been reduced to Sargassum fields. Though hard hit by a recent wave of red tide, the area near Ulugan Bay thrives with sea turtles and sharks. The crown-of-thorns seastar (Acanthaster planci) is not uncommon around this area as well. High coral cover remains in a number of places within Honda Bay. Soft corals are common in eastern Puerto Princesa and in a few places even dominate the hard corals. In western Puerto Princesa, coral reef rehabilitation efforts and the feasibility of extracting alginates from Sargassum need to be studied more thoroughly. Many of the potential coral reef core zones are in Honda Bay. Thus, the entire bay may be established as a large marine protected area with specific core zones that will complement each other (Sale et al. 2005). There is, however, a critical need to integrate the coastal management plan with the terrestrial environment (e.g., Cho in press).
Reef fish communities of Puerto Princesa appear to be in relatively good condition in terms of species richness. From the total of 86 sampling stations, a least 13 were identified as high priority core zones having the highest species richness in the east coast and the west coast independently. In addition, even (7) small and fragile islands prone to both natural and anthropogenic stress, within Honda Bay were also identified as additional potential reef fishes core zone sites.
Detailed assessments of these 13 sites must be conducted to generate more information on the status and condition of the fish communities and their habitat. Other sites of special interest shall likewise be subjected to future studies as bases for the establishment of additional core zones to form the “network” of protected areas.
On the other hand, seagrass and associated seaweeds assessment resulted in gathering of geo-referenced vegetation data and substratum features from 40 seagrass-dominated stations in 12 coastal barangays that encompass the three major embayments and the eastern coastline of the City. Lush and wide seagrass meadows occurred in the Southeast of the mainland (Inagawan) and within Puerto Princesa Bay (Mangingisda, Iwahig, Bancao-Bancao) and Honda Bay (San Pedro to Tagburos, Luli Island, Tadio/ Pundeado Island). A lush meadow was also found in deeper waters off Concepcion to Binduyan. Cross-bed estimates of ≥50% cover by seagrasses were typical in most stations. Sparse distributions of seagrasses were evident in the silty coasts of the mainland that face Honda Bay (Sta Lucia, Sta Lourdes, Bacungan, Sta Cruz, Salvacion, San Rafael) and in the inner bay of Ulugan (Bahile).
Eight species of seagrasses occurred in Puerto Princesa as was previously documented: Enhalus acoroides and Thalassia hemprichii were cosmopolitan, Halophila ovalis Cymodocea rotundata, Halodule uninervis (here including Halodule pinifolia), and Syringodium isoetifolium were the commonly associated species, and Cymodocea serrulata and an undetermined species of Halophila occurred less frequently. Except for monospecific stands of E. acoroides within silt-threatened stations in Honda Bay (Bacungan, Sta Cruz, Bush Island in Salvacion) and in Ulugan Bay (Bahile), the range in seagrass species richness was from 2 to 8 species. The most diverse meadows (N = 8) were found in Inagawan, San Pedro, BancaoBancao, Tagburos, Cowrie Island (Sta Lourdes), and Buenavista (Ulugan Bay). Seaweeds associated with seagrass beds contributed up to ~30% to total vegetative cover and were represented by 23 genera, three of which were commonly encountered – the brown seaweeds Sargassum and Padina, and the green algae Halimeda.
Six areas were found to be constant forage grounds of dugongs and were identified as proposed “high priority seagrass ECAN core zones” located in Kamuning, Inagawan, Mangingisda, Pundeado Island, Tanabag to Concepcion, and Binduyan. In addition, extant lush and diverse beds in Iwahig, Bancao-Bancao, San Pedro, Tagburos, Cowrie Island, and Buenavista were identified “high-priority candidate seagrass core zones sites”. “Potential (‘reserved’) core zones” are extant diverse beds or within the vicinity of feeding areas of dugongs in WP02 in Mangingisda, Luzviminda, PB24 in Bancao-Bancao, San Manuel, Manalo, Tadio Island, Macarascas, and UB80 in Buenavista.
Marine mammal survey revealed graze marks of the marine mammal Dugong dugon noted in 6 locations – Kamuning, Inagawan, Mangingisda, Pundeado Island (Babuyan), Tanabag to Concepcion, and Binduyan. As forage areas of endangered animals, these locations automatically qualify as seagrass ECAN core zones. From the combination of ecological characters (relatively high bottom cover and seagrass species richness) and apparent habitat use to a suite of animals (fish and large mammals). Thus, seagrass beds of Kamuning, Inagawan, Mangingisda, Iwahig, Bancao-Bancao, San Pedro, Tagburos, Pundeado Island, Cowrie Island, and Buenavista are identified as among the high-priority list of seagrass ECAN core zones, while adjacent areas within Mangingisda, Luzviminda, Bancao-Bancao, San Manuel, Manalo, Tadio Island, Macarascas, and Buenavista as among the potential (‘reserved’) candidate areas. The latter are put forward in view of current global efforts on biodiversity conservation.
Findings from the 125 belt transects for mangrove assessment of Puerto Princesa, revealed Rhizophora apiculata (Bakauan-lalaki) as the dominant species while overall stocking density was categorized as open, logged over forest and low stand volume. The lowest volume stand was recorded in Bagong Bayan, while the highest stand density was encountered in Bahile, thus its recommendation as a strict protection zone.
It is therefore proposed that open, logged over and inadequate stock with low stand volume mangrove areas be zoned as restoration zone. Mangrove forest with inadequate to adequately stock with moderate to high volume stand is zoned into core zone while those mangrove areas identified with potentials for ecotourism activities, unproductive, abandoned fishpond and fishpond areas without FLA may be zoned as restricted multiple use zone.
Mangrove areas with similar conditions such as plantations and reforestation sites of Macarascas and Bunarao in Brgy. Manalo be subjected to enrichment planting. The community based mangrove forest management (CBMFM) can be an appropriate tenurial arrangement in rehabilitating mangrove either through assisted natural regeneration, reforestation or aqua silviculture. Aqua-silviculture is prescribed to rehabilitate the areas with clearings and fishpond development either unproductive, abandoned and not covered with FLA such as So Liang, Tagabinet, Concepcion, Babuyan, Sta. Cruz, Caramay, Bacungan River, Sta. Lourdes, Tagburos, San Manuel, Luzviminda and areas with similar situation. Mangrove areas in Dos Palmas, Snake Islet, Starfish Islet, Bakau Islet, Kabog Islet and other mangrove areas which are adjacent to facilities such as board walk, resort, cottages, and warfs could be developed and promoted as part of ecotourism destination. The mangrove areas which are previously logged and had open or sparse mangrove cover could be rehabilitated through assisted natural
regeneration.
Prepared for:
PALAWAN COUNCIL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Palawan Center for Sustainable Development
Sta. Monica Heights, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines 5300
Email: oed@pcsd.ph
Tel.: (63-48) 434-4235, Fax: 434-4234
Funded through a loan from :
JAPAN BANK FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
Prepared by:
PACIFIC CONSULTANTS INTERNATIONAL
in association with
ALMEC Corporation
CERTEZA Information Systems, Inc.
DARUMA Technologies Inc.
Geo-Surveys & Mapping, Inc.
Photo Credits:
Photos by PCSDS and SEMP-NP ECAN Zoning Component
Project Management Office
This report can be reproduced as long as the convenors are
properly acknowledged as the source of information
Reproduction of this publication for sale or other commercial
purposes is prohibited without the written consent of the publisher.
Printed by:
Futuristic Printing Press, Puerto Princesa City, Philippines
Suggested Citation:
PCSDS. 2006. Baseline Report on Coastal Resources for Puerto Princesa City,
Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
BASELINE REPORT ON COASTAL RESOURCES for Puerto Princesa City
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