Project update - Southern Leyte Coral Reef Conservation Project (Philippines) - July 2004
Added to website: 01 July 2004
Project Brief
Aim
The Southern Leyte Coral Reef Conservation Project 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.
CCC 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 Surveys
Number of transects completed
Three baseline transects have been completed this month to a depth of 0.5m.
Reef Check
Reef Check stakes now set down in Sector 5 (11m and 5m) and Sector 6 (11m). The results from the Sector 5 surveys should prove very interesting, as there is very high hard coral cover, although target fish and invertebrates are noticeably low in abundance(pers.obs.).
Interesting / Unusual Sightings
The survey teams have spotted quite a few green turtles in Sectors 5 and 6. There is a nesting beach along the coast towards Maasin.
Environmental Awareness
Capacity Building/Training of Local Counterparts
In our neighbouring barangay Santa Sofia, there is a beach front which had been populated with mangroves until the 1980’s, when a combination of logging and typhoons destroyed them. The people of the barangay attempted to replant 1000 saplings last year, but a combination of inappropriate species selection and a mistimed planting at the start of the south-west monsoon, the Habagat, doomed the project. After discussion with the barangay representatives and after visiting the site, CCC is planning to assist in undertaking a replant in October. We hope to involve students from the local high school as well as the community.
On 4th of July, we held our inaugural Open Day at the new project site. Two teachers and around 25 parents accompanied the 60 pupils of Tangkaan Primary School for an afternoon of marine environmental appreciation and awareness. The children had the opportunity to snorkel with three of our site team and observe the marine life firsthand. They also saw a slideshow of the fishes, corals and invertebrates of Sogod Bay, created an undersea collage and enjoyed CCC’s Fred the Fish educational puppet show. Next month, we are planning a Coral Reef Symposium in St. James College, Padre Burgos, and hope to also host an Open Day for one of a number of schools who are interested. More details next month.
On Thursday 29th July, CCC attended a forum hosted by the Provincial CRM Office to discuss ways of improving communication and co-operation between the various agencies working in Coastal Resources Management in Southern Leyte. Governmental and Non-Governmental bodies were represented at the forum, including Leyte State University, Southern Leyte State University, GTZ, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Economic Development Foundation and others. Furthermore, a role for the recently formed Provincial CRM Office was discussed and defined. All parties were in agreement that enhanced communication would be beneficial to all involved in CRM in the Province. Quarterly meetings of this CRM ‘Network’, as it has been informally christened, will help to streamline the CRM effort and to enhance the sharing of expertise and information. It is hoped that an annual report will be produced, outlining the activities and achievements of each of the agencies. This ‘Network’ will be of tremendous benefit to CCC, as incoming Project Scientists will now have a ready-made CRM workgroup in place when they arrive.
