Featured: Community Empowerment and Biodiversity Conservation of the Danjugan Marine Reserve and Sanctuaries
BACOLOD, PHILIPPINES — With the looming threat of the climate crisis to our ecosystems, efforts to protect marine reserves and wildlife sanctuaries are put front and center. As a consequence of climate change, which exacerbates our ecological and biodiversity crises and is dominantly caused by human use of fossil fuel, numerous environmental conservation efforts are being undertaken both at the national and local levels. One such conservation effort is the Danjugan Marine Reserve and Sanctuaries (DMRS), a marine protected area (MPA) surrounding Danjugan Island. The island itself is a private sanctuary owned and managed by the Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PRRCFI). The NGO has been working to conserve Danjugan Island’s ecosystems for almost 30 years.
Danjugan Island is a 43-hectare island found in Barangay Bulata, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, and is rich with a variety of ecosystems and species. Since 1994 under the operations of the PRRCFI, the island has continued to provide experiential environmental education programs, marine and wildlife camps, ecotourism, scientific research, and zero-waste initiatives. As a result of these efforts, Danjugan Island has garnered various awards, both at the domestic and international level, for its biodiversity conservation efforts. It also has an extensive network of partners that continue to support its conservation efforts and research such as Coral Cay Conservation, USAID, and GIZ.
At present, environmental conservation advocate Dave Albao spearheads PRRCFI as its Executive Director. They were a 2016 Professional Fellow on Sustainability in Oregon, USA and a graduate of Swedish Institute Management Programme on Sustainable Business in 2020. In 2021, Dave was named a Gen.T Leader of Tomorrow by Tatler Asia for their work on nature conservancy.
In an exclusive interview, Parabukas sits down with Albao as they talk about the climate crisis, biodiversity conservation, and community engagement through the story of Danjugan Island.
Dave Albao, executive director of the Philippine Reef & Rainforest Conservation Foundation, Inc., manages Danjugan Island wildlife sanctuary in Cauayan, Negros.
Parabukas: How has the climate crisis affected marine and wildlife reserves like Danjugan Island?
Dave: There are numerous ways that climate change affects these reserves depending on which part of the world you are in—these consequences vary in terms of the kind of ecosystem it alters. In the context of a small island like Danjugan, one of the most visible effects is the sea level rise in which high tides become higher. In turn, this leads to the erosion of the shore. At the same time, it is also affecting the nests of endangered wildlife like sea turtles and other vulnerable species like the Tabon bird which is a ground-dwelling bird that lays its eggs on the sands. Hence, animals that are dependent on the shore for nesting or hatching are evidently affected by this.
Another significant issue brought about by global warming is the bleaching of reefs and corals. Bleaching occurs when ocean water conditions are too stressful for the corals; this is usually because of changes in temperature or pollution. The algae that live in and feed the coral tissue, will leave and the coral and causes it to turn white and eventually die. In terms of the ecosystem effects of a changing climate, there are also the changing patterns of spawning, fish movement, and even ocean acidity. Further, supertyphoons are a clear manifestation of the effects of climate change and such typhoons do not only affect communities themselves but also have an impact on terrestrial ecosystems. For instance, one iconic tree on the island used for nesting by white-bellied sea eagles fell down during typhoon Odette last December 2021.
These adverse consequences of the changing climate are not only experienced by the various species and wildlife, they are also felt by vulnerable communities as well. The amount of fish and other fish products like crabs, lobsters, and shells relied upon by fisherfolks for their livelihood also decreases as a consequence. Thus, a compromised ecosystem has a domino effect on all those found and relying on such an ecosystem.
Click the photo to read more on how the changing climate affects livelihoods.
Parabukas: Taking all of that into account, what is the importance of designating certain areas as marine protected areas (MPA) under various laws? How has Danjugan Island benefited from such designation?
Dave: What is important is to first understand how these laws define and cover protected areas. In the current framework under the E-NIPAS Act 1 , it covers nationally protected areas and can also include protected seascapes. Here, the management is usually centralized with agencies and local government working together. In the context of Danjugan, the marine protected area is locally declared and covers the municipal waters around the island; the MPA is officially named as the Danjugan Marine Reserve and Sanctuaries (DMRS). While the establishment of such an MPA has a long and interesting history, we’ve also managed to update and expand the protections afforded to these waters through the cooperation of stakeholders with a recent municipal ordinance that covers seagrass, mangroves, and corals. The more appropriate term we use in referring to these waters is local conservation areas (LCA) in order to distinguish them from the E-NIPAS protected areas.
The importance of establishing these MPAs is that they ensure ecosystem integrity. When a specific zone is designated as a protected area, it is easier to regulate actions over it in order to ensure that the habitat and species in these areas are performing their ecological functions. However, we also have to consider that protected areas can be perceived by others, especially the community residing in that locality, as outside our control and which may compromise the community’s needs.
For example, when there is restricted access by establishing no-take zones where no fishing is allowed and these have been considered as traditional fishing grounds of the community prior to the MPA being put in place, it is evident that this would lead to user conflicts and constricting demands for the services that the ecosystem provide. Thus, an MPA would hopefully manage such conflict arising from resource use and would provide alternatives for these displaced fisherfolk that would not only benefit the MPA itself but the community as well.
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1 The main law which supports marine conservation in the Philippines is the E-NIPAS or Expanded National Integrated Protected Area Systems Act. It was passed in 2018 and allows marine protected areas to be established, with recognition of the various owners and stakeholders: local government units, community members, and Indigenous Peoples.
Click the photo to learn more about Marine Protected Areas in the Philippines.
Parabukas: How can environmental projects, like those initiated by the PRRCFI, achieve their goals while at the same time consider the needs of communities like those of fisherfolks who rely on the same areas and resources for their livelihood?
Dave: The narratives of the community must never be detached with the environment that they are a part of. Ultimately, we have to view MPAs as community initiatives in the sense that people discuss together the sustainability and future of their resources. It also helps ensure inclusive representation over the issues that affect them. A crucial part of this work involves environmental education and thus, when it comes to dealing with these questions of climate change, the environment, and the community who rely on the same, we have to ensure that we are approaching the topic in a nuanced manner. We need to take into account how the community views these environmental projects. For instance, while some development projects may not seem entirely environmentally sustainable, it might be the community itself that would want and push for these projects since it can greatly benefit them.
There is the need to balance these interests and look towards the aspect of social acceptability as well—what might be socially acceptable to the community may not be the most inclined towards conservation but towards economic growth and development. Hence, we cannot treat ourselves as mere experts deployed to these communities and instruct them as to how they should use their own resources. Even if we think we are right and that whatever approach we have is supported by science, the challenge is how we practice empathy in working with the community to understand their context and their needs. Thus, these issues of environmental conservation and the climate crisis must be presented in a way that aligns with their needs and context—what use would these concepts and ideas be to them if they feel hungry and if they cannot provide food for their families. Hence, all these issues of the environment and of the community are inherently interrelated and cannot be discussed in a vacuum.
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The story of Danjugan Marine Reserve and Sanctuaries is one that inevitably intersects with the narratives of the community that resides in its area, with the species that comprise its ecosystems, and with the continuing collective efforts of its stakeholders to combat the climate crisis. To learn more about PRRCFI, its ongoing projects, and how you can be a part of this, visit their official website or Facebook page. For more information on Danjugan Island, visit their official Instagram and Facebook account.