Saving a coral hotspot

Saving the world’s "coral reef hotspots" may be a Herculean task given the deterioration of our surroundings. But environmental advocates are not leaving any stone unturned to preserve one of the world’s richest marine resources right here in the Philippines –Verde Island in Batangas.

In 2002, Conservation International’s Center for Applied Biodiversity Science (CABS) identified the Philippines as one of the world’s hottest "coral reef hotspots." Hotspots are coral reefs exceptionally rich in marine species found nowhere else in the world but which are facing extreme threats to survival. The other "coral reef hotspots" are Gulf of Guinea Islands, Sundra Islands, Southern Mascarene Islands, Eastern South Africa, Northern Indian Ocean, Southern Japan, Taiwan and Southern China, Cape Verde Islands, Western Caribbean, the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

In the Philippines, one of the very vital marine corridors is the Verde Passage, which includes Verde Island. This corridor is composed of the coasts, islands and waters of four provinces in Southern Luzon-Batangas, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental and Marinduque.

The Verde Passage is considered vital since it serves as a transition area between marine bio-geographic regions. It acts as a gateway for the exchange of propagulum and energy needed to sustain marine life as well as for the migration of marine species.

Realizing the importance of this marine corridor, Lopez-owned First Gen Holdings Corp., with its main businesses located in Batangas, decided to support a sustained program for conservation and development of the Verde Passage starting off with Verde Island.

Tapping the expertise of First Philippine Conservation Inc. and Conservation International Philippines, both known as leaders in the conservation of biodiversity here and abroad, the Verde Passage Marine Corridor Integrated Conservation and Development Program was launched at Hotel Pontefino, Batangas on May 18, 2005.

First Gen vice chairman Peter Garrucho Jr. said this partnership between First Gen FPCI, CI and the stakeholders shows a committed multi-sectoral involvement in the protection of the country’s marine resources.

Romeo Trono, country director of Conservation International, presented a study on the biodiversity significance of the Verde Passage Marine Corridor. He emphasized that the Verde Passage is a high priority in marine conservation because this corridor facilitates the exchange and migration of species and nutrients across seas.

According to Trono, more than 300 species of coral were identified in the Verde passage comparable to the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park. It also harbors sea turtles, giant clams, humphead wrasses and whale sharks.

Said First Gen and FPCI president Federico Lopez: "This is a long-term project. We have worked for a long time for this and we hope this will be sustained with the help of local and international partners.

"About 10 years ago, if you dove in Anilao, you would see the destruction done to the coral reefs and marine life due to dynamite fishing because, basically, people didn’t care or know any better. Today, Anilao has recovered and you will see numerous fishes – though small ones, not like the big ones in Tubbataha – abundant in the area. It won’t be long before you’ll see sharks and other marine life that had gone extinct in Anilao come back again," Lopez said.

The three-year program, which will be funded mostly by an international foundation, will cost about $5.7 million.