Transcript ronda presentation

DURHAM UNIVERSITY CORAL
AWARENESS AND RESEARCH
EXPEDITION 2008
Endorsed by
Durham University Coral Awareness
and Research Expedition (DUCARE)
What is DUCARE?
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5 years partnership with CDF! (2004–2008)
Carry out reef check surveys in four areas
of the Visayas – including Ronda! This
helps determine the level of threat to the
coral reef in your area.
Raise Filipino awareness of the marine
environment by presenting our findings to
important people (you!). The Philippines is
heavily dependant on the seas for food and
other resources.
Educate schoolchildren on the importance
of respecting their coral reef, helping them
appreciate the dangers of dynamite fishing,
cyanide fishing, hunting endangered
species and other human impacts.
DUCARE 2008 Aims
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Provide high-quality data on the
health of the marine environment in
your area.
Assist in the development of
Coastal Resource Management
policies that prepare regions with a
sustainable usage plan.
Provide equipment for and
assistance to new and existing
sanctuaries.
By surveying local communities,
determine how effective the
message of protection and
preservation of the sea has been.
Meet the team….
David Murphy: Team Leader
Rose Janes: Grant Officer
Charlotte Jones: Treasurer
Jessica Batchelor: Medical Officer
Rupert Carter: Fundraiser
Florence Brockway: Education Officer
Juilitta Sofat: Fundraiser
Tom Bohills: Grant Officer
Robert Parson: Logistics Officer
Kristofer Chan: Team Scientist
Marine Ecosystem
Coral Reef
Mangrove
Sea Grass
What are Mangroves?
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Species of tree or shrub that grows in sheltered salt
water
Flowering plants that have reinvaded the fringes of
the sea
60-70% of the tropical coastline is lined with
mangroves
Mangroves common to the Philippines have:
- Shallow roots, some above the surface of the
substrate to allow for oxygen absorption
- Tough leaves with internal water storage
Grow in coral, rock or sand, but thrive in mud
Why are they important?
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Accumulate and trap nutrients
Nursery grounds for fish to breed away from
predators
For every hectare cut down there is a corresponding
reduction in fish catch of around 108 tons per
hectare per year
Source of wood for housing and detrital matter
Coastal protection
Reduce pollution levels through carbon production
Tourist attraction for bird watching etc
Source of tannin, alcohol and medicine
What are the threats?
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Costal land reclamation and development
Silting can occur in some regions due to
logging
Pollution
Overexploitation
Gleaning/fish landing
- 95% of the remaining Philippine mangroves
are secondary growth
Flowering plants adapted to live submerged in water
Why is it important?
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Habitats for fish and invertebrates
Provides nursery feeding and spawning areas
Subjects for scientific inquiry
Produces rich nutrients
Enhances water quality
The roots and leaves are an abundant food source
Feeding ground for marine turtles and the highly
endangered dugong
What are the threats?
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Sedimentation
Destructive fishing
Costal development:
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waste disposal
boat traffic
aquaculture
978 km2 of sea grass beds have been identified in
the Philippines
About half of the sea grass beds have either been
lost or severely degraded over the past 50 years
What are Coral Reefs?
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Living organism
Complex ecosystem created by corals and other
substrates engaging in symbiotic relationships
Primarily made of deposits of calcium carbonate
produced by corals and other organisms
The Philippines is the centre of global marine
biodiversity, containing more then 25,000km2 of
coral reefs
Most of the reefs in the Visayas are relatively young
fringing reefs, which develop close to the shoreline
Why are they important?
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The country’s reefs contain 464 species of
hard coral, and 1000+ species of fish,
numerous invertebrates and algal species
Breeding grounds for fish
Fishing grounds
Natural, self-repairing breakwater
Sources of medicinal compounds
Scientific interest
Tourist attractions
What are the threats?
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Dynamite fishing
Cyanide fishing
Harvesting of rare animals for aquarium and curio
trades
Anchor damage
Litter
Destructive impacts of tourism
Diver induced damage
Corals are very slow growing – once damaged they
will take years to recover- Upsetting one area can
have a widespread effect on the entire ecosystem
Marine Ecosystem
Coral Reef
Mangrove
Sea Grass
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
Over 600 MPA’s in the Philippines
 But less than 10% are managed efficiently
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Gilutongan MPA: Estimated "Investment" Costs and "Return on Investment"
based on User Fees of PhP 50 for Foreigners and PhP 25 for Filipinos (Note:
Does not include income of vendor's cooperative which may equal user fee income)
70,000
60,000
Estimated "Return on Investment"
based only on
MPA User Fees:
Estimated Value - US $ / Year
50,000
+ US$100,000 in 7 years
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
-10,000
-20,000
Estimated "Investment" Costs to Establish Functional MPA
Estimated MPA Enforcement & Operational Costs
Gilutongan MPA User Fee Gross Revenues
Gilutongan MPA Net "Return of Investment" from User Fees
Gilutongan MPA Net "Return of Investment" from User Fees
Ronda overview
First designated MPA 2002
 IUCN protection category VI- Managed
Resource Protected Area:
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 Mainly
for sustainable use of natural
ecosystems
Reef check
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Started 1997
Largest international coral reef monitoring
program involving recreational divers and
marine scientists
Aims:
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Overview of human impacts on coral reefs
long-term monitoring
Over 1500 trained volunteer divers are led by
160 scientists in surveys of 250 reefs
Result compiled by comparing fish and
invertebrate species and substrate types which
are indicators of the health of the reef
Reef Check Results
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2007
2008
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2
1
Mean frequency per 500m³
Temporal comparison of Ronda data
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6
5
0
Moray eel
Parrotfish
Bumphead
parrot
Humphead
wrasse
Grouper
Barramundi cod
Snapper
Haemulidae
Butterflyfish
Indicator fish
Indicator fish species comparison of Ronda and Gilutongan in
2008
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Mean frequency per 500m³
10
Moray eel
Parrotfish
Bumphead parrot
9
8
7
Humphead wrasse
Grouper
Barramundi cod
6
5
Snapper
Haemulidae
Butterflyfish
4
3
2
1
0
Ronda
Gilutongan
Site
Pie chart illustrating proportion of good and bad invertebrate indocator species in 2007
2
good
bad
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Pie chart illustrating proportion of good and bad invertebrate indocator species in
2008
0
good
bad
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