of the Verde Island Passage, Philippines - weADAPT

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climate change vulnerability assessment of the verde island passage, philippines Sensitivity Habitat and data description Coral Coral reefs are the most dominant habitat in the VIP, with a total reef area of around 7,031 hectares of which about 1,767 hectares are covered by live coral (Table 2). Based on the satellite images, the reefs are fringing and generally narrow. The coral reef areas are mostly shallow, particularly on inshore areas near the bay heads. Although, some reefs still occur in deep areas particularly in the bay mouths (e.g., Bauan municipality in Batangas). The reefs are well developed on the west side of the VIP, particularly in Calatagan (including the municipalities of Lian, Calatagan, and Nasugbu) and Lubang (including municipalities of Lubang and Looc, and Ambil Island) areas. On a per province basis, reef areas are more extensive in Batangas, compared to Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, and Marinduque. Data used for the analysis were obtained from the 2007 to 2008 surveys of the municipalities surrounding the Verde Island Passage. These data sets were originally collected from various researchers that were contracted by Conservation International–Philippines to conduct marine protected area site identification and monitoring assessments. A total of 41 survey stations belonging to eight (8) municipalities were considered in this assessment. Table 3 presents the municipalities and survey stations that were included in this study. Each site indicated in Table 3, were used as replicates to compute for the percentage cover of live hard corals per municipality. Data used were obtained with the use of video or phototransect methods. Overall status of the coral communities in the Verde Island Passage fell under the poor category with 24% mean cover of live hard corals (Table 4). The municipalities of Mabini, Looc, and Nasugbu had the highest live hard cover but still fell under the fair category (Gomez et al. 1994) with percent cover values of 33.8%, 29.4%, and 29.3% respectively. Batangas Table 2. Area (ha) of coastal habitat in the Verde Island Passage. Live corals Mixed Overgrown Abiotics Total Bay area LC+DCA+RCK DCA+RCK S+R area Lubang Island Calatagan East Calumpan Batangas Bay West Batangas Bay East Maricaban Island West Marinduque Wawa-Paluan Puerto Galera-Naujan Naujan-Gloria 572 560 16 2 172 20 7 121 248 49 1118 802 7 0 168 10 10 104 174 68 LC–live corals; DCA–dead coral with algae; RCK–rock; S–sand; R–rubble 759 670 0 0 60 2 0 27 48 3 189 146 23 8 93 35 1 147 565 27 2638 2178 46 10 493 67 18 399 1035 147 Table 3. Study sites and municipalities considered in the vulnerability assessment of the coral and reef fish communities in the Verde Island Passage. Municipality Study sites Survey date Researchers Batangas Calatagan Looc Lubang Mabini Nasugbu San Juan Tingloy Grotto Napayong Pitong Gatang Promontory/ Matuko Pt. East Sta. Ana Gulod Karitonan/ Carretunan South Bagong Silang Talisay Tanagan West Bagong Silang West Sta Ana Antipolo East Tabajin Nagbati Pandan Tagbanan West Tabajin Ambil Balagin East Vigo Nagtalon Tagbak West Vigo Cazador Pt. Ligaya North Ligaya South Mainit School Fuego Point Sunset cove Catmon Hugom Imelda Kalubkub/ Calubcub Laiya Aplaya Laiya Ibabao Puting Buhangin Tikalaan Bonito Island Devil’s Pt. Malahibong Manok Oct-08 May-07 Oct-08 Oct-08 Oct-08 Aug-08 Aug-08 Oct-08 CI–Hilomen et al. CI–Menez and Cabansag CI–Menez et al. CI–Menez et al. CI–Hilomen et al. CI–Menez and Cabansag CI–Menez and Cabansag CI–Hilomen et al. Table 4. Percentage cover of living hard coral (LHC) per municipality in the Verde Island Passage. Municipality Year Sites % LHC cover Batangas City Calatagan Looc Lubang Mabini Nasugbu San Juan Tingloy Mean 2008 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 City had the lowest percentage of live hard corals with only 12.9%. The municipalities of Calatagan, Lubang, San Juan, and Tingloy fell under the poor category with covers of 24.2%, 24.8%, 19.6%, and 19.2% respectively. 4 8 6 6 3 2 8 3 12.9 24.2 29.4 24.8 33.8 29.3 19.6 19.2 24.2 22
chapter 1 • vulnerability assessment of marine ecosystems and fisheries to climate change: sensitivity Seagrass Table 5 lists the number of species and species composition in areas around VIP where seagrass assessment reports were available for this study. Most of the seagrass areas included in this study have 8 species except for Puerto Galera which has 10 species due to the presence of Halophila minor and H. spinulosa. In a study conducted by Tiquio and Cayabyab (2008) in Calatagan, they reported that the species diversity in this area is comparable with Cagayancillo, and Balabac, Palawan, however it is less extensive than those areas studied in Palawan. In terms of abundance, they reported that Calatagan seagrass meadows are less dense than Cagayancillo but denser than Tubbataha and Balabac. In an assessment conducted in Lubang Islands, Occidental Mindoro (Genito et al. 2009), results showed that the percentage seagrass cover in these areas ranged from low to moderate with 46% of the surveyed sites showing moderate cover, but mostly on the low-end values of the range. Thalassia hemprichii and Cymodocea rotundata were noted in almost Table 5. Number of species and species composition in Lian and Calatagan, Batangas; Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro; and Lubang, Occidental Mindoro. Municipality No. of species Species composition Batangas Lian Batangas Calatagan Oriental Mindoro Puerto Galera Occidental Mindoro Lubang 8 8 10 8 Ea, Th, Cr, Cs, Hp, Hu, Ho, Si (Talim Bay CRM Plan) Ea, Th, Cr, Cs, Hp, Hu, Ho, Si (Tiquio and Cayabyab, 2008) Ea, Th, Cr, Cs, Hp, Hu, Hm, Ho, Hs, Si (Fortes, 1997) Ea, Th, Cr, Cs, Hp, Hu, Ho, Si (Genito et al, 2009) all of the sites surveyed. According to this report, the multispecies meadows in these islands were comparable with areas in Palawan and Guimaras. Most of the seagrass meadows that surround the VIP are in constant threat from overexploitation of its associated organisms (i.e., sea cucumber, sea urchin), coastal developments (i.e., resort establishment) and even mangrove afforestation (i.e., Calatagan). Mangrove The total area of mangrove forests surrounding the VIP in Batangas and Oriental Mindoro is 1,494.16 ha, 716.16 ha in Batangas, and 778 ha in Oriental Mindoro. Most of these mangrove areas are of the riverine and fringing types dominated by species of Rhizophora and Avicennia. However, most of these mangrove areas are near coastal communities and are being affected by anthropogenic activities such as conversion to fishponds, and resort and port establishment. Table 6 and Figure 34 present a summary of available information on the condition of mangrove forests in the provinces of Batangas and Oriental Mindoro. The only information available for analysis were the type of mangrove forest and substrate, areal extent, dominant species and issues and problems affecting these mangrove areas. No available information on the density and other parameters that will characterize the present mangrove cover in these areas were accessible at the time of data collection. Ea–Enhalus acoroides, Th–Thalassia hemprichii, Cr–Cymodocea rotundata, Cs–Cymodocea serrulata, Hp–Halodule pinifolia, Hu–Halodule uninervis, Hm–Halophila minor, Ho–Halophila ovalis, Hs–Halophila spinulosa, Si–Syringodium isoetifolium Table 6. Available information on the status of mangrove forests in Batangas and Oriental Mindoro. Province/ Type of Type of Area municipality mangrove forest substrate (ha) Issues and concerns Batangas Balayan Batangas City Calatagan Lian San Juan Oriental Mindoro Calapan City Naujan Baco Pola fringing/riverine fringing/riverine fringing fringing/riverine fringing/riverine riverine/fringing riverine/fringing fringing/riverine no data sandy/clay loam sandy/clay loam/muddy coralline/stony/rocky/muddy sandy/clay loam coralline/sandy/clay loam/muddy sandy/clay loam/muddy sandy/clay loam/muddy sandy/clay loam/muddy no data 19.09 23.64 244.98 79.99 348.46 332.00 165.00 134.00 147.00 • conversion to fishponds; establishment of resorts; presence of coastal communities; illegal cutting • development of industries and ports; presence of coastal communities; conversion to fishponds • conversion to fishponds and saltbeds; establishment of resorts; presence of coastal communities; illegal cutting; existing tenurial instruments • conversion to fishponds; presence of coastal communities; illegal cutting • conversion to fishponds; presence of coastal communities; illegal cutting; gleaning activities • presence of coastal communities; conversion to fishponds; presence of piggeries; illegal cutting • presence of coastal communities; conversion to fishponds; illegal cutting • presence of coastal communities/ conversion to fishponds; illegal cutting • illegal cutting; conversion to other uses 23
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Conservation International (CI) Mis
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