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By Jose Ma. Antonio Bringas, Don Geoff Tabaranza
and Gregorio Dela Rosa, Jr., From the Communication and
Information Division, Haribon Foundation
It is more apparent today than ever, that
protection and conservation of biodiversity cannot be successfully
implemented without consideration to human needs and its use of
resources.
Given that biodiversity conservation and fishery
enhancement are the two major purposes of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs),
a program of monitoring, education and research on the effects of
protection and management is necessary and one of the major needs in
sustaining MPAs.
In March 1999, a national alliance of
Community-based Marine Protected Area (CB-MPA) managers called
Pambansang Alyansa ng Maliliit na Mangingisda na Nangangalaga ng
Kadagatan at Sangtuwaryo sa Pilipinas (PAMANA Ka Sa Pilipinas) was
established through the organizing efforts of Haribon Foundation.
What started as a 33-member alliance has expanded to 122 member
sites all over the Philippines. Applications for membership of CB-MPAs
are pouring in everyday and considerably more than its secretariat
can presently handle.
By June 2001, during PAMANA’s 2nd National
Congress, a standardized monitoring and evaluation system for member
sites became an organizational agenda. Towards this, consultation
workshops pertaining to Participatory Marine Sanctuary Monitoring (PMSM),
capacity building, and community organizing helped define the
essential steps towards a fruitful implementation. A baywide
approach on organizing was implemented after a nationwide
mobilization of Banka’t Buhay for baywide chapter organizing,
networking, Information, Education, and Communication (IEC)
campaign mobilization, and media projection during the 2002
celebration of the National Fish Conservation Week.
A baywide approach to capacity building,
training and monitoring was considered necessary for sustainability
after evaluation of the two-year (2002-2003) results of the pilot
project “Participatory Marine Sanctuary Monitoring in Lanuza
Marine Park and Sanctuary.” This also paved the way to facilitate
the implementation of a unified baywide fishery ordinance to
strengthen the coastal resource management efforts of each
municipality.
In 2005, the “Building on Baywide
Participatory Marine Sanctuary Monitoring” project by Haribon was
implemented through the funding assistance of the David and Lucille
Packard Foundation. It was implemented in nine CB-MPA sites. Through
the organizing efforts of Haribon, the Nagkahiusang Mananagat na
Nag-amping sa Kadagatan (NAMANA KA) sa Lanuza Bay was formed and
established. NAMANA KA is a fisher-conservation alliance composed of
16marine protected areas within Lanuza Bay in Surigao del Sur.
The issues that often impede the growth of
protected areas are institutional and financial sustainability. A
legislation that supports CB-MPA sustainability and its operational
needs is yet to be seen. The addition or increase in the allotment
for its operational needs should be able to address this, however in
reality, there is currently very little or no Internal Revenue
Allotment (IRA) from the municipalities where CB-MPAs have been
established. Currently, out of the total IRA of a municipality, only
less than five percent are allotted for MPA management that
encompasses necessary activities such as enforcement and patrolling.
Increased enforcement was identified by the communities as essential
because of the occurrence of frequent poaching inside the MPAs. The
People’s Organization (POs) and communities have constantly
petitioned additional equipments and facilities such as guardhouses,
searchlights, communication facilities and patrol boats.
Compounding the issue of sustainability is the
security of tenure for communities and that have been managing
MPAs for several years already. Since there has been no clear
definition of municipal waters yet, there has been contention and
disagreement between the local government and the community on the
ownership of the CB-MPA.
On the bright side, even in the face of these
problems and as we continue to work with these POs, we have had the
privilege to see them grow and mature. We are beginning to see in
them a greater sense of ownership over the management of the CB-MPAs,
by contributing more commitment and time in sharing the
responsibilities of implementing projects pertaining to MPA
management.
For information how you can join Haribon
Foundation’s initiatives to conserve our endemic species, e-mail:
communication@haribon.org.ph, or visit www.haribon.org.ph.
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