WWF-Philippines Pursues Expanded Conservation Efforts for Ticao Pass
August 2019
WWF-Philippines Donsol Project Manager Manuel Narvadez (fifth from left) stands with researchers from the CBS Marine Services team, as well as Monreal Mayor Wyett Espiloy (far right) and representatives from the Monreal Local Government Unit. Photograph © Alo Lantin / WWF-Philippines
From the 14th to 15th of August, staff from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines, together with consultant CBP Marine Services, conducted a series of marine protected area (MPA) assessments in the communities of Monreal and Claveria, both municipalities in the province of Masbate.
WWF-Philippines has been active in Ticao Pass since 1998. The organization works with the local government unit of Donsol for the conservation of local whale sharks, making use of ecotourism and the passing of laws and policies in the protection of the ecosystem of Ticao Pass. Across Ticao Pass, WWF-Philippines also works with the municipalities of Masbate, in order to comprehensively secure the whale shark’s ecosystem.
CBS Marine Services Research Consultant Maryjune Cabiguin presents findings from the MPA assessment to members of the Claveria LGU. Photograph © Alo Lantin / WWF-Philippines
The first assessments were conducted in 2017, when the MPAs of Monreal and Claveria covered only 50 hectares. These assessments led to an expansion of the protected area, with the current MPAs encompassing over 200 hectares. The recent MPA assessments were done to assess the expanded protected area, as well as to supply knowledge to local government units in furthering conservation efforts in Ticao Pass.
“It’s important that everyone understands that these reefs and corals aren’t dead, and they aren’t just rocks. They’re living beings, too,” said Maryjune Cabiguin, researcher and consultant in the recent MPA assessments. The studies made use of a combination of community knowledge and marine science to assess the health of the MPAs of Monreal and Claveria, in order to determine what further steps would be needed to secure the area.
A researcher follows a transact line during the MPA assessment of Claveria, conducted last May. Photograph © WWF-Philippines
Based on the studies, the townships of both Monreal and Claveria have MPAs of moderate to high fish density and biodiversity, with indicator species implying good health in certain spots within each MPA. The studies also revealed a lack of reef-building hard corals in Monreal and a high percentage of dead corals in Claveria. A number of endangered corals were also identified in both Monreal and Claveria.
The studies also recommended an expansion of existing marine protected areas, increased management and enforcement efforts and further studies to explore potential sites for ecotourism and other environmentally-friendly industries. The presence of endangered corals, together with the resident whale sharks of Ticao Pass, heighten the need to increase conservation measures in Monreal, Claveria and the surrounding municipalities.
Reef fish float above an anemone within the boundaries of one of the MPAs of Monreal. Photograph © WWF-Philippines
“It’s vital that even children know what these MPAs could mean for their community,” said Manuel Narvadez, WWF-Philippines Donsol Project Manager, who shared plans to involve local schools and people’s organizations to instill a sense of community support and ownership over the management of their marine resources. By involving different stakeholders, WWF-Philippines hopes to promote the holistic conservation of marine resources in Ticao Pass.
“It’s going to take a multi-sectoral effort to protect these waters – from the LGU, to people’s organizations, to the community itself – everyone,” added Cabiguin.
As exploration continues into furthering the conservation of Ticao Pass, WWF-Philippines will keep working with local municipalities for the expanded management and protection of their MPAs.
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For more information, please contact:
Mr. Manuel Narvadez
Project Manager, Donsol
mnarvadezjr@wwf.org.ph
For media arrangements, please contact:
Mr. Dan Ramirez
Communications and Media Manager
dramirez@wwf.org.ph
