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 neighbor
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.
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.
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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.
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 seems to be solved
last years.
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.
Themes
