Proposed Conservation Plan

This paper contains the suggested conservation plan of the researchers

in Alibijaban Island. This Conservation plan is formulated based on the assessment and

observations of the researchers on the island.

Purpose Statement

The conservation plan will help to protect and manage the marine biodiversity

of Alibijaban Island which seek to apply ecological innovation in order to improve the

present status of the site. It includes the following which are (1) production, (2) service

and (3) technical innovation as part of the process for ecological innovation. Also to

promote tourist awareness and responsibility in terms of waste management which

includes proper disposal of garbage and the uses of 3Rs.

Goals and Objectives

The main goal of this study is to implement coastal management policies and

regulations in the Alibijaban Island in order to sustain the natural resources and to

promote awareness among the tourist and residents. In addition is to promote

ecological enhancement in terms of product and services that Alibijaban Island has to

offer in the present and for the next generation. This plan will contribute in sustaining the

coastal site through the application of knowledge in ecological enhancement

for managing and improving some resources such as the supply of water and electricity
in the town of San Andres. Generally, it will be aimed that the island of Alibijaban's

significant features be preserved and at the same time accommodate tourists especially

both soft and hard ecotourists. The following strategies must set guidelines for

promoting biodiversity conservation in this this study:

Strict implementation for conservation in the Wilderness Area of Alibijaban Island,

acknowledging the NIPAS law for establishing an arrangement of protected areas

or areas where special measures need to be taken; where no modification or low

modification of natural resources but a small-scale sustainable development be

applied in the island, hence empowering the tourism to develop.

Monitoring of significant natural resources management and regulation to ensure

its conservation.

Recuperation of degenerated mangrove and aquamarine habitat and species by

promoting awareness of the significance of the conservation to the island, and

the visitors engagement on participating to conservation activities.

References to documents that support conservation planning

It is stated that Alibijaban Island has some of the most undisturbed mangroves

wilderness and different species of birds that can be found in the Island. The local

government sector is providing shore protection and maintenance in the marine life

which includes the mangroves, different flora and fauna in the Island. The total number

of Alibijabans mangrove is at least 22 species and 14 species of birds. The

following examples of birds are Tabon scrubfowl, white-collared kingfisher, jungle crow,
black-naped oriole, island collared dove, Asian glossy starling, chestnut munia,

Philippine pied fantail, common emerald dove, black-crowned night heron, common

snipe. Also, fruit bats and monitor lizards are found in the site.

According to PAGASA in the late 1981 as the former President Ferdinand Marcos

announced the Proclamation No. 2151 and declaring Alibijaban Island as part of the

wilderness area in the Philippines. The establishment of the Community Environment

and Resources Office (CENRO) under the Department of Environment and Natural

Resources and Provincial Government of Quezon are the one managing and

protecting the natural assets and biodiversity of the site. In addition, the island has the

most diverse marine habitat in the region of Ragay Gulf. Its adjacent waters are visited

by whale sharks, manta rays, and marine turtles. Aslo, it is home to at least 30 genera

of hard coral dominated by Porites, Montipora and Acropora. The Island has the

potential for the enhancement or improvement through the implementation of coastal

management policies and ecological innovation.

The researchers used the Sustainable Coastal Handbook for the Philippines (C. M.

Huttche, A. T. White & M. M. Flores) as the basis for the sustainable development plan

which is the proposed conservation plan.

Review of Natural Resources

Topography

Alibijaban Island is set geographically on large amount of waters. According to

the google map, Alibijaban Island is an island that is isolated from its town, the San

Andres Municipality. According The Info List, (n.d.), Alibijaban is located in the
southwestern end of Ragay Gulf approximately 3.6 kilometers (2.2 mi) from the

mainland of Bondoc Peninsula. It is roughly 4.6 kilometers (2.9 mi) from north to south,

and 1.3 kilometers (0.81 mi) from east to west at its widest point. Its bordering towns

are the San Francisco (West), Mulanay (Northern-West), and the San Narciso (North).

(Photo courtesy: Google Maps. The location of Alibijaban Island in the

Philippine Map.)

The island's focal and northern inside are overwhelmed by mangrove wild, with

the vast majority of the populace focused on two sitios on the island's western and

southwestern drift confronting San Andres and Bondoc Peninsula. Its seaside

arrangements incorporate sandy shorelines and rough shores, especially in its

northeastern side. From the San Andres Port, Alibijaban Island is accessible through

motorized boats. It is 330 kilometres (210 mi) southeast of Manila via the Pan-Philippine

Highway and Bondoc Peninsula Road.

Flora and Fauna

Mangrove Forest

The reasonable protection of Alibijaban Island biological systems is highly

significant for conservation and ecotourism where the mangrove forests assume

essential part. The island is mangrove-rich zoned with mean density, wood volume, and

carbon stocks of 1361 trees/ha, 43.4 m/ha, and 58.7 Mg/ha, respectively, (Alcala et al.,

2003). The vast lands of Alibijaban Island incorporates 37 mangrove species lead by

the Rhizophoraceae with basically imperiled Xylocarpus rumphii. These mangroves is

habituated by 38 distinctive bird species, the (Megapodius freycinet pusillus), favored

macrobenthos (Annelida, Arthropoda, Chordata, Echinodermata Mollusca), and

imperiled bats (Pteropus vampyrus, Aceredon jubatus) live.

The previous statement indicates that these Mangroves is essential for food

source and habitat. However, due to the profusion of arthropods (an insect, spider, or

crustacean) the revitalization of mangroves is being reduced. Biodiversity was

observed to be low to moderate because of the threats (extraction, relocation, arrive

transformation, untamed life gathering, environmental change) that entails the

conservation of Alibijaban Island.

Mangrove Species

Rhizophoraceae , Xylocarpus rhumpii

 Mangrove inhabitants

Megapodius freycinet pusillus, Macrobenthos, Annelida, Arthropoda,

Chordata, Echinodermata Mollusca, Pteropus vampyrus, Aceredon jubatus

Wildlife Habitat

Alibijaban Wilderness Area Island located in Ragay Gulf in Quezon Province is

likewise comprised of a fish sanctuary located in the bay of Alibijaban Islang. According

to Alcala et. Al., (2003), fish visual census resulted to 296 species under 18 families.

Most dominant species are the labrids (wrasses), caesionids (fusiliers), pomacentrids

(damselfishes), and chaetodontids (butterflyfishes). On the other hand, the pelagic and

soft bottom species are among the dominant commercially caught fish in the gulf.

The pelagics include the sardines, anchovies, herrings, scads, mackerels and

tuna-like species while the soft bottom species are the leiognathids (slipmouths), gerrids

(mojarras), theraponids (tigerfish), synodontids (lizardfishes), mullids (goatfishes) and

nemipterids (threadfin-bream). The island proved to be rich in marine biodiversity,

its neighboring water were frequently visited by whale sharks, manta rays, and

marine turtles. Protecting these existing marine species in the island caused the local

government to order prohibition of all kinds of fishing in the waters of Alibijiban Island,

the municipal ordinance of 2006. Whale sharks are commonly seen in the area during

the northeast monsoon.

Aquamarine Species
 labrids (wrasses), caesionids (fusiliers) ,pomacentrids (damselfishes),

chaetodontids (butterflyfishes), leiognathids (slipmouths), gerrids (mojarras),

theraponids (tigerfish), Synodontids (lizardfishes), mullids (goatfishes) and

Nemipterids (threadfin-bream)

Bird Species

Tabon Scrubfowl, White-collared Kiingfisher, Jungle Crow, Black-naped Oriole,

Island Collared Dove, Asian Glossy Starling, Chestnut Munia , Philippine Pied

Fantail, Common Emerald Dove, Black-crowned Night Heron, Common Snipe.

Water Resources Protection

Government needs to have an action plan or policies for the

protection watercourse structures, fish passages, fill prisms, pads,

ponds, lakes or any other water resources.

Locals and government should record the water source and water amount used

every month.
Locals should know what are the strategies and technologies that can help them

reduce demand on waters supplies, and associated groundwater pumping,

especially during dry months.

Locals and Government should test the water if its fishable and swimmable.
Control toxic materials, avoid throwing garbage on the sea.
Illegal fishing should not be tolerated.

Voluntary Approaches to water resource conservation

Conserve water by limiting it. Dont use water if not necessary.

 Preserve fresh water resources to sustain fish, plant, and wildlife.
Protect fresh drinking water resources.
Water irrigation should control the water amount running through the land/lawn.
Regulatory approaches to water resource conservation.
Limit the distance of some activities from wetlands.

Carrying Capacity

The concept of tourism carrying capacity arises from a perception that

tourism cannot grow forever in a place without causing irreversible damage to the local
system (Coccossis and Mexa, 2004). In 1994, the World Tourism Organization (WTO)
proposed a definition of tourism carrying capacity as follow: "The maximum number of
people that may visit a tourist destination at the same time, without causing destruction
of the physical, economic, socio-cultural environment and an unacceptable decrease in
the quality of visitors' satisfaction".

Tourism in protected areas is associated with appreciating and observing nature,

scientific endeavour and education. This type of tourism is associated with minimal

development of infrastructure and small scale interventions in areas of normally-

strong control and restrictive management. Carrying capacity issues concern the

number of tourists, visitor flows and spatial patterns of concentration/dispersion vis--vis

the protection of nature and the functioning of ecosystems but also the quality of

experience of visitors (Defining, Measuring and Evaluating Carrying Capacity in

European Tourism Destinations 2002)

Physical Carrying Capacity (PCC) is maximum number of tourists that can

physically fit into or onto a specific area, over particular time (Carrying Capacity

Assessment for Sustainable Tourism Development)

Formula to compute the Physical Carrying Capacity:
PCC = Area in square meters x Visitors per square meters x Daily Duration
 (Mowforth and Munt)

Biological/Ecological Carrying Capacity

The ecological carrying capacity is of vital importance for the economic

development and the scale of resource exploitation in one country or region (X.

Wang). This deals on up to what extent the environment is able to tolerate the

tourist activities.

Limits of Acceptable Change

There is no zero impact tourism (Sustainable Coastal Handbook for the

Philippines).

Possible indicators for physical coastal resource and social conditions for limits of acceptable

change process (Sustainable Coastal Handbook for the Philippines)

Recommendations

The coastal management policies will ensure the orderliness and cleanliness of the

site and which includes the following policies that the researchers suggest to implement

in the coastal area of Alibijaban Island:

Strictly no littering on land and on sea.

Avoid disturbing marine species.
Avoid disturbing animals in the forest.
Avoid destroying mangroves and other kinds of plants in the area.
Ask for assistance of the locals if you want to have bonfire at night.
Fines for violation of rules:

Littering 1st offense 20 Php, 2nd offense 30 Php and 3rd offense

100 Php

Disturbing of marine species and forest animals - 1st offense 30 Php,

2nd offense 50Php and 3rd offense 150 Php

Destroying plants - 1st offense 50 Php, 2nd offense 100 Php and 3rd

offense 200 Php

The researchers suggest that the collected fines will be the added to the funds for the

maintenance and other activities promoting the Alibijaban Island. Also the

implementation of different fees which are for environmental, study and mangrove

planting fees as to be added for the ecological improvement of the site. There are the

suggestions for the ecological innovation which are the following statements:
 Since the island are having scarcity in electric supply, it cans also use a

generator powered by super bunker formula L. This super bunker formula is a

fuel that was made of 60% bunker and 40% water invented by Fudy Lantano.

This fuel was already tested by the Department of Science and Technology

(DOST) and National Power Corporation and proved that this water-based

bunker fuel is eco-friendly and it contributes less pollution to the environment.

This fuel also contains alco-diesel that makes it applicable to any kind of

engines. It is also cheaper compared to other fuels available in the market.

Offer mangrove planting to the tourists with a reasonable fee. It will be a

different activity in the island that can give tourist a different experience aside

from the experience that the usual island offers. It will increase their income

and at the same time it can also help the environment of the place.
Alibijaban Island can use salt lamps at night. A lamp invented

by Aisa Mijeno, an Engineering and Innovation Labs Director faculty member

at De La Salle University Lipa and Raphael Antonio Mijeno, a graduate of

Business Management. The lamp was intentionally designed to help the

islands in the Philippines that are experiencing scarcity in electric supply,

thus, ocean water powers up the lamp. The lifespan of the lamp is 6 months if

you are going to use it 8 hours a day. The lamp is also safe that it has no

components that can cause fire accidents and it uses Galvanic Cell. This

lamp doesnt discharge dangerous gases that are harmful to humans and

other living things.

(Figure 5.1 Salt Lamp)

Organic products. Nowadays organic products are a trend in the market

because produces possible outcomes and at the same time it has less

chemicals that can harm your skin and hair. The residents of Alibijaban Island

can start making organic products since they are surrounded by natural

resources. They can make hair and skin care products that are made of

organic ingredients and, sell it to the tourist. It will increase their income and it

will also help their environment in terms of reducing the chemicals that the

house hold wastes emits in the island. The Local government of San Andres

can organize a seminar that can teach the residents in making simple organic

products.
For activities in the island, the residents can also produce boats that are

made of plastic bottles. Put up a separate trash bin for plastic bottles. Once

they collected the plastic bottles they can start constructing boats made up of

plastic bottles. This boat are unusual but it can attract tourists because it is

new to their eyes and the mere idea of riding a boat made up of plastic bottles

is exciting. The residents of Alibijaban island will also spend less on this boats

since the primary material is recycled.

 (Figure 5.2 & %.3 Plastic Boats)

Proper storage of water. The island only have the plastic gallons of water and a

mug to transfer the water from the pale to be able to use it which transferring it

manually results to some waste of water. Putting it a tap to flow the water

properly and putting a base at the bottom will help to avoid wasting water.

(Figure 5.4)

Alibijaban Island should start to have a proper computation on their carrying

capacity to prevent overcrowding in the place.

Action Plan

1. Assess the island for possible enhancements in terms of accommodation,

attraction, accessibility and activities. Observe and analyze the areas that will be

affected including the possible impacts on the social and natural environment.

2. Create advertisements and put The New Paradise as the brand of Alibijaban

Island. Also make tour packages to attract customers.

3. State in the advertisements that Alibijaban Island is a DENR protected area so

the tourist would be knowledgeable about the basic dos and donts.

4. To create other source of funds for the conservation expenses of the area, make

out of the available resources that can be found in the community. One of the

products that can be attained in the said resources are "walis" out of coconut

leaves and the food which is the coconut to be exported in the city market. The

availability of seafoods that can be obtained in alibijaban island could be offered

to the tourists as one of the package that the tourist can avail.

5. The Local Government of San Andres should start conducting seminars to not

just only to the residents of Alibijaban Island, but also to the whole community.

These seminars should contain the basic steps in making organic products using

the natural resources around the province, and also the tutorial in making plastic

boats.
6. The residents could start making the products once they already mastered doing

it. Limit the available hair and skin products that are bought from the market and

replace it with the organic products that are made by the locals.

7. Check the fund of the Alibijaban Island and identify the possible ecological

innovations that the budget can afford.

8. Those innovations are not going to be implemented all at once. The ecological

innovations will be implemented little by little. The innovation that are going to be

implemented are only the ones that suits the available budget of he island.

9. Implement the given policies and strictly mandate it. Put up the identified

innovations. (Also implement the recommendations on Chapter 5 of the paper)

10. Monitor and evaluate. Continuously enhance the Island but dont risk its

environment.