CCEF organized a consultation meeting discussing the findings derived from habitat assessment result of Bugas Marine Protected Area

Badian, Cebu, Oct. 5, 2023 – In a notable step towards the preservation of the Bugas Marine Protected Area (MPA), a 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 was recently conducted, aimed at delivering status updates and thorough findings derived from the prior biophysical assessment of the area.

t was revealed that the 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮’𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝟮%, 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 due to multiple factors, but primarily attributed to the 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. This problem is exacerbated by the loss of upland forest, beach forest, and mangrove communities in the certain region. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘇𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗳𝘀. Moreover, the current marine protected area is also contending with the 𝘀𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁-𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝘂𝗻-𝗼𝗳𝗳, which directly impacts the MPA within the vicinity of the tributary.

Considering these challenges, the team has proposed a comprehensive strategy to bolster the effectiveness of the marine protected area. This plan includes not only 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 its boundaries to steer clear of siltation paths but also 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝗷𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘀. Importantly, this expansion would encompass the surrounding area where a healthier 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝟮𝟬% 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱, offering a glimmer of hope for the recovery and preservation of the marine ecosystem.

The consultation was a pivotal opportunity to garner valuable insights, input and approval from the key stakeholders. These stakeholders included the People’s Organization in Barangay Bugas, the Badian Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council, and government agencies such as the Municipal Agriculture Office, Tañon Strait Protected Seascape, and the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office.

The team is preparing to present these recommendations on the upcoming barangay session. Simultaneously, the team is also exploring further steps to augment this effort that includes an extensive Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) Campaign within the community, aimed at raising awareness and providing comprehensive education about the advantages of marine protected areas.

With these initiatives in motion, the Bugas MPA preservation initiative is making substantial progress and well-positioned to create a lasting impact. This is made possible through the collaborative commitment of all stakeholders involved.

#ccef #unicoconservationfoundation #SeeConservation

By: Justine Jace R. Baisac, Communications and Development Associate