Creating Seastainable Communities
Developing a blue economy for vulnerable communities in and around marine protected areas in Philippines
With the support of the Global Fund for Coral Reefs and the Global EbA Fund.
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The Philippines
At the heart of the Coral Triangle, the Philippines is a biodiversity hotspot home to hundreds of coral species and more than 2,000 species of fish.
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Oriental Mindoro
An island province in the western part of the Philippines, Oriental Mindoro, encompasses the Verde Island Passage, recognized as the center of global shore fish biodiversity that supports more than 2 million people.
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North Oriental Mindoro MPA Network
The MPA network hosts a coral reef refugia with a live coral cover of up to 90% in some areas, making them a perfect destination that attracts more than 200,000 tourists annually.
Amid the presence of rich marine ecosystems in these areas, management issues hinder their sustainable protection. Blue finance, through its local partner Blue Alliance, is working with local communities in the Northern Oriental Mindoro to improve the management and financial sustainability of the MPAs on the island.
Harka Piloto Fish Sanctuary
Harka Piloto Fish Sanctuary. Click to expand.
Silonay Mangrove Conservation Ecopark
Silonay Mangrove Conservation Ecopark. Click to expand.
Calero-Salong Coral and Seagrass MPA
Calero-Salong Coral and Seagrass MPA. Click to expand.
Mahal na Pangalan Marine Park
Mahal na Pangalan Marine Park. Click to expand.
Baco MPA
Baco MPA . Click to expand.
Tamauyan Fish Sanctuary
Tamauyan Fish Sanctuary . Click to expand.
Punta Ilag Fish Sanctuary
Punta Ilag Fish Sanctuary. Click to expand.
Puerto Galera MPA
Puerto Galera MPA. Click to expand.
Puerto Galera Mangrove Conservation and Ecotourism Area
Puerto Galera Mangrove Conservation and Ecotourism Area. Click to expand.
Blue Economy
Given the funding gap preventing the effective management of the MPA network, Blue finance and partners develop sustainable income mechanisms for the enhanced protection and long-term conservation of marine biodiversity while supporting coastal communities through sustainable income sources.
Ecotourism
With its lush mangrove forests, flourishing seagrass beds, and beautiful coral reefs teeming with life, the MPA network in Northern Oriental Mindoro is a perfect spot for tourists looking for a marine adventure. Protecting marine ecosystems not only protects marine life but also creates local jobs for coastal communities through sustainable ecotourism within MPAs.
Blue finance and partners are working with the ecotourism sector to improve the experience and safety of visitors.
To discuss ecotourism projects in the MPA network, Blue finance Executive Director, Nicolas Pascal, and Science Director, Angelique Brathwaite, met with the Puerto Galera Dive Shop and Dive Resort Association led by President Pedro Magsino and Vice President Rex Medina.
In Calapan City where potential diving sites remain inaccessible to tourists, Blue finance and Blue Alliance through Director of Operations, Alain Maulion, convened with the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Calapan (HRAC), exploring potential partnerships to develop ecotourism facilities.
Blue Alliance recently conducted a dive site assessment with the Calapan City LGU and discovered at least 10 potential dive and snorkeling sites. This is an exciting opportunity to develop diving ecotourism with the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Calapan.
With the goal to uplift communities through blue solutions, Bf and BA consulted People's Organizations in Calapan City's MPAs about the current state of ecotourism and ways forward to more sustainable programs.
Mangrove crab silvofishery
Beyond ecotourism, marine ecosystems serve as bountiful sources of food and livelihood for the people. Blue finance, with its aim to develop sustainable revenue models, will set up a mangrove crab silvofishery to provide livelihood opportunities in Calapan City.
Fish pond in Brgy. Masipit, Calapan City where the mangrove crab silvofishery will be established.
Blue Carbon
With the Philippines being one of the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, conserving mangrove ecosystems play a crucial role in the mitigation and adaptation against this crisis. Blue finance and partners are structuring a blue carbon credits certification scheme from conservation and restoration of mangroves.
MPAs in Calapan, Puerto Galera, and Baco covering more than 100 hectares of mangrove forest serve as natural carbon sinks that contribute in climate change mitigation.
Mangroves also protect coastal communities during strong typhoons, which are increasingly becoming more common in the Philippines, by serving as buffers against storm surges.
Blended Finance
Blue finance has structured an innovative blended finance investment facility to improve the management of the MPAs and contribute to their blue economy. The facility blends impact investment with catalytic grant funding. This will allow Blue Alliance (BA) to implement a number of sustainable revenue-generating initiatives and enhance the protection of the spectacular coral reef ecosystems.
With initial funding from the Global Fund Coral Reef ( globalfundcoralreefs.org ), the facility will enhance BA’s financial sustainability, improve the MPA visitor experience, generate blue carbon credits, and contribute to the effective long-term management of the MPAs.
Law Compliance
Marine Protected Areas become mere paper parks without regular enforcement activities. In the Philippines, fishery and MPA law enforcement are heavily reliant on community efforts through the Bantay Dagat (Sea Rangers).
However, lacking in funding and equipment, the Bantay Dagat face difficulties as they regularly brave the dangers that come with their job.
Blue Alliance is partnering with the Local Government Units to organize and improve the surveillance through training programs for the Bantay Dagat as well as installing demarcation markers and purchasing new quality equipment.
Overcoming gender stereotypes, there is an increasing number of women in the community joining the Bantay Dagat, ensuring the effective implementation of marine protected areas and fishery laws.
To further boost law enforcement, Blue Alliance is empowering more people in the community to become members of the Blue Alliance Key Ocean Defenders (BAKOD). The additional rangers tackle the problem of insufficient manpower to regularly patrol hectares of municipal and city waters.
Wildlife Conservation
Conservation is incomplete without its scientific aspect. Thus, Blue finance works with a science-based approach to conservation in addition to its blended finance model.
A crown-of-thorns outbreak has plagued the marine protected areas in Puerto Galera since late September 2021, threatening hectares of coral reef ecosystems in the MPA.
Although volunteer divers have launched efforts to reduce COTs populations, the lack of a systematic and scientific approach has prevented the assessment of the weekly COTs collection and injections.
Blue finance, through Science Director Angelique Brathwaite, led the pilot testing of a science-based protocol involving the injection of 4% household vinegar to reduce COTs populations. Weekly injections will provide additional livelihood to fisherfolks while addressing the outbreak.
More than 11,000 COTs have been collected since the start of the outbreak through the efforts of fisherfolk, divers, and Bantay Dagat with the support of the Puerto Galera Local Government Unit and Blue Alliance (BA).
To assess the effectiveness of MPAs in conserving marine biodiversity, BA also partners with universities and the local government for the regular scientific monitoring of MPAs.
In partnership with Coastal Resource Management (CRM) Coordinators, BA is implementing a fish catch monitoring program with the fisherfolk community to assess the effectiveness of MPAs in improving fish populations.
Community engagement
Blue solutions are not only implemented to conserve nature but also to improve the lives of local communities depending on it.
Supporting the communities' recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, Blue Alliance conducted a training for People's Organizations (POs) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme - Biodiversity Finance Initiative (UNDP-BIOFIN). The capacity-building seminar developed the knowledge and skills of POs in content creation, marketing, tour operations, and customer relations for the effective management of MPAs through sustainable financing from livelihood and ecotourism programs.
Additionally, Blue finance is exploring to set up more trainings in ecotourism, mangrove crab silvofishery, and mangrove restoration to assist the community in developing their livelihood initiatives.
Blue finance through Blue Alliance is dedicated to working with the communities in developing revenue models that increase the resilience of both marine ecosystems and coastal communities.
With local communities as partners, Blue finance through Blue Alliance aims to create sustainable communities working harmoniously with marine life for the present and future generations.
