Environment and development in coastal regions and in small islands

Coastal Resources Management Ulugan Bay, Palawan Island, The Philippines

Puerto Princesa City

Preface to the series 

The following series, Coastal Resources Management - Ulugan Bay, Palawan Island, The Philippines, represents ones of the main outputs of the unique project, Coastal Resources Management and Sustainable Tourism in Ulugan Bay. 

The primary objective of the project was to generate an empirical model for community-based coastal resource management using a multi-sectoral approach. The core activities of the project have been: a scientific collection of data on ecology, cultural and socio-economic conditions; the monitoring of the flow of coastal resources; the establishment of sustainable fish farms and community-based sustainable tourism activities; and finally, environmental education and training in coastal resources management. 

The activities, in turn, have contributed to:

·        Improving scientific understanding of natural, cultural and social processes related to human beings interacting with the coastal environment;

·        Providing information for decision-making on the use of coastal resources;

·        Setting up a framework for sustainable development and protection;

·        Identifying and implementing alternative income generating activities, followed by an evaluation of their impact and benefits;

·        Generating a model to apply lessons learned in other sites in the Philippines and in the Region;

·        Strengthening regional cooperation frameworks. 

The project has been implemented by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) with support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Furthermore, the Government of Puerto Princesa City and a number of national scientific institutions and non-government organizations (NGOs) have been deeply involved as on-site executing agents. 

Within UNESCO, the executing unit has been the Environment and Development in Coastal Regions and in Small Islands Unit (CSI). In agreement with its overall objective – to achieve culturally appropriate, socially balanced and environmentally sound development in coastal regions and in small islands – CSI is implementing pilot projects throughout the world with the aim to develop wise practices in the management of coastal zones. 

Following the logic of the project the present series has been divided into three volumes: 

Volume I: Ecology, Culture and Socio-economics

This volume contains results and findings from the studies and campaigns carried out in the context of the project: ecological assessments of coastal resources; studies in the use of traditional resources and on the culture of the indigenous communities; socio-economic profiles; and assessments of the potential for sustainable tourism. 

Volume II: Master Plan for Community-Based Eco-tourism

This volume describes recommendations for the initiation, development and management of Community-Based Eco-tourism activities in Ulugan Bay. The Master Plan, which operates at micro-, meso- and macro-levels, aims to set-up a strategy capable of ‘evolving’ directly from the planning phase into subsequent implementation, management and monitoring phases. In line with the community-based approach, the plan adopts a ‘bottom-up’ strategy, empowering communities through participatory methods. 

Volume III: An Integrated Management Model

This last volume summarizes the activities carried out within the project, including an empirical model for integrated coastal resource management in Ulugan Bay. 

This project would not have been possible without the important contributions of a considerable number of agencies, institutions and individuals. Firstly, we would like to thank the Puerto Princesa City Government (in particular the Office of the Mayor and the Agriculturist, Tourism, and Planning Offices), the project coordinators and the national consultants, the National Committee of Marine Science, the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines, the Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC), Green Globe and the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. Each of these institutions has made contributions to this project. 

Among the national institutions we would especially like to thank the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD), the National Economic and Development Agency (NEDA), the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of National Defense (DND). 

Furthermore, we are much indebted to the local communities of Ulugan Bay (Barangays Bahile, Macarascas, Buena Vista, Tagabinet, Cabayugan) and the two indigenous communities (CADCs Cabayugan and Kayasan) who with their commitment and cooperation have made this project a success. 

Finally, we would like to thank UNDP, not only for their significant financial contributions, but also for their invaluable technical support to the project. This project is indeed a successful example of strong and constructive interagency collaboration within the UN family. 

Prof. Stephen Hill
UNESCO Jakarta Office
Director and Representative

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