Embedded Files
Current: Ecosystem-level
Current: Ecosystem-level
Data source:
https://db.mpasupportnetwork.org/ (2025); Marine Sanctuary Network of UP-MSI (2025)
https://www.protectedplanet.net/country/PHL (2025)
Generated: QGIS 3.42.2 by JHK
1. Protected Areas
There are two protected areas in the region: Hundred Islands National Park and Manleluag Spring Protected Landscape. In addition, Alaminos, Anda, Bani, Bolinao, and Lingayen host a total of 31 Marine Protected Areas.
2. Key Biodiversity Areas
The current designated key biodiversity area (KBA) outlined by PBSAP 2025 is the Bolinao Peninsula, which covers 249.95 km², while a proposed KBA is the Lingayen Gulf, encompassing 2,319.40 km².
Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan (MMK): Search for the Most Outstanding Coastal Community competition. Bani and Anda MPAs awarded this year, 2025.
Mangrove Conservation Area (Ordinance No. 12-2023) in Sual MPA.
How are PAs and KBAs determined?
The National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992 (RA 7586) and its amendment, the E-NIPAS Act of 2018 (RA 11038), provide the legal basis for declaring and managing terrestrial and marine protected areas to conserve biodiversity and ecosystem services.
The Fisheries Code of 1998 (RA 10654) complements this by regulating fishing activities and addressing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing within MPAs.
The delineation of KBAs builds on scientific data from 117 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) and 206 Conservation Priority Areas (CPAs) identified nationwide.
Linkages to biodiversity and threats?
The Bolinao Peninsula, a high-biodiversity KBA, and areas like Lingayen, Binaley, and Infanta remain largely unprotected, while most PAs and MPAs are concentrated in the north. In addition, declaration of Hundred Islands as a 'National Park' can be deemed due to tourism. As a result, many threatened species and vulnerable coastal ecosystems remain outside effective protection, despite increasing risks from climate change and sea level rise.
Is this approach successful?
The approach has achieved success through interconnected MPAs and recognition of local community conservation efforts, enhancing collaboration and management. However, it fails to cover key areas in southwestern Pangasinan, leaving some critical habitats unprotected.
Progress is monitored using indicators such as increased protected area coverage, improvements in biodiversity and ecosystem function, and reductions in threatening processes.
3. Coastal clean-up
Hundred Island National Park Coastal Clean-up - Alaminos
The coastal clean-up in Alaminos is an annual activity led by the City Government and spearheaded by the City Tourism Office, in cooperation with PSU-Alaminos, various NGOs, NGAs, and civic organizations.
SCUBAsurero Program at Hundred National Islands - Alaminos
Complementing this initiative is the SCUBAsurero Program at Hundred Islands, launched in 2016 by Mayor Arthur Celeste as an underwater clean-up drive. The first members were licensed scuba divers employed by the city government. By 2018, the program collected an average of 100 kg of garbage per month. Recent collections include 137.9 kg in February 2022 and 61.5 kg in March 2025.
Linkages to biodiversity and threats?
The coastal cleanup approach in Pangasinan aligns partially with current biodiversity threats by reducing solid waste and plastic pollution that directly harm marine species and coastal habitats. It also promotes community awareness and helps assess ecological conditions in affected areas. However, it remains short-term and limited in scope, as it does not address chemical pollution, eutrophication, or long-term habitat degradation, which continue to threaten marine biodiversity and ecosystem health.
Is this approach successful?
The approach has been successful in fostering multi-sectoral collaboration and achieving a tangible reduction in marine waste, benefiting both ecosystems and local communities. However, it fails to address the root sources of pollution (e.g., improper waste management, agriculture effluents, mining siltation) limiting long-term impact.
Success is measured using indicators such as improved ecosystem condition and function, increases in pollution-intolerant species, and decreases in marine waste.
4. Payment for ecosystem services (PES)
Green Incentives (Ordinance No. 2017-04) - Alaminos
Under Alaminos’ Green Incentives program businesses and enterprises that participate in payment for ecosystem services (PES) programs or other green initiatives can receive tax incentives or fee exemptions from the city. The program aims to provide technical or financial assistance to support the protection and rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems, promote urban greening, and encourage participation in other environmental protection or climate adaptation projects.
“Basura mo, Iuwi mo” Policy - Alaminos
This policy requires each visitor to pay a ₱200 refundable deposit and provides two trash bags: one for biodegradable waste and one for non-biodegradable waste. As an incentive, visitors receive two free entrance tickets for their next visit when they return their deposit and properly manage their trash.
Linkages to biodiversity and threats?
It encourages environmental stewardship among companies and local communities. Misalignment to addressing biodiversity threats is attributed to: lack of clear ecological indicators and a tendency to financial compliance rather than genuine conservation motivations. Long-term success depends more on economic incentives than achieving a sustainable social-ecological balance, which may weaken its impact on biodiversity protection.
Is this approach successful?
This has been successful in promoting direct accountability and encouraging positive behaviors such as source segregation, repeat tourism, and other conservation actions. However, its effectiveness is limited by poor environmental monitoring and weak indicators.
Success is measured through indicators such as improvements in ecosystem condition, reductions in pollution, and increased income and participation by stakeholders.
5. Eco-tourism
The Legacy of the Sea: A Silaki Island Community-Based Tourism Project - Silaki, Bolinao
This project was recognized as one of the top five finalists in the Department of Tourism’s Tourism Champion Challenge (TCC), placing third in the Luzon group and receiving ₱15,000,000 in support. The project features a mini-museum, a mini-experience center for community immersion, floating docks, a hanging footbridge, and a trail for bird watching and nature photography. It provides an alternative source of income for local residents, and the Department of Tourism also distributed tour guide kits and personal accident insurance to 17 accredited tour guides.
Mangrove Eco Park - Alaminos
This park covers a target area of 59 hectares, of which 42 hectares (or 71% of the total area) had been developed as of December 2015. 15 hectares were adopted by academic institutions, NGOs, NGAs, and both civic and non-civic organizations. The mangrove park has contributed to the local fishery, adding an estimated 45.36 metric tons of fish caught per year.
Linkages to biodiversity and threats?
This conservation approach shows partial alignment with local biodiversity by helping maintain scenic landscapes, protect charismatic species, and generate income for communities. However, tourism efforts often prioritize aesthetics and economic appeal over ecosystem function and ecological integrity, leading to management biases. As a result, many activities may not fully support biodiversity conservation, especially in sensitive habitats where uncontrolled tourism can degrade ecosystems.
Is this approach successful?
The approach has been successful in offering an alternative income for local communities and enhancing environmental and conservation awareness, accompanied by sustainable practice. However, its effectiveness is constrained by tourism saturation in protected areas, which can negatively impact the coastal ecosystems long-term.
Success is measured using indicators such as increased local income, growth in focal species populations, and higher tourist visitation.
6. Restoration
Coral Restoration Project in Hundred Islands - Alaminos
This project aims to develop technology to enhance the restoration of damaged coral reefs, improve the productivity of coral reef resources for sustainable fisheries, and harness the potential of underwater tourism. As part of the project, 30,000 corals have been planted within the protected areas of the Hundred Islands National Park, with monitoring conducted by the Department of Agriculture and the City of Alaminos.
Mangrove Reforestation Project - Pilar, Bolinao
This project focuses on coastal resources management through community-based coastal resource management (CBCRM) initiatives. Implemented in partnership with SAMMAKA, a local people’s organization, the project includes environmental education, active project management, and the maintenance of the mangrove reforestation areas to ensure their long-term sustainability.
Linkages to biodiversity and threats?
The restoration approach is generally aligned with current biodiversity needs and related threats, as it promotes local community stewardship and helps mitigate the impacts of human-induced climate change. As an indicator, restoration of Bolinao coral reefs has enhanced coastal protection and supported fisheries (Ocean Wealth, 2024), benefiting nearby communities by reducing flood and storm damage. However, present efforts remain uneven across ecosystems, with greater focus on corals than mangrove and seagrass restoration, which are equally vital for biodiversity and resilience.
Is this approach successful?
The approach has been successful through active intervention, development of restoration technologies, and involvement of local communities, enhancing both participation and stewardship. However, its effectiveness is impeded by lack of monitoring, insufficient data reporting, and unaddressed underlying causes of habitat loss and degradation.
Restoration progress can be measured with social indicators such as increased community participation and ecological indicators including improvements in biodiversity and ecosystem function, and reductions in threats.
Current: Species-level
Current: Species-level
7. Captive breeding & re-introduction
Giant Clam Ocean Nursery - Silaki, Bolinao
It is managed by UP MSI-BML, supports eight of the nine extant species of giant clams (“taklobo” / Tridacna gigas) through an onshore running-seawater hatchery and a 14-hectare ocean nursery. Giant clams are raised in the hatchery, transferred to the reef, and used for re-stocking, with a total of 50,000 clams distributed across 70 restocking sites.
Sea cucumber restocking - Bolinao, Anda
This focuses on Holothuria scabra, achieving a total of 4,415 individuals, or 883 per hectare, by 2024. The project involves three fishing villages, contributing to the sustainable management and recovery of local sea cucumber populations.
Abalone restocking - Carot, Anda, Infanta, Bani
This involves Haliotis asinina and is conducted in collaboration with BFAR and SEAFDEC. Restocking efforts have released 500 juveniles in April 2022, 1,500 in September 2024, and 650 in May 2025, supporting the recovery and sustainable management of abalone populations in these areas.
Linkages to biodiversity and threats?
The captive breeding and reintroduction approach is partly aligned with local biodiversity needs and threats, as it involves collaboration among communities, local governments, and other stakeholders while promoting ecological awareness and supporting sustainable livelihoods. These initiatives can help prevent species declines and restore local populations. However, efforts often prioritize commercially important species rather than focusing on the broader range of threatened or ecologically significant species, limiting their overall impact on biodiversity conservation.
Is this approach successful?
The approach has been successful in fostering local identity, alternative livelihoods, and community pride, earning the province the title of the “Giant Clam Capital of the Philippines”. It has supported the reintroduction of species across multiple regions, including Pangasinan, Zambales, Bohol, Cebu, Ilocos Norte, and Tawi-Tawi. However, these efforts remain biased toward commercial and 'culturally significant' species such as giant clams and corals.
Success is measured using indicators such as increased species populations, wider dispersal, higher local income, and improved ecosystem function.
KMGBF Targets
KMGBF Targets
Summary of conservation approaches in Pangasinan, addressed KMGBF targets, and learnings or lessons from successes and failures
Proposed Approaches
Proposed Approaches
To help improve biodiversity and conservation in Pangasinan:
1. More Rigorous Designation of PAs
The current designation of Protected Areas (PAs) in Pangasinan is limited, with a focus on the northern coasts. The establishment of protected areas remains the primary conservation strategy and has consistently shown positive results.
This aligns with the KMGBF targets, specifically Target 1 on spatial planning and Target 3 on PAs and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs).
2. Improved Biodiversity and Conservation Education for Communities
Need for improved local education and training, which allows communities to be directly and actively involved in conservation efforts.
This addresses several KMGBF targets, including Target 16 on education, Target 20 on capacity-building and technology, Target 21 on data, and Target 22 on community participation.
3. Strengthen Community and NGO involvement in Conservation Plan
There is a need to strengthen involvement in planning, as NGOs in Pangasinan focused on coastal and marine conservation are limited, and conservation activities are often conducted as one-time events.
This aligns with KMGBF targets, specifically Target 14 on integrating biodiversity into policy and Target 22 on community participation.
4. Lobbying for Increased Government Support
Advocating for new policies and legislation aimed at protecting Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs). This effort is not only directed toward the establishment of additional Protected Areas but may also influence local ordinances.
It addresses KMGBF targets including Target 13 on sharing resources, Target 14 on biodiversity in policy, and Target 15 on engaging businesses.
5. More Specific Conservation Measures
More specific conservation measures include using sea cucumbers or other bottom-feeding invertebrates to bioremediate polluted, aquaculture-intensive areas, as well as implementing captive breeding programs for sea turtles, similar to the Pawikan Project in neighboring Zambales.
These actions address KMGBF targets such as Target 4 on reducing extinction, Target 5 on sustainable harvest, and Target 7 on reducing pollution.
References
References
Alaminos City Sangguniang Panlungsod. (2017). City Ordinance No. 2017-04: An ordinance enacting the revised Investments and Incentives. City Government of Alaminos. https://www.alaminoscity.gov.ph/public-service/local-policies/Legislative%20Issuances/CityOrdinances%20-%20ENACTED/Ordinance%202017/2017-04.pdf
Austria, H. (2018, August 28). ‘Scubasureros’: Heroes of the Hundred Islands National Park. Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1046079
Avelino, J. E., Sasaki, J., Esteban, M., Salah, P., Jamero, M. L., & Valenzuela, V. P. (2019). Sustainability Evaluation of Marine Protected Areas Index (SEMPAI): A multi-criteria decision-making method to determine the effectiveness of the El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area. Ocean & Coastal Management, 181, 104891. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2019.104891
Biodiversity Management Bureau, Department of Environment and Natural Resources. (2024). Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2024-2040. https://www.bmb.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/PBSAP_2024-2040.pdf
BFAR Region I. (2025). Outstanding coastal communities receive prizes in Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan search. Department of Agriculture. Da.gov.ph. https://r1.bfar.da.gov.ph
Cabigao, S. (2018). Meet the giant clam fam. University of the Philippines -. https://up.edu.ph/meet-the-giant-clam-fam/
Cocal, C. J. (2021). Ecotourism Development and Conservation of the Hundred Islands National Park, Philippines. International Journal of Scientific and Management Research, 04(07), 78–87. https://doi.org/10.37502/ijsmr.2021.4708
Geldmann, J., Deguignet, M., Balmford, A., Burgess, N. D., Dudley, N., Hockings, M., Kingston, N., Klimmek, H., Alanah Hayley Lewis, Carsten Rahbek, Stolton, S., Vincent, C., Wells, S., Woodley, S., & Watson, J.E.M.. (2020). Essential Indicators for Measuring Area-Based Conservation Effectiveness in the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202003.0370.v1
Juinio-Meñez, M., Marie, A., Paña, De Peralta, G., Catbagan, T., Dionnie, R., Olavides, D., Mae, C., Edullantes, A., Dave, B., & Rodriguez, D. (2011). Establishment and Management of Communal Sandfish (Holothuria Scabra) sea Ranching in the Philippines. Proceedings of International Symposium on Asia-Pacific Tropical Sea Cucumber Aquaculture. ACIAR Proceedings 136. 121–127.
Manalo, S.B. (2025). Mangroves: Guardians of the land and sea [Video]. TikTok. https://www.tiktok.com/@kalikasean/video/7466768943294811393 [Header Background]
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Philippine Information Agency. (2024). DOT to boost sustainable tourism in Pangasinan town through the “Legacy of the Sea” project. https://pia.gov.ph/news/dot-to-boost-sustainable-tourism-in-pangasinan-town-through-the-legacy-of-the-sea-project/
Republic Act No. 10654. (2015). An act to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, amending Republic Act No. 8550, otherwise known as “The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998,” and for other purposes. Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2015/02/27/republic-act-no-10654/
Republic Act No. 11038. (2018). An Act declaring protected areas and providing for their management, amending for this purpose Republic Act No. 7586, otherwise known as the “National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992,” and for other purposes. Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2018/06/22/republic-act-no-11038/
Salmo, S. III. & Juinio-Meñez, M.A.R.(2001). Community-based mangrove reforestation: coastal resources management tools. Marine Science Institute. University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City.
Sangguniang Bayan ng Sual. (2023). Municipal Ordinance No. 12-2023: An ordinance establishing a “Mangrove Conservation Area” in Barangay Baquioen, Sual, Pangasinan and providing penalty for violation thereof. Province of Pangasinan. https://www.pangasinan.gov.ph/issuances/declaring-municipal-ordinance-no-12-2023-of-the-sangguniang-bayan-of-sual-pangasinan-entitled-an-ordinance-establishing-a-mangrove-conservation-area-in-barangay-baquioen/
Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. (2022). Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: Goals and targets for 2030, and vision for 2050. https://www.philchm.ph/kunming-montreal-global-biodiversity-framework-gbf/
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