BOLINAO, PHILIPPINES - SEAGRASS DEMONSTRATION SITE
UNEP/GEF South China Sea Project

Demonstration Site Manager
Ms. Tutu B. Almonte
City Agriculture Office
Puerto Princesa City
Palawan, Philippines
Fax: (63 48) 433 2106
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Local Government Official

Mr. Alfonso del Fierro Celeste, M.D
Municipal Mayor of Bolinao
Pangasinan, Philippines
Tel: (63 075) 554 2575
Mobile: (63) 927 712 7664
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Focal Point for the Seagrass Component
Dr. Marco Nemesio E. Montaño
Marine Science Institute
University of the Philippines (MSI/UP)
Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Tel:  (632) 927 2693; 922 3942
Fax: (632) 924 7678
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Regional Expert on Seagrass

Dr. Miguel Fortes
IOC Sub-Commission for Western Pacific (WESTPAC)
4th Floor, Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources Environment, 2nd Floor, 93 Soi Phahonyothin 7, Samsen Nai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand

Tel: (66 2) 298 2142
Fax: (66 2) 298 6313
E-mail:    This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ,
    This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
 

PCU Contact
Mr. Kim Sour
Associate Expert – Natural Sciences
UNEP/GEF Project Coordinating Unit
United Nations Building
2nd Floor, Block B
Rajdamnern Avenue
Bangkok, 10200, Thailand
Tel: (662) 288
Fax: (662) 288 1094
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Fisheries Threats Contact
Mr. Noel Barut
Chief
National Fisheries Research and Development Institute
Department of Agriculture
940 Kayumanggi Press Building I
Quezon Avenue
Quezon City 1103 Philippines
Tel:  (632) 372 5063; 373 6336
Mobile:(63) 9 17 8385701
Fax:  (632) 372 5063
E-mail:   This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Further Information on Seagrass in the South China Sea

Reports of the Meetings of the UNEP/GEF Regional Working Group on Seagrass

UNEP/GEF Review of Seagrass in the South China Sea

Seagrass Habitat Demonstration Site Information Resources  

Project Document for the Bolinao Seagrass Demo Site

Site Name and Geographic Coordinates
Name: Cape Bolinao Seagrass Demonstration Site
Latitude: 16.36–16.4oN
Longitude: 119.83 – 119.97oE

The project recognises the ecological and economic roles of seagrasses in Bolinao, and that the maintenance of their ecology and integrity will, in both the long and short term contribute to uplifting the lives of the citizens of this municipality. It also recognises that sustained efforts in this direction should involve local participation and initiatives. The project aims to establish functional linkages between and among community groups, academic institutions, with local and national government support, so that the seagrass ecosystems that form the resource base of local livelihoods will be enhanced, protected and managed. In addition, it will preserve the biodiversity in the seagrass meadows, marine fauna and flora alike, restore the degraded areas, and reduced threats and provide preventive actions to these threats.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES
The seagrass beds of Cape Bolinao form the base of fishery resources for 35 barangays (a Philippine political unit). As apparent in section 9, the seagrass beds of Bolinao are seriously threatened through the direct and indirect effects of human settlement and coastal development leading to intense pressure and anthropogenic disturbances to the said habitat.

There is real need to take initiatives to protect, conserve and maintain the resources. Seagrass beds play a very important role in the community since many of their livelihoods rely heavily on the seagrass beds. At present, most people in the community understand that the existing resource provides their livelihood. But the importance of linkage of seagrass beds with the other two major components of the marine ecosystem, mangroves and coral reefs, is not seriously considered.

Experience from other community-based initiatives shows that self-management of local resources is sustained and effective if user-communities take on ownership of management activities.

The objectives of the project are:

• To enhance resource management, particularly for seagrasses based on comprehensive data and information;
  
• To intensify and increase public awareness through information, education and communication campaign;
  
• To strengthen stakeholders’ capacity in management of resources; and
  
• To design and implement alternative/supplemental livelihood program.

OUTCOMES
With the implementation of the seagrass demonstration site in Bolinao, the following management outcomes are expected:

• A functional linkage among stakeholders;
  
• Increased public awareness;
  
• Strengthened capacity building among stakeholders;
  
• Improved legislation and enforcement practices from project recommendations
  
• Community establishment of protected sites;
  
• Sustained monitoring through the Seagrass Watch;
  
• Improved seagrass cover and maintenance of biodiversity;
  
• Developed and improved livelihood skills of coastal communities to protect and manage seagrass and related reef resources.