|
Manila,
Luzon
 Themes
Regions
More
Information
| |
|
Turtle
Islands in the
Philippines
|
|
 |
|
The Tawi-Tawi islands
South of the island Palawan there is a group of seven small islands, which
is known as "the Turtle Islands". Locally the islands are known as
the "Tawi-Tawi islands". The total land surface of the Turtle
Islands is no more than 318 hectares. The Turtle Islands,
|
together with three islands of neighbour country Malaysia and the
surrounding coral waters, are the only living area of
the Green Sea Turtles in Asia and in the whole world. Since 1996 the
islands are declared Protected Area, the only way to guarantee the
existence of the green sea turtles and their nesting sites. |
| |
 |
Protection, how?
The Philippine government declared by order the 7 islands as a protected
area. For five islands the government decided for special
protection zones. Within this zones only scientific and
conservation activities are allowed. In other zones there are certain
rules in order to prevent too much impact by people on the environment
and the turtles. Visiting these zones is only possible with strict
guidance and under supervision of the staff of the officials of the
government.
Picture: ©
ARCBC |
*
|
Local people help with
conservation activities
For a successful conservation and
protection program the support of the locals is very important. Fishing
is for most of them the most important activity. Hunting the
sea turtles and collecting the turtle eggs for food, has always
been a welcome possibility for additional income. At the end of
August to December the turtles come by hundreds out of the surrounding
coastal waters to lay and dig their eggs into the sand. The staff of the
Conservation Project succeeded in convincing the locals of the need to
minimize their collecting activities. Local men, women and
children, are now involved and help with the protection
activities. |
Picture: ©
ARCBC
|
|
Laws and regulations
It seems that the Philippines is not lacking laws and regulations concerning environmental
protections. This doesn't mean that all is settled
and that there are no problems with reference to for instance coral
waters, forest , marine turtles and fish waters. On the contrary! Illegal
practices give many times problems with reference to the conservation
ends of the government. For the turtles the problems seem to be solved
last years.
|
Orders to protect
nature, some examples
Bureau
of Forestry Administrative Order No. 1
Regulations governing the collecting, gathering and / or disposing
of marine turtles,
turtle eggs and its by-products.
DENR
Administrative Order No. 97-05
Procedures in the retention of areas within certain distances along the banks of
rivers, streams, and shore of seas, lakes and oceans for environmental protections.
Presidential
Decree No. 1219
Decree to provide the exploration, exploitation, utilization and conservation of coral
resources. |
|
