Philippines
Date: December 2024
Progress: In Progress
Strengthening CRM strategies for climate change resilience and adaptation, reef rehabilitation and improved management of MPAs through the development of an ecological, climat, resilient and governance based network.
The Project
Networking Marine Protected Areas through Coast LGU Alliance (NMCLAP) is a three-year project that aims to strengthen governance structures for the MPAs in the South Cebu project site/s through technical assistance for a sustained mechanism with socio-economic benefits and application of adaptive management strategies for improved management effectiveness.
It includes includes two components to sustain CRM strategies in the southern part of Cebu Province to achieve its objectives of:
- CRM Council: Strengthening and sustaining of the Southeast Cebu Coastal Resource Management Council to guide CRM, MPA network, coastal law enforcement and user-fee policy development and operation.
- MPA Network: Design a MPA network that contributes to fisheries sustainability, biodiversity conservation, is climate resilient and includes MPAs with MEAT rating of 2 or more.
Map of proposed project sites and MPA distribution in South Cebu
Objective 1: Sustain a governance mechanism for the South Cebu CRM Council (SCCRMC) through capacity building, policy development, and mentoring to:
- Strengthen operational and functional mandates of the SCCRMC Council
- Raise awareness about the value and need for an effective MPA network in the council member municipal waters.
- Re-establish and sustain joint coastal law enforcement within the municipal waters of the member local government units.
- Capacity building and education on the blue economy, resource valuation methods and climate adaptation strategies.
- Create a 3–5-year sustainability plan for the operation of SCCRMC and sustain its core programs.
Objective 2: Strengthen coastal resource management programs of SCCRMC through the design and development of climate resilient MPAs, MPA network, coastal habitats and communities through:
- Creation and maintenance of a Cluster MPA database to archive reef biophysical data, reports, spatial data (maps and files), Photo/Video documentations and MEAT reports.
- Support for MPA Networking activities (MPAN forums, LGU MPA redesigning).
- Initiating pilot sites for coral reef rehabilitation using innovative techniques and methodologies in severely damaged reefs with low improvement chances due to unstable benthic conditions.
- Establishment and maintenance of a mangrove nursery as source for cluster mangrove growing activities.
- MPA management monitoring using MEAT and planning for capacity development in sites with a low MEAT rating.
- Creation of Cluster Monitoring Team with capacity building activities.
- Piloting of a reef rehabilitation method in selected MPAs in response to climate change impacts, rehabilitation activity shall be established
- Conduct training on resource economic valuation so that cost-benefit analyses can be done by local government units (LGUs) planning staff to determine the relative values existing for each LGU in planning their ecotourism enterprises and to justify costs in maintaining their MPAs and doing CRM in coordination with the parallel project on ecotourism enterprise development.
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The Organisation – Coastal Conservation & Education Foundation
Driven by its passion to create sustainable coasts with involved communities, CCEF continues to develop and disseminate tools, techniques, and research for better marine management. For 23 years, CCEF has been promoting integrated coastal management approach that includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) localised enforcement and other participatory best practices. CCEF helps ensure that the local communities improve their quality of life especially those depending on coastal and marine ecosystems.
Find out more info here: https://www.coast.ph/
