Ecotourism helps revive mangroves in a Filipino surfing location

Del Carmen Mangrove Reserve is a new Ramsar Site

Siargao is awash with illegal fishing and mangrove cutting

Ecotourism and behaviour change are key to protecting the mangroves

By Mariejo Ramos

He was once an illegal fisher, who cut down tropical woody trees for fuel. Now he protects them in a civilian patrol force.

We were forced to sell and cut mangroves because life was hard back then. "We couldn't find another job," Longos said.

Workers like Longos are now part of the solution because the local government has been working to provide job training and cultivate an ecotourism enterprise.

He proudly pointed out a mangrove baby he planted along the water.

The mangroves in the area were reduced for decades by destructive fishing techniques like dynamite use and illegal deforestation to make wood for bread or charcoal.

According to the local authorities, through replanting, the Del Carmen Mangrove Reserve has grown from 4,200 ha of mangroves to more than 4,800 ha.

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (an international treaty named for the city in Iran, where it was signed, in 1971) that guides conservation of wetlands throughout the world, designated the reserve as a Wetland Reserve of International Importance in August 2024.

Longos patrols the mangrove reserve from its viewing platform, earning him an honorarium each month of 9,000 pesos ($158). He uses his fishing boat to give paid tours of the mangrove reserve in his spare time.

Del Carmen Mayor Alfred Coro says the stories of small town fishermen like Longos shows that even communities with limited resources can stop environmental destruction.

He said that gaining the support of people through education, ecotourism opportunities and training is more important than policing.

Coro said that for a long time, previous leaders in Del Carmen had been told it was impossible to persuade people to stop illegal mangrove harvesting and illegal fishing.

He said that it took a decade for them to convince people of the importance of mangroves and to stop using illegal methods.

He said that he was limited in financial resources and the majority of his efforts were done through dialogues between fishermen at their homes, as well as community-based campaigns to inform people about mangrove conservation.

The local government started the tours, and now they are run by fishing groups. The tour fee is divided between the fisherman and his group, which amounts to about 600 pesos per trip.

The town has been preparing for growth in tourism and development since last year when it was awarded the Ramsar certification.

In 2023, more than half a millon tourists will visit Siargao, the highest number ever recorded. They are attracted to the impressive waves and surf spots in the area, which have been popular since the 1980s, when the sport began gaining popularity.

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

Researchers fear that more visitors to Siargao could put strain on the natural resources of the island and cause waste problems such as plastic and marine debris.

The Asian Development Bank found that an increase in Siargao waste is "attributable" to the surge of tourists.

The study found that sustainable tourism could be implemented to protect marine life and support local incomes.

Del Carmen's municipality has encouraged its residents to make money through eco-tours, and to take care of mangroves to ensure that tourism will support the community for a long time.

Longos, a fisherman from the Philippines, was taught about mangroves' science and encouraged to participate in campaigns and replantings for their protection. Coro said that when they first started, "they had doubts."

Since 2014, hundreds of illegal fishermen and mangrove cutters have become tourism operators. The town offers 100 ecotrips a day, says a local tourism official.

These tours are staffed by guides, boat captains, and assistants.

Coro said, "You can tell how much their lives have improved."

The mayor stated that developing alternative sources of income has ripple effects on the local economy.

Del Carmen, which was a town of the Philippines with the lowest level of income as a fifth-class municipality, became a third class municipality this year.

Local government data revealed that the average monthly family income in Del Carmen increased from 2,000 pesos (34.95 USD) in 2010 up to 17,000 pesos (297.05 USD) in 2024. The poverty rate also decreased from 69% to 21% in 2010.

The income of the town from tourism grew from 1.2 millions pesos (about $21,000) in 2020, to 9.2million pesos (about 160,381) by 2024.

Longos says that by fishing legally and guiding ecotours he has been able to send all four of his children to school.

Gina Barquilla said ecotours prevent overfishing, which may destroy mangroves habitats, because the income from tours encourages people to spend less money catching fish.

A Task for the Community

Barquilla said that mangroves in Siargao (a teardrop-shaped island) helped to protect the area from a powerful typhoon 2021. They also lessened the impact of strong waves and the rising sea level for coastal fishing villages.

She has spent more than 10 years educating illegal fishermen and mangrove cutters at home and chasing dynamite fishing boats on the sea, despite threats and harassment.

In rare cases, such as in February, fishermen have been arrested for using dynamite against schools of fish.

She said that the best strategy is to go out and educate the local communities about the importance of mangroves, conservation and science.

She and other ecotourism activists said that generations of families have survived off the money made from cutting mangroves. Therefore, educating youth is crucial, they said.

(source: Reuters)