellow in panel B, with decreasing increments of species richness indicated by lighter shades), and the remaining decreasing increments of total species richness are indicated by lighter shades of blue, (B)The top 10% (shades of red), 20% (dark yellow) and 30% (light yellow) of concentration of species is in the Coral Triangle, with Philippines as the epicenter, (C) All fishes showing the top 1% of species richness (white); (D) Molluscs and crustaceans showing the top 10% of species richness (shades of red); (E) Habitat-forming species (corals, seagrasses, and mangroves) showing the top 10% of species richness (shades of red).doi:10.1371/journal.pone. 0056245.g001
Unfortunately, degradation of the Philippines’ marine and terrestrial ecosystems has been widespread since the 1950s due to exploitation and destructive methods of extraction, sometimes leaving irreversible damage in the process. Other anthropogenic root causes include indiscriminate land and coastal development, poor or lack of waste management systems and deforestation. The consequences of these human actions have been evident in increasing severity and impact of natural disasters on humans, as well as reduction in the biological productivity of ecosystems for the benefit of people and animals alike.
OUR WORK
Since late 2012, Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) has been hard at work with partners in coastal communities, local governments, provincial governments and national agencies to establish new and upgrade management of existing marine protected areas (MPAs) in north Palawan, east Mindoro and Batangas City, forging conservation covenants with stakeholders such as resource users and owners (fisherfolks, coastal communities, others), local governments and relevant agencies and local organizations to implement direct, on-site conservation actions.
The program implementation framework involves four (4) major components mainly aimed to address and/or reduce anthropogenic (human-induced) threats:
Since 2013, thirty-six (36) conservation agreements have been signed covering 31 seaside communities, with a total of 334,276 hectares of new MPAs, marine management zones and fisheries management areas established by the partnerships by end-2020. Regular conservation actions at the grassroots level are continuously undertaken with partners.
Biophysical Recovery
With proper socio-political support and active management of marine protected areas by resource owners and users (coastal communities and local governments), biological recovery follows as seen in all of the MPAs that have worked towards effective management over the years. From baselines taken in 2012-2013, some sites have demonstrated significant trophic level recoveries with evident return of endangered species like black-tip sharks, napoleon wrasse, turtles and other high-value reef fishes and pelagics. Fish abundance is likewise observed in many areas, albeit not recorded as part of the program’s monitoring tool for fish, which is limited to indicator species such as Groupers, Snappers, Parrotfishes and Butterfly Fishes which are easily depleted through anthropogenic over-extraction and coral damage.
Impacts of natural events such as typhoons and bleaching from ocean warming are still evident on the corals, however, resiliency is demonstrated with recovery of fish abundance visible in a short span of time after such events have passed, compared to areas with ineffective or no management.
Two (2) sites included in the program have achieved national-level recognition at the prestigious Para El Mar awards which searches nationwide for Best marine protected areas held biennially in the Philippines. The Agsalin Fish Sanctuary, located in the municipality of Gloria, Oriental Mindoro won First (1st) place OUTSTANDING LOCALLY-MANAGED MARINE PROTECTED AREA (MPA) in 2017. The Ranzo Fish Sanctuary in Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro, landed third (3rd) place in the same award category in 2019.
At the regional and provincial levels, other MPAs included in the program’s scope have received citations and recognitions as follows:
Para El Mar 2017 Awards Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso Umali and Gloria municipal mayor German Rodegerio receives the First (1st) place Outstanding MPA award for the Agsalin Fish Sanctuary.
Para El Mar 2019 AwardsPinamalayan municipal mayor Aristeo Baldos receives the Third (3rd) place Outstanding Locally-Managed MPA award together with partners for the Ranzo Fish Sanctuary.
