Located within the Coral Triangle, Palawan harbours around fifty percent of the world’s coral species and its reefs remain among the most abundant and biodiverse on our planet.
For thousands of years the indigenous Tagbanua, Pala’wan and Batak people lived in balance with the natural environment, guided by their animistic worldview. But in the 1950s the area came to the attention of the fishing industry as a rich, untouched source. The islands’ population soon swelled with migrants and a period of unfettered exploitation of marine resources began. By the 1970s almost two thirds of Philippine fish catch originated in Palawan.
In response to these threats to Palawan’s marine (and terrestrial) environment, Palawan was declared a Unesco Biosphere Reserve in 1990 and in 1992 Tubbataha Reefs became a World Heritage Site. Other marine reserves continue to be set up and the word is spreading about protecting and respecting the marine environment.
But in the era of global climate change it is unknown how long this revival can continue. According to Unesco, at the rate we are going, even well-protected reefs such as Tubbataha will be facing mortality with in the next three decades due to rising sea temperatures and coral bleaching.
Located within the Coral Triangle, Palawan harbours around fifty percent of the world’s coral species and its reefs remain among the most abundant and biodiverse on our planet.
For thousands of years the indigenous Tagbanua, Pala’wan and Batak people lived in balance with the natural environment, guided by their animistic worldview. But in the 1950s the area came to the attention of the fishing industry as a rich, untouched source. The islands’ population soon swelled with migrants and a period of unfettered exploitation of marine resources began. By the 1970s almost two thirds of Philippine fish catch originated in Palawan.
In response to these threats to Palawan’s marine (and terrestrial) environment, Palawan was declared a Unesco Biosphere Reserve in 1990 and in 1992 Tubbataha Reefs became a World Heritage Site. Other marine reserves continue to be set up and the word is spreading about protecting and respecting the marine environment.
But in the era of global climate change it is unknown how long this revival can continue. According to Unesco, at the rate we are going, even well-protected reefs such as Tubbataha will be facing mortality with in the next three decades due to rising sea temperatures and coral bleaching.