APO REEF NATURAL PARK Rapid Site Assessment Report * April 2014 Copyright: © Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. All rights reserved: Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes, in any form or by any means, is prohibited without the express written permission from the publisher. Recommended Citation: Tabaranza,D.G.E, Cielo,K.L.S., Natural Jr,V., Dela Rosa Jr,G., Molina,E.P., Abes,J.L., Capoquian,R., Abes,M.L., Francisco,A.N. and G.C.Diamante(2014). Apo Reef Natural Park Rapid Site Assessment Report. Muntinlupa City. Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. ISBN 978-621-8010-08-6 Published by: Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. Manila Office 22F Asian Star Building, ASEAN Drive Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntilupa City, 1780 Philippines Telephone: +63 2 8502188 Fax: +63 2 8099447 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.mbcfi.org.ph Provincial Office Gozar Street, Barangay Camilmil, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, 5200 Philippines Telephone/Fax: +63 43 2882326 0 APO REEF NATURAL PARK Rapid Site Assessment Report * April 2014 Table of Contents Section Page Acronyms & Abbreviations 2 List of Figures 3 List of Tables 4 List of Appendices 4 1. INTRODUCTION 5 2. RSA OBJECTIVES, SCOPE AND LIMMITATIONS 7 2.1. Objectives 7 2.2. Approach, Scope and Limitations 7 2.3. Data Collection Methods 8 Geo-physical Characteristics Biological Resources Socio-economic Characteristics 3. PROTECTED AREA PROFILE 14 3.1. Geo-Physical Characteristics 14 3.2. Terrestrial Biodiversity 15 Flora Fauna 3.3. Marine Biodiversity 20 Coral Reef Communities Reef Fish Communities 3.4. Socio-Cultural and Economic Profile 23 4. REFERENCES 66 5. APPENDICES 73 1 APO REEF NATURAL PARK Rapid Site Assessment Report * April 2014 Acronyms and Abbreviations BMB Biodiversity Management Bureau (formerly known as PAWB – Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau CENRO Community Environment and Natural Resources Office cf. Latin: confer; in binomial nomenclature (scientific name writing) denotes unconfirmed species identification but very similar to species indicated CR Critically Endangered DA Department of Agriculture dbh diameter at breast height DENR Department of Environment and Natural Resources DD Data Deficient DTI Department of Trade and Industry EN Endangered ER Encounter Rate FGD Focus Group Discussion GEF Global Environment Facility GIS Geographic Information System GA Government Agencies GPS Global Positioning System IBA Important Bird Area IEC Information, Education and Communication IP Indigenous People IPRA Indigenous People’s Rights Act ISSG Invasive Species Specialist Group IUCN International Union for the Conservation of Nature KBA Key Biodiversity Area LC Least Concern LGU Local Government Unit MBCFI Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. MENRO Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office NA Not Applicable NGO Non-Government Organization NIPAS National Integrated Protected Area System NT Near Threatened PASu Protected Area Superintendent PAWCZMS Protected Areas, Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management Services PENRO Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office RA Republic Act sp. In binomial nomenclature (scientific name writing) denotes an unidentified species spp. In binomial nomenclature (scientific name writing) denotes more than one species under the genus VU Vulnerable 2 APO REEF NATURAL PARK Rapid Site Assessment Report * April 2014 List of Figures Title Page Figure 1. Three islands of Apo Reef Natural Park – Apo Island, Apo Menor and Cayos del 5 Bajo. Figure 2. Photoquadrat frames overlaid with 10 random points in the Coral Point Count 12 with Excel Extensions (CPCe). Figure 3. Location map of the Apo Reef Natural Park, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro. 14 Figure 4. Mean percent composition of the major benthic categories of reefs across the 15 20 monitoring stations at ARNP, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro (April 2014). Figure 5. Coral cover of the reefs across the 15 monitoring stations at ARNP, Sablayan, 21 Occidental Mindoro (April 2014). Figure 6. Mean abundance composition (individuals) of the reef fish 21 species at the ARNP, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro. Figure 7. Mean abundance composition (individuals) of the reef fish families 22 at the ARNP, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro. Figure 8. Mean biomass of the different fish families at the ARNP, Sablayan, 22 Occidental Mindoro (April 2014). Figure 9. Historical Growth of Population 24 Figure 10. Household Population by Urban and Rural Barangay and Average 25 Household Size, Year 2010 Figure 11. Population Projection of Coastal Barangays 27 Figure 12. Household Population By Mother Tongue, 2010 29 Figure 13. Total Number of Visitors (1999-2013) 33 Figure 14. Average Number of Visitors (1999-2013) 34 Figure 15. Location of Identified Diving Sites in Apo Reef Natural Park 39 Figure 16: Facility Map of Apo Island in ARNP 42 Figure 17. Organizational Structure of Task Force MARLEN 50 Figure 18. Management Zone Map of Apo Reef Natural Park 57 Figure 19. Management Zone Map of Apo Island in ARNP 59 Figure 20. Average Monthly Income of ARNP (1999-2013) 63 Figure 21. Annual Income of ARNP (1999-2013) 63 3 APO REEF NATURAL PARK Rapid Site Assessment Report * April 2014 List of Tables Title Page Table 1. Summary of floral species recorded within 10mx10m quadrats on Apo Island 15 (April 2014). Table 2. Floral species recorded on Apo Reef Natural Park. 16 Table 3. Bird species recorded on Apo Reef Natural Park. 17 Table 4. Mammal species recorded on Apo Reef Natural Park. 19 Table 5. Reptile species recorded on Apo Reef Natural Park. 20 Table 6. Historical Annual Growth Rate of Sablayan 23 Table 7. Population Size of ARNP Stakeholder Communities in Sablayan. 26 Table 8. Population Projection of ARNP Stakeholder Communities in Sablayan, 2015-2024 26 Table 9. Population Density and Built-up Density of ARNP Communities in Sablayan, 2010 27 Table 10. Household Population By Mother Tongue, 2010 29 Table 11. Household Population by Religious Affiliation, 2010 30 Table 12. Existing Fishing Grounds and Aquaculture Production, 2013 31 Table 13. Livelihood Activities and Resource Use Practices in Sablayan 34 Table 14. Labor Force (15-59 yrs old) of ARNP Stakeholder Communities in Sablayan, 2009 35 Table 15. Social Status and Poverty Incidence in the ARNP Stakeholder Communities in 36 Sablayan Table 16. Summary of Existing and Proposed Facilities and Equipment in Apo Island 47 Table 17. Stakeholder Analysis 51 Table 18. Management Capabilities in Apo Reef Natural Park 53 Table 19. Assessment on the Guidelines and Restrictions in ARNP 55 Table 20. Existing Initiatives in Apo Reef Natural Park 55 Table 21. Effects of Existing Programs, Projects and Activities in the ARNP 56 Table 22: Carrying Capacity for Various Zones in ARNP 61 Table 23. Percent of Total Expenses to Total Income of ARNP 64 List of Appendices Title Page Appendix 5.1 Survey Team Composition 73 Appendix 5.2 Summary of processed floral data per 10x10 quadrat 74 Appendix 5.3 List of Faunal Species Recorded in Apo Reef Natural Park 75 Appendix 5.4 Accounts of Notable Species 79 Appendix 5.5 List of Fish Species Recorded in Apo Reef Natural Park 82 Appendix 5.6 Photodocumentation 86 4 APO REEF NATURAL PARK Rapid Site Assessment Report * April 2014 1 Introduction The National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992, otherwise known as RA 7586, was enacted in response to an urgent need to protect the biodiversity of the Philippine ecosystems, which resulted to the establishment of “Protected Areas” (PA) system. Protected Areas are identified portions of land and/or water set aside by reason of their unique physical and biological significance managed to enhance biological diversity and protected against destructive human exploration. Apo Reef is one of the major natural areas in the Philippines endowed with significant marine resources and biodiversity. The Apo atoll-like reef complex is the largest of its type in the Philippines. The core area covers some 15,792 hectares, and the entire protected area (including the buffer zone) is 27,469 ha. The geographical features of ARNP are submerged except for 3 islands - Apo Island, Apo Menor Island (Binanggaan) and Cayos del Bajo (Tinangkapan) rising a few meters above sea level. The largest is Apo Island which harbors mangroves and beach vegetation. Binanggaan is a rocky limestone island with little vegetation; and Cayos del Bajo is a flat coralline rock formation with no vegetation1. Figure 1. Three islands of Apo Reef Natural Park – Apo Island, Apo Menor and Cayos del Bajo. 1 Draft Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plan 2014-2024 (unpublished), Municipal Planning and Development Office (MPDO) 5 APO REEF NATURAL PARK Rapid Site Assessment Report * April 2014 Apo Reef Natural Park (ARNP) is managed by the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) composed of local and national stakeholders and organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The implementer of the management is the Protected Area Supervising Unit based in the town proper of the municipality of Sablayan, Mindoro Occidental. A ranger station is also established in the main island of Apo Reef name Apo Island (not to be confused with Apo Island in Negros Oriental province). Anchored on the framework set by the NIPAS Act, active participation of local communities and other stakeholders is an essential element in the effective protected area management and sustainable resource utilization in the Natural Park. To achieve ARNP’s resource management and conservation objectives, it is therefore crucial for the PA managers to gain better appreciation and understanding of the diversity of stakeholders, their livelihood activities, resource use practices, and their dependence on the natural resources in ARNP. Hence, a rapid site assessment and profile updating of the socio-economic and cultural characteristics of the stakeholder communities and the institutional framework in the Apo Reef Natural Park (ARNP) was carried out from April to May 2014. The biodiversity assessments in the ARNP were also conducted on April 2014 to establish and update the database on the biodiversity and health status of marine and terrestrial flora and fauna.