Key Sustaining Factors to Effective Marine Protected Area Implementation
in the Philippines
Rudolf Hermes
Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine
Research and Development (PCAMRD),
Los Banos, Laguna 4030, Philippines
ABSTRACT
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are the major interventions aimed at resource regeneration within the framework of coastal resources management in the Philippines. More than 400 areas are under some form of protective management, ranging from cross-border international parks to small village-based sanctuaries. However, there is little doubt that only a fraction of the total can be considered functional and providing the expected impact or benefits.
In order to help assure the likelihood of expected positive impacts and sustainable management of MPAs, regardless of size and lead implementing agency, several key contributing factors are identified. These are, apart from the obvious funding support and political will, the following:
None of the listed seven areas of concern describe entirely new practices. Therefore, more than 25 years after MPA establishment was initiated in the Philippines, increased attention should be paid not only to the type of activities which need to be implemented in order to secure the MPAs’ effectiveness, but more emphasis needs to be placed on the quality of the processes initiated and carried out.