Southern Leyte Coral Reef Conservation Project: June 2006 update
Added to website: 11 July 2006
Project Brief
Aim
The Southern Leyte Coral Reef Conservation Project (SLCRCP) is a three-year collaborative project (2002–2005), to survey the coral reefs of Sogod Bay. The programme provides training and conservation education opportunities for local Filipinos, as part of an integrated programme to develop local capacity and ensure the long-term protection and sustainable use of marine resources throughout the region.
Location
Sogod Bay, Southern Leyte, South-Eastern Philippines.
Project Partners
CCC is working at the invitation of and in partnership with the Provincial Government of Southern Leyte and the Philippine Reef & Rainforest Conservation Foundation Inc (PRRCFI).
Marine Science Programme
Baseline SurveysBackground: Our baseline surveying programme is designed to gather data about the biological and morphological standing of Sogod Bay. These data are combined with information on human and natural impacts on the reefs, along with oceanographic data, to ultimately produce a Geographical Information System ‘map’ of the various habitats of the bay. It is like a ‘stock-take’ of the current marine resources, which is being produced to provide policymakers and concerned institutions with information necessary to effectively manage those resources. To date, the northern end of Sogod Bay has been surveyed, and the remainder of the project will concentrate on the south and Limasawa Island. If you would like more information on our surveying rationale or methodology, please don’t hesitate to contact our Project Scientist.
With a larger number of volunteers this month, efforts were concentrated around the island of Limasawa and hope to complete many of our surveys before the Habagat arrives and limits boat travel to and from the island. However this month has been very productive and survey teams have worked hard to complete 6 full transects, both in North and West Limasawa. The reefs here are generally patchy but diverse in their biological cover.
Next month, we have an even greater number of volunteers, almost too many for our boat, Sanga, and hopefully the weather will be nice to us!
ReefCheck
Background:Based at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), ReefCheck is the name of both the world’s largest coral reef monitoring network and of the common methodology used, allowing the comparison of results from various locations worldwide. Although less detailed than CCC’s baseline surveys, the ReefCheck method is effective for monitoring changes in reef health over time. In order to do this, we mark the survey ‘transect’ with metal stakes, to ensure that repeat surveys are in the same place each time. These stakes are sited in rock, dead coral or sand for minimal disruption of the fragile reef system. CCC is proud to be a major contributing member of ReefCheck. Check out their site at www.ReefCheck.org
During the month April, we only completed 4 Reef Check Surveys around Ampo reef and Buenavista M.P.A. We have a student from England joining us next month to conduct more Reef Check surveys and write her Masters Dissertation Project on the results found over the last 18 months. The data will provide accurate assessment of the coral coverages and impacts made to the reefs at Ampo and ‘Medicare’ in Padre Burgos.
Education
We also have with us now, Karen Holman, an education consultant from England, who will be working with the Department of Education, local and Provincial Governments to increase education of reef ecology and awareness in local schools. The project will involve working with teachers in Southern Leyte and school children in what will be called the ‘SEASTARS Award Scheme’. It is a 4 level scheme which will encourage teachers and schools to include environmental awareness in their classes and also to get children out on local reefs surveying impacts in their areas. Each active child will be awarded a ‘Reef Ranger’ certificate and information pack on corals and fishes found in Southern Leyte waters. I’m sure Karen will be informing many of you personally and working towards a brighter future for the younger generation.Community based projects
On the 10th June, Kinderhilfe, the German run childrens orphanage in Padre Burgos visited our base at Ampo College for a Reef Awareness day. The day included a small lecture on the basis of reef formation, a tour of Coral Cay base and an introduction to our work, a fish drawing competition, a board game designed to raise conservation awareness for children, a snorkel over Ampo reef and even a try at SCUBA equipment in our small pool. All the children enjoyed their day, especially playing (and beating) us on the volleyball court and the day finished with a small puppet show called ‘Fred the Fish’ about a Clown Anemone fish who loses his home due to dynamite fishing and must go in search of a new home in the ‘Sanctuary’. The play was done in English and then translated into Visayan by our nurse Delia Dejacto.
CCC volunteers, Staff and the Kinderhilfe group
Interesting/Unusual Sightings
I am very excited to report that that some major sightings have occurred in the surrounding areas by CCC volunteers, staff and its local friends.A quiet, shy fish called a Mandarinfish Synchirpous splendidus was spotted on 2 separate occasions on Ampo reef hiding in some corals. The fish normally feeds at dawn and dusk but was seen out and about on a darker day when the rain was falling. The coloration makes the fish easy to identify but still difficult to spot. Definitely a fun fish!!
