Developing a Provincial MPA Management Effectiveness Program in the Province of Cebu, Philippines

Full Title:

Overview:

Successful management of marine protected areas (MPAs) is indicative of effective coral reef conservation, maintenance of ecosystem processes and functions, as well as building resilience to disturbances and fluctuations. MPAs also provide a relatively simple system that embraces traditional practices to enforce conservation as well as creating opportunities for community participation, education, eco-tourism, and generation of sustainable income. Over 600 MPAs have been legally established through local legislation. Recognizing that an untapped potential in MPA management effectiveness monitoring is the available resources and capacity of Provincial governments to support municipal MPA management efforts, the Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation is implementing the project: "Developing a Provincial MPA Management Effectiveness Program in the Province of Cebu, Philippines." The over-all goal is to improve management effectiveness of MPAs by building capacities and implementing a provincial learning network and MPA management effectiveness system for MPAs in the Province of Cebu that contributes to and assists to refine the national MPA Rating and Database System. The project will focus on three Cebu municipalities as pilot areas which have established 14 MPAs so far. Most of these MPAs are newly established and are in varying degrees of management, thus requiring technical assistance to develop capacity and set up mechanisms to increase management effectiveness.

Objectives:

The over-all goal of the proposed project is to improve management effectiveness of marine protected areas (MPAs) by building capacities and implementing a provincial learning network and MPA management effectiveness system for MPAs in the Province of Cebu that contributes to and assists to refine the national MPA Rating and Database System. Specifically, the objectives are to: (1) Develop a provincial learning network and MPA management effectiveness system for MPAs using the national MPA effectiveness rating and database system developed by CCE Foundation and refined by the "How is Your MPA Doing" guidebook; (2) Improve MPA management capacity for MPAs in the Province of Cebu resulting in an increase in MPA rating by at least one level higher; (3) Assess and monitor MPA management effectiveness by utilizing biophysical, socioeconomic and governance indicators; (4) Strengthen the Provincial MPA monitoring and database system while contributing towards the enhancement of the national MPA management effectiveness system; and (5) Disseminate lessons learned and best practices through strategic means, including: development, production and distribution of education materials, training modules; and through the CCE Foundation website, newsletters, and technical articles on reef surveys and marine sanctuary monitoring outputs of target MPA areas; and participation in identified regional symposia and national conferences.

Funder:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the Department of the United States Department of Commerce.

Duration:

October, 2008 - March, 2010