Our mission… We believe that the Earth’s natural heritage must be maintained if future generations are to thrive spiritually, culturally & economically. Our mission is to conserve the Earth’s living heritage, our global biodiversity, and to demonstrate that human societies are able to live harmoniously with nature.

Our 3 core strategies… provide science link human welfare and biodiversity conservation engage in partnerships

STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK Adopt the Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion Conservation Plan ratified by Indonesia, Malaysia, & Philippines Employ broad stakeholders’ participatory approach Ensure scientific rigor in defining, refining, & monitoring conservation targets Building partnerships & alliances Linking human welfare with biodiversity conservation

Marine Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Critical pathways which facilitate exchange & migration of species & nutrients across seas Areas that are high priority for marine biodiversity conservation Areas with high threat levels

The Four MBCCs Verde Passage Corridor Balabac Corridor Cagayan Ridge Corridor Trinational Sea Turtle Corridor

Planned Activities in the MBCCs Creation of new MPAs Strengthening of existing MPAs Rectification of existing MPAs MPA Networks Policy work on Ecotourism, Fisheries, Oil & Gas Communications, Education, & Capacity Building Trinational Sea Turtle Corridor

Ecotourism Situationers Ecotourism has been used as a regeneration and conservation tool in Verde Passage, particularly Anilao Ecotourism has been used as a management, economic and conservation tool in Tubbataha Zero tourism, but with good ecotourism potential in Balabac

Ecotourism as a Conservation Tool As a reactive tool in the past Recognized as a possible proactive tool for conservation and economic growth With proven track record Species protection (whales, dolphins) Ecosystem Conservation (coral reefs) IEC Management tool

Ecotourism as a Conservation Tool However, a lot still needs to be appreciated and done The real value of ecotourism Ecological, economic, social, resource sustainability Sites and species that can be influenced by ecotourism development Social and environmental impacts of tourism Economic, institutional and social requirements of ecotourism

Significance of Ecotourism Identify existing ecotourism-related laws, ordinances, etc. that would have direct and indirect impacts on species and habitat management Recommend measures that would further enhance the role of ecotourism as a tool for environmental management Identify the ecotourism potential in the corridors Identify stakeholder benefits and roles Identify possible tourism impacts and develop recommendations for impact avoidance and mitigation National and local stakeholders to realize how they can optimize tourism as a tool for resource utilization and management

How Tourism can Impact Biodiversity Lack of Planning Lack of Visitor Management and Control Uncontrolled access points and trail development No appropriate zoning Lack of laws and ordinances Habitat disturbance (facilities, activity zones) Collection, touching, noise, chasing, other stressful activities

BALABAC STRAIT ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK

Balabac Strait is a frontier ecotourism destination Planned tourism is necessary Unsustainable resource extraction and harvesting The need to provide (service-oriented) livelihood Unguided tourism may create problems

Ecotourism Goals Protection of environmental features and their functions (e.g. corals) Protection of species Promotion of community-based ecotourism and promote socio-economic equity

Market Study Tourist facilities Almost zero tourism Only one accommodation facility

Ecotourism Framework Zoning Northern Zone Central Zone Balabac Zone Pandanan and Bugsuk Islands Central Zone Bancalaan and Matangule Islands Balabac Zone Balabac and Ramos Islands Mangsee Zone

Pandanan- Bugsuk Zone Bancalaan- Matangule Zone Balabac Island Zone Mangsee Zone

Ecotourism Framework Tourism Awareness Tourism orientation to prepare the communities for the positive and negative impacts of tourism Policy Development Tourism Standards and guidelines Zoning Product Development

Ecotourism Framework Establishment of Marine (Tourism) Protected Areas Development and Protection of Pulao Bato as major ecotourism destination Tourism skills development Encourage tourism investment

Verde Passage

Ecotourism Map of Verde Passage

Recommendations Policy development National Corridor Level Officially adopting tourism use for marine protected areas and providing guidelines thereof Setting the standards for Limits of Acceptable Change and Carrying Capacities Corridor Level Optimize the full potential of ecotourism Institutionalize ecotourism as a management and conservation tool Declare more protected areas that includes ecotourism as part of a more sustainable resource utilization activity. The LGUs to include a tourism operations officer as part of their plantilla position. The LGUs and other concerned organizations to invest in ecotourism product development. The LGUs and other concerned organizations to link tourism development with other social infrastructure

Recommendations Destination Development CI Partnership Coordination Research Planning Product Development Marketing CI Partnership Promote common understanding of the concept of ecotourism as a resource management tool. Promote community-based ecotourism programs Promote skills training aimed towards the development of ecotourism products and services. Promote tourism investment