BOHOL, PHILIPPINES: BUILDING PARTNERS FOR CORAL REEF RESTORATION IN PANGLAO ISLAND

Abstract

Panglao Island is one of the tourist destin ations in the Philippines due to its white sand beaches, spectacular coral formations, beautiful reef fishes and crystal clear waters. Tourist arrival in 2012 noticeably decreased according to the dive shop operators and hotel and restaurant operators. Cor al reefs damaged due to human and natural factors. Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) implemented the Filipinnovation on Coral Reef Restora tion Program in collaboration with the University of San Carlos (USC), Cebu City and Bohol Island State University (BISU), Candijay Campus to manage the Pilot Technology Demonstration on Coral Reef Restoration in Panglao, Bohol. The ultimate goal of the project was to restore the degraded coral reefs through innovative means while maintaining partnerships between the local government units and private sectors which directly benefiting the coral ecosystems. The project team members were able to complete the deployment of 40 coral nursery units (CNUs) underwater in the month of September 2012. About 20,000 coral fragments were planted directly to the substrate using two techniques: 1) underwater epoxy as coral adhesive; and 2) nail and cable tie method. Tagged coral samples, it was found that the survivability of the transplanted coral was at 80% but decreased significantly with the presence of corallivores such as crown of thorns seastars, Acanthaster plancii and the snail that feeds on corals, Drupella cornus . Data gathered from the CNUs, it was ascertained that Acropora nobilis was a fast growing acroporid species capable of growing at .37 cm in three weeks or at 5.76 cm/ year, with all else assumed being linear. The project invites and encourages dive shop o perators, hotel and restaurant owners, local government units and non government organization’s officials in Bohol province to sustain the project.