CCEF

CCEF is implementing the project, Marine Protected Area (MPA) and Coral Reef Monitoring Data and Information System, from September 2012-August 2014. This project is primarily supported by UNICO Conservation Foundation in Australia and partner local government units and line agencies. After its first year, our implementation sites included three Provinces in the central Philippines, i.e., Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor and included more than 40 MPAs and adjacent fished areas monitored coupled with a MPA monitoring training or refresher training to MPA managers, fishers, local government units and local community members in a majority of these sites.

This project shows the importance of a systematic MPA monitoring system using an information tracking system that can be used for providing feedback to stakeholders for guidance and enhancement of and coastal management efforts and non-formal coastal resource management education programs. With the current large-scale typhoon damage on coral reefs in the central Philippines, the data from previous years stored in CCEF’s MPA database combined with our current MPA monitoring and research provided crucial information and recommendations in assisting coral reef/fishery and MPA recovery of impacted coastal communities. In addition, these generated information assisted local governments in formulating policies to mitigate measures against negative impacts on coastal resources and habitats.

Hand in hand with our collaborators (e.g., Silliman University-Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences, SU-IEMS) other supporters, e.g., the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) Apo Island Protected Landscape and Seascape (AIPLS) through DENR, the Municipality of Dauin and Barangay Apo Island and its community, a second marine protected has been established in Apo Island as part of their recovery plan for fishery, biodiversity and ecotourism and, including the agenda of resilience to adverse effects of climate change while the typhoon damaged marine sanctuary is under rehabilitation. For its second year, our focus is on a Province wide coral reef rehabilitation in Siquijor Island.