Slowing down biodiversity loss in Boracay

(Part 3 of a series on NCMS in Boracay)

BORACAY — Unknown to many, Boracay is home to several species of seagrass. Unlike seaweeds, these plants flower and fruit while completely submerged in seawater. Sadly, during the UNESCO NCMS (National Committee on Marine Sciences) Outreach Marine Programme in Boracay last January, the remaining seagrass beds were found to be highly disturbed and may be lost in a few years, if not properly and immediately protected. 

Seagrasses, seaweeds and algal blooms

To help protect the coast from further erosion, while improving biodiversity, NCMS Chairman Dr. Miguel Fortes strongly recommends enhancing what remains of the seagrass at Boracay’s western part, just fronting White Beach. Using sprigs (or short underground stems with shoots) to transplant the bigger species of seagrass, such as Cymodocea and Halodule, or seeds of Enhalus found at the eastern section of Boracay, the meadows can be enhanced. The small seagrass Halophila exists abundantly in most parts of Boracay. Effective retainers of sediments, seagrasses also enhance biodiversity by providing a refuge and a source of food (nursery) for many organisms, both plants and animals, with economic value.

Boracaynons have limited knowledge about seaweeds found in the waters around the island. Dr. Paciente Cordero Jr., a marine phycologist and former Executive Director of the National Research Council of the Philippines (NCRP) Foundation, made a survey of the seaweeds of Panay from the early ’80s to the present. He found at least four green species, two brown species and six red species in Boracay, including one which is commonly farmed in the country – Eucheuma specie. The early attempt to farm the species in Boracay, however, failed because the coastal space it required conflicted with that used by people for swimming, water sports, and navigation. In addition, the demand for its products in the island was very low so that the market was not viable. Seaweed farming is commonly practiced in other areas outside Boracay.

The occurrence of algal blooms in Boracay is not common. Situated on the western side of Boracay is Tablas Strait. Some reports say that due to the “cleansing” effect of the strong currents of the waters of the strait, harmful algal blooms are not experienced in the island.

Carabao Island, the ‘Next Boracay’

Carabao Island, a still pristine island located in San Jose town, Romblon, just north of Boracay Island, has been dubbed as the “next Boracay”. But whoever dubbed it as such has in mind only the Boracay that exists today – a natural beauty that is drawing hordes of visitors primarily because of its white powdery sands and nightlife. The label does not consider that sadly, Boracay is gradually dying a slow painful death from extreme environmentally unfriendly tourism development and recreational activities that put premium only to short-term economic gains.

To protect Carabao Island from becoming a “next Boracay”, a sustained political will from the government coupled with cooperation from the local communities is needed and encouraged. Initially, they can simply: (1) learn the mistakes made in Boracay and other places so that these will not be repeated in Carabao Island; (2) incorporate the learning in the development and implementation of the tourism management plans: (3) give moratorium to developers who have started major construction but who have not done so in violation of existing laws; (4) stop all new constructions until an honest carrying capacity study has been conducted, validated and accepted by stakeholders; and (5) adhere to existing applicable laws. From here, everything will fall in their proper places. It is important that law-abiding and “more endowed” citizens in the area do something in Boracay and in Carabao Island examples of “wise practices”, which future activities in the islands could emulate.

As suggested by Dr. Fortes, the UNESCO Philippine NatCom for its part, should immediately: (1) connect with the highest authorities, including the LGUs of Romblon, especially those with passionate concern for Carabao Island and its potentials: (2) request the members of its different committees to study the island in terms of its natural, cultural, and social potentials; and (3) make it a part of the NatCom’s responsibility of protecting the patrimony of the nation.

Carrying capacity of Boracay

I got a copy of a comment/reaction from one of our readers, Dr. Lope Calanog, Assistant Director of ERDB-DENR (Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau) which he sent to Dr. Fortes through email, which stated, “…For your information, I did a tourism carrying capacity check in Boracay, particularly in White Beach, and I found out that the visitor carrying capacity has not been exceeded yet. Based on my computation, the carrying capacity of the beach area is about 10,000 plus visitors per day. I compared this to the daily record of the DOT (Department of Tourism) in the island, which is only 9,000 plus. Hence, I came into a conclusion that the visitor threshold limit has not been exceeded yet, but very soon this will be reached and surpassed given the kinds of promotional activities being done by DOT.”

Dr. Fortes replied that William Trousdale’s 1997 study, “Carrying Capacity Consideration, the Need for Managing Change in a Unique Tourism Destination (Boracay Island Philippines)”, stated that of the 16 key indicators for carrying capacity, almost 40 percent exceeded their carrying capacity thresholds and 44 percent are demonstrating trends that are unsustainable. Having seen how tourism is generally being mismanaged since the late ’80s, Dr. Fortes agreed that the critical environmental limits for the reefs fronting White Beach from about 20 to 60 feet have been exceeded. This is evidenced by the underwater footage and video of the area they made during the last week of January, which showed rampant degradation and destruction of what could have been a lush reef. 

Dr. Fortes added that the carrying capacity for tourism need to go into true environmental carrying capacity and not simply the capacity in relation to the number of visitors. There are other more useful and defining parameters which should be considered in the equation, such as the water, space, ecosystem, productivity, ecological risks, people’s perceptions, etc. The 1997 study also stated that “what is surprising and disturbing about these results is the implication that the present governance systems in Boracay are incapable of meeting the challenges facing the island’s growth management requirements.” Dr. Fortes will mobilize select members of the NCMS to pursue the Boracay study, including its cultural aspects, by the end of March.

Developing new partnerships towards a common goal

The NCMS Outreach Programme in Boracay, like the programs undertaken in 16 other sites in the country since 1994, gave us a broader perspective of the issues our countrymen are facing and will face in the next years to come. For the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines, it opened great opportunities to develop partnerships with other concerned citizens and organizations in addressing common issues relating to the preservation and conservation of our marine heritage.

In Boracay, one such partnership was established with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Boracay Foundation (represented by Executive Director Virgie Sarabia) and SPR Real Estate (represented by Sales Director and PRO Elena Brugger). Having experienced how Boracay is being transformed from a pristine tourism destination of our country to one that is fast losing its luster, these organizations have demonstrated their passion to restore Boracay to that island they used to know. With UNESCO-NCMS, they are willing and able to commit to a partnership to address the environmental, social and cultural issues plaguing the area.

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