The Verde Framework Verde The The FrameworkVerde A Management Plan Framework for The Verde Island Passage Marine Corridor DENR PAGE 84 INSIDE BACK COVER The Verde Vision Verde Island Passage Marine Corridor at the center of global marine biodiversity, is a socially and economically developed community of responsible citizenry committed and empowered to be effective, conscientious and accountable stewards of our environment and natural resources.” & Mission “To mobilize partnerships and strengthen capability among local government units, national government agencies, private sectors, non-government organizations, academe, volunteer groups, social/civic organizations and coastal communities and residents for sustained biodiversity conservation and socio-economic development” COVER, INSIDE FRONT COVER & INSIDE BACK COVER IN SEPARATE FILE INSIDE FRONT COVER PAGE 1 The Verde Framework The Verde Island Passage Marine Corridor M a nagement Pl a n Fr a mework Philippine Copyright ©2009 Department of Environment & Natural Resources Protected Areas & Wildlife Bureau This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holder provided acknowledgment of the source is made. DENR - PAWB Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center Compound Quezon Avenue, Diliman 1101 Quezon City, Philippines Tel. (+632) 924-6031 Fax. (+632) 924-0109; (632) 925-8950 [email protected] http:www.pawb.gov.ph ISBN 978-971-8986-76-9 Printed and bound in the Philippines First printing, 2009. Second printing, 2010. For citation purposes this document may be cited as: Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau - Department of Environment & Natural Resources, 2009. The Verde Framework. PAGE 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary 4 I. Introduction 8 II. Description of the Verde Island 9 Passage Marine Corridor Geographic Location 9 Political Boundaries 10 The Province of Batangas The Province of Marinduque The Province of Mindoro Occidental The Province of Mindoro Oriental The Province of Romblon Bio-physical Profile 14 Corals Fishes and Other Marine Species Mangroves Seaweeds and Seagrasses Watersheds Existing MPAs 18 Socio-Economic Profile 21 FOREWORD Population Human Development Industry III. Legal and Institutional Framework 24 It might be easy to talk about sustainability and biodiversity as essential components of sustainable development, and even of life itself. But the fact remains that we need to persuade as many people as Legal Framework 24 possible that healthy, thriving and diverse ecosystems are essential to a healthy, thriving and diverse National Laws and Policies 24 Coastal and Ocean Management society. Fisheries Species and Habitat Protection Pollution With our ambitious targets on biodiversity, it is imperative for the government to continue its Land Use Management constructive engagement and collaboration with other sectors with the end view of minimizing negative Shipping and Navigation Other Relevant Laws environmental implications. Local Ordinances 29 Executive Order 578 of 2006 created an enabling policy environment that will enhance our International and Regional Agreements and Initiatives 30 institutional and regulatory capacities especially in the Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion and the Verde Island Passage Marine Corridor. It paved the way for all government departments and agencies to The Institutional Framework 31 integrate and mainstream the protection, conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity into Government Agencies Civil Society our policies, plans and programs. Emerging Institutional Arrangements IV. Exsisting Partnerships and Current The global significance of the Verde Island Passage as the “center of the center” of marine shorefish Conservation Efforts 35 diversity cannot be underestimated. All the more does it present us with challenges, which could not V. Critical Issues in the VIPMC 38 be faced if each of us worked in isolation. Institutional and Attitude Issues 40 Fishing Related Issues 40 This Management Plan Framework — the Verde Framework for short — demonstrates the possibility Biodiversity Issues 40 Land Use Issues 41 of reaching agreements between the government and other sectors on practical steps towards a Pollution 42 more sustainable world. This is about a step-change — a move from words to concerted action and Resource Use and Tourism Related Issues 43 Socio-Economic Issues 44 implementation. VI. Management Strategies 45 Let us all work together in harmony, guided by a management framework that will help set the forward Vision Statement, Mission, Goals 45 Guiding Principles 46 path to biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of the Verde Island Passage Marine Key Conservation Strategies 48 Corridor. VII. Proposed Management Body to Implement the Plan 52 References 57 Annexes 60 List of Acronyms and Abbreviations 81 Acknowledgement 83 JOSE L. ATIENZA, JR. Secretary, DENR and Chair, PCICDSCS 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In 2005, a study by Dr. Kent Carpenter, IUCN Global Marine Species Assessment During the Sulu-Sulawesi Congress held last June 20-22, 2007, participants identified the coordinator, and Victor Springer of the Smithsonian Institute revealed that the Verde Island following issues affecting the VIPMC, arranged in order of urgency: 1) Institutional/ Attitude; 2) Passage, situated between the province of Batangas and the island of Mindoro, Philippines, Fishing related issues; 3) Biodiversity; 4) Land use; 5)Pollution; 6) Resource Use and Tourism; contained a high concentration of marine species per unit area. The Verde Island Passage and, 7) Socio-economic. Marine Corridor (VIPMC) thus merited the distinction of being the “center of the center” of the world’s marine shorefish diversity, having 1,736 overlapping marine species over a Under the above context, a set of management strategies has been developed to address the issues 10-kilometer area, the highest concentration of marine life in the world. and ensure the viability and sustainability of the VIPMC. However, human activities such as fishing, tourism and navigation pose a serious threat to The Ad Hoc Task Force adopted the following vision in the formulation of the Verde Island Pas- this center of marine biodiversity. Carpenter and Springer warn that habitat degradation sage Corridor Management Plan Framework: and probably mass extinctions of unique marine biotic communities are inevitable if marine conservation is not prioritized. “Verde Island Passage Marine Corridor, at the center of global marine biodiversity, is a socially and economically developed community of responsible citizenry committed and empowered to In response to this urgent call, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, during the National be effective, conscientious and accountable stewards of our environment and natural resources.” Biodiversity Conference held on November 8, 2006, issued Executive Order No. 578 establishing the national policy on biodiversity. This was to be implemented throughout Drawing on the partnerships among the various sectors of society in recognition of the fact that the country, particularly in the Sulu Sulawesi Marine Ecosystem and highlighting and the protection, conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity is a shared responsibility, the prescribing the policy implementation in the Verde Island Passage Marine Corridor. mission for VIPMC is: This led to the convening of an Ad Hoc Task Force, which spearheaded a series of meetings “To mobilize partnerships and strengthen capability among local government and consultations geared towards the formulation of a management plan for the VIPMC. The units, national government agencies, private sectors, non-government 120-day time frame provided under the executive order to come up with a comprehensive organizations, the academe, volunteer groups, social/civic organizations management plan for the VIPMC was not enough and it was resolved that a framework shall and coastal communities and residents for sustained biodiversity conservation instead be developed to serve as the guide in formulating the management plan. and socio-economic development” The VIPMC, which consists of the coasts, islands, and waters of the five provinces of It is envisioned that the VIPMC will achieve the following management goals Southern Luzon, namely, Batangas, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Marinduque, by the year 2018: and Romblon, is a critical marine corridor which facilitates exchange and migration of species and nutrients across corridor waters. As the “center of the center” of marine shorefish 1. Increase the area and numbers of well-managed MPAs and MPA networks; diversity, the VIPMC has a high concentration of species per unit area and indicates that a 2. Establish an inventory of flora and fauna; number of unique communities in the area support this multitude of species, some of which 3. Address issues of other marine and coastal habitats such as estuarine are endangered and threatened. Coral reefs, mangroves, seagrasses, fishes and charismatic waters, saline lagoons, and intertidal marshes; marine species in the area confirm this fact. 4. Reduce threats to species and habitats; 5. Reduce threats from shipping and navigation; Philippine laws and policies, as well as international agreements and local and regional 6. Enforce laws and regulations effectively; plans, influence and stimulate the kind of management plan that will be developed for the 7. Improve the management of fisheries; VIPMC. 8. Set up and