ZGE EL01

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Name/Group Name: Hehe

Evangelista, Christian James
Martin, Eleazar
Pangilinan, Joshua Aloe
Tanfelix, Francis Kevin
Visperas, Stephen Lloyd

Subject/section: ZGE 4301-1EC

Introduction

The Philippines has lost one third of the corals that make up the massive
geologic structures called coral reefs, according to the recently completed nationwide
reassessment of Philippine reefs. In that same study, it was revealed that there are no
more reefs in the Excellent live coral cover category, when they used to make up 5% of
our reefs 40 years ago. Philippine coral reefs are vital to support the different coastal
habitats, which in return support at least 60% of the total population living in the coastal
zone or people directly depending on ecosystem services provided by coral reefs.

Discussion

Tubbataha Reef is located in the middle of Sulu Sea, approximately 50km

southeast of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan and it was discovered by divers in the late
1970’s. Tubbataha is home to 374 species of coral and almost 500 species of fish,
tubbataha Reefs Natural Park also protects one of the few remaining colonies of
breeding seabirds in the region. Tubbataha Reef is known for its extraordinary
biodiversity, abundant marine life and breathtaking drop-offs into the open ocean the
area covers 130,028 hectares of high-quality marine habitats containing three atolls and
a large area of deep sea.
One of the current problem in Tubbataha is that top shells, the protected shell
species Trochus niloticus are being stolen at night by people entering the park by boat
from mainland Palawan the top shells are sold and made into shirt buttons, jewelry and
ornaments. Top shells are important to marine ecosystems because they act as natural
cleaners of corals and serve as food for other marine life. From 2006 to 2008 the
population of Top shells in Tubbataha declined 80%
Aside from Stolen top shells, another threat to Tubbataha Reef is plastic waste.
Plastic is a threat to marine animals as it is often mistaken for food, which can cause
injury or death. Birds’ nests in Tubbataha are frequently built from plastic food wraps,
while abandoned fishing lines made from nylon have caused the death of numerous
seabirds. The Marine Park Rangers conduct regular surface water and coastal cleanups
and non-biodegradable garbage is transported to the landfill site in Puerto Princesa
City. Despite of few threats to Tubbataha reef there is law enforcement to protect the
Tubbataha reef which is The Republic Act 10067, known as the TRNP Act, provides the
legal and institutional framework for enforcement in the Tubbataha Reefs.  The statute
defines the authority of the Tubbataha Protected Area Management Board (TPAMB) to
impose sanctions against violators.  Further details of RA 10067 are found in the
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) issued by the TPAMB in October 2010 and
amended in 2012. The IRR provides details of the function and of the TPAMB
Investigation Committee (TIC), the legal arm of the TPAMB.

As mentioned above, Tubbataha is home to 374 species of coral and almost 500
species of fish, this means that a lot of species of coral and fish are living in Tubbataha
and we all know that coral reef has a big factor in our ecosystem because it protects
coastal areas by reducing the power of waves hitting the coast, so we must protect the
coral reef.

Tubbataha Reef

https://www.zenrooms.com/blog/post/tubbataha-
reef/

Another example is the Apo reef. It is the largest coral reef in the Philippines. It
spreads over an area of 34 square kilometers, making it the second largest connecting
coral reef in the world. It is also considered as the second largest atoll-like reef in the
Philippines comprises of two isolated coral reefs that are disconnected by a 30-meter
deep channel. The clear blue waters of the channel are teeming with 285 species of
colorful marine life, including tropical aquarium fish, snappers and the crevice-dwelling
moray.

The problems that face apo reef in the past are years of overfishing, lethal chemical
pollution, destructive coral mining, sedimentation and climatic change had been
detrimental, resulting in acidification, coral bleaching and ocean warming. But
fortunately new steps have been taken to protect the Apo Reef. In 1980 the then
Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos declared Apo Reef a “Marine Park”. This was
followed up 3 years later by the local government of Sablayan that declared the Apo
Reef a special “Tourism Zone and Marine Reserve”. In 1996 President Fidel Ramos
declared Apo Reef a protected Natural Park. In 2006, the Protected Areas and Wildlife
Bureau of the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources listed the
reef for the consideration of UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Apo reef is the largest coral reef reserves in the Philippines and considered one of
the heritage sites in our country. So it should be our responsibility for it to be protected.

Apo Reef

http://www.aporeefclub.com/

The Verde Island Passage, in the sub-national area of Luzon in the northern
Philippines, is located within the globally significant Coral Triangle, an area considered
the center of the world’s marine biodiversity. The Verde Island Passage is a
conservation corridor that spans five provinces: Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental
Mindoro, Marinduque and Romblon. The abundant fish and charismatic megafauna
support over 7 million people in those provinces, whose livelihoods include fishing,
aquaculture, and tourism.
It is projected that climate change will cause rising sea levels, higher ocean
temperatures, and more acidic waters. As the ocean largely regulates the climate,
changes in ocean temperatures and currents are already altering the frequency,
intensity, and distribution of storms, floods, heat waves, and the amount and distribution
of rainfall. The unique biodiversity of the Verde Island Passage is at risk. In addition, the
loss of biodiversity directly impacts its local communities, as their livelihoods are
dependent primarily on tourism, fisheries, and agriculture, all of which are dependent on
these threatened natural resources.
The coral reefs found in the Puerto galera is so beautiful, it becomes a tourist
spot which is also the source of the problem. As there are a lot of people and hard to
monitor, there are lots of plastics that lost its place in the reefs which affect the
ecosystem there.
 Coral Reef in Puerto Galera

https://asiadivers.com/blog/highlights-diving-
puerto-galera/

Conclusion
Coral reef ecosystem are existentially threatened by increased human- driven
stresses. Coral reef provide an important ecosystem for life underwater, protect coastal
areas by reducing the power of waves hitting the coast, and provide a crucial source of
income for millions of people. This study is important because we need to provide
awareness to people what is the possible threat if we don’t take care to our ecosystem.
Coral reefs are the establishment of marine life, and this too implies that they are
essential for human life, but all over the world they are dead because people are
destroying them. We need to take care coral reefs, and not just to make ocean look
pretty, they are more than just that.

Sources:
https://www.conservation.org/docs/default-source/publication-pdfs/vulnerability-
assessment_-verdeislandpassage_philippines.pdf?sfvrsn=f68137d9_3