1. 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.

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

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. BALABAC STRAIT ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK

13. 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

14. 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

15. Market Study Tourist facilities Almost zero tourism
Only one accommodation facility

16. 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

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

18. 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

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

20. Verde Passage

21. Ecotourism Map of Verde Passage

22. 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

23. 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