El Nido, Palawan — Two conservation agreements (CAs) were renewed in El Nido yesterday, December 19, 2019, between Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI), the municipal and barangay local governments and several community associations for marine biodiversity conservation partnerships covering barangays San Fernando and Teneguiban.
Witnessed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources El Nido branch, the original CA’s were signed in 2016 to set-up and improve community-based management of marine protected areas (MPAs) and adjoining coastal ecosystems within the localities. As a fast-growing tourism destination in the recent decade, rapid degradation of the environment was experienced with the influx of tourists and volume of development within the municipality. As at the CA signing, the MPA’s are in the process of expansion and have been submitted for legislative action by the municipality’s council.
At the same time, rice incentives for active bantay dagats (sea rangers) were also released as part of the signing program held at Nacpan beach.
