UNESCO Biosphere Reserves · CBST) Bunglon Cave (Ugong Rock, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan BR...

Sustainable Tourism in

UNESCO Biosphere Reserves: Experiences, Challenges, Opportunities

Engr. Madrono P. Cabrestante Jr

Focal Person

Palawan Biosphere Reserve (Philippines)

PRESENTATION OUTLINE:

1. Biosphere Reserves (BRs) and Sustainable Tourism

2. Sustainable Tourism Experiences in UNESCO-BRs.

• Southeast Asia

• Philippines (Palawan BR)

3. Challenges, Opportunities and Moving Forward

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park

Palawan, Philippines



UNESCO Biosphere Reserves (BRs): Where sustainable development can be found

>where people balance

economic needs with the

health of ecosystems

> Sites of excellence where

scientists & local leaders

explore and demostrate a

balance between economic

development and biodiversity

conservation

Sources: www.slideshare.net/CIFOR/chawapich-present-peswshanoi ; www.futureearth.org/blog/2016-apr-25/biosphere-reserves-living laboratoris-sustainable development



How BR aims are met?

2nd: BUFFER ZONE that surrounds the

Core.

(allows activities compatible with the

functions of the core area)

3rd TRANSITION (cooperation) AREA(general sustainable use)

1st: A legally protected CORE AREA

where lands and waters are minimally

disturbed.

(biodiversity conservation, monitoring,

research & education)

“BRs are living laboratories of SD”

Sustainable Tourism is compatible with Biosphere Reserves ...



Sources: ICOMOS, www.gdrc.org/uem/eco-tour/st-whatis.html

www.unesco.org/education/tlsf/mods/theme_c/mod16.html

Where it contributes to the:

management of all resources

fulfilling the economic, social and aesthetic

needs

while maintaining cultural integrity,

essential ecological processes, biological

diversity and life support systems.

2. Sustainable Tourism Experiences in BRs in SEA

2.1 CAMBODIA (Tonle Sap BR)



Tapping into sustainable tourism to safeguard biodiversity

Https://cmsdata.iucn.org/news/asia/201705/tapping-sustainable-tourism-safeguard-biodiversity

Tonle sap lake& wetlands ecosystem provide food &

shelter for wildlife species

Floating villages are

dependent on lakes & trees for clean water, fish, wood,

fruits

Previously, illegal &

overfishing, hunting & forest

exploitation threaten the health of the forest where

90% of commune population

rely. Lake fish catch is declining.



Cambodia(Tonle sap): Tapping into sustainable

tourism to safeguard biodiversity

Https://cmsdata.iucn.org/news/asia/201705/tapping-sustainable-tourism-safeguard-biodiversity

Tourism plan was made to conserve

the environment and enhance the

livelihoods of local people

Uses participatory approaches to involve villagers: develop implement

“responsible tourism master plan”

Wild Cambodia Organization

(implementer)

Critical Ecosystem Partnership (funder)

Helps generate income for people by

providing boat, food & accommodation to tourists

2. Sustainable Tourism experiences in BRs in SEA

2.1 THAILAND (Mae Sa-Kog Ma BR)



villages commercialized into

tourism-related occupations:

shandicrafts & souvenirs Others: revival & promotion of

traditional foods, herbal teas &

sweets

Communicating products: “Made in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with love”

Sources: Https://en.unesco.org/silkroad/silk-road-

themes/biosphere-reserve/mae-sa-kog-ma

www.unesco.org/new/en/jakarta/about-this-office/single-

view/news/southeast_asias_biosphere_reserves_share_local_s

ulutions/

www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Thai-forests-survival-

story-a-model-for-world-cons-30280025.html

Most populated areas in the

watershed of Chiang Mai.

Land use: developed paddy land +

permanent cultivation of cash crops;

rehabilitation of degraded forest,

community-based orchid

conservation.

2. Sustainable Tourism

Experiences in Palawan BR



The PHILIPPINES and

PALAWAN BR

Sources: DENR, 1987 cited in cited in Chen-Ng, Mary Ann,

undated. “Ethics and Attitudes of Ecotourism in the Philippines”.

Http://eubios.info/ABC4/abc4313.htm

PPIO, 2002, cited in Chen-Ng, Mary Ann. Undated. “Ethics and

Attitudes of Ecotourism in the Philippines”.

Http://eubios.info/ABC4/abc4313.htm

•largest province in the Philippines

•land area ~ 16,000 km2

•more than 1,700 islands

Republic Act 7611 – Strategic Environmental

Plan (institutionalized the BR by UNESCO)

Palawan BR’s Key Economic Sectors

Agriculture Mining/ Mineral Development Tourism

Fisheries Oil and Natural Gas Production

Ecotourism by the Numbers: > 1,500 average annual tourist

> 5.03 million pesos (or US$ 114,000) annual income

2. Sustainable Tourism Experiences in Palawan:

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park(World Heritage Site, PAMSAR Site, ASEAN GeoPark

Sources: Tubbataha Management Office

Matt and Gebser, 2011. Benefits sharing as key to conserving Tubbataha Reefs.Http://www.teebweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/TEEBcase-Benefit-sharing-as-key-to-conserving-the-Tubbataha

Philippinesl.pdf

Conservation:

Divers,

dive operators,

NGOs,

gov’t agencies

Development:

Local people

Commercial fishers

Investors

Benefits:

-High live coral cover

(above 60%- very good

condition)

- community livelihood

support & infrastructures

90%

10%

00

TPAMB

Local

gov/comm

LGU & community > share in

revenue (compensation for

lost access)

(Photo courtesy: http://thecoroninitiative.wordpress.com/)

Indigenous people (Tagbanua)

manages the

ecotourism site

75,000 average

annual visitors

7 million pesos (US$

161,000) income

from entrance fees

Tribal Foundation:

-Income is shared among members

> scholarship & education of Tagbanua youths

> construction of health care centers,


CORON, Kayangang Lake

Longest UR in the World:

- 8 km total length

- 4.3 km. navigable

Carrying capacity: 1,400 persons/day

Maximum allowed by the Park: 1,200 (as of date)

2. Sustainable Tourism Experiences in Palawan BR:

Puerto Princesa Underground River National Park(World Heritage Site, PAMSAR Site, New 7 Wonders of Nature

284,000= average (2012-13) annual tourist

US$ 1.2 million= average annual income

(3,000 % increase in income within 2 decades)

Community

12%

Conservtn

Fund, 28%

Park

Operation

s, 60%Utilization of

Park Earnings:



Source: Josiah(http://www.lakas.com.ph/2012/03/mangrove-paddle-boat-tour-in-sabang-puerto-princesa-palawan/

2. Community-based Sustainable Tourism Activities in

Palawan BR: Mangrove Paddle Tour

Paddle tour guides

association:- 21 members

(13 men, 8 women)

Source: http://blog.mangotours.com/2014/05/puerto-princesa-

chance-to-be-one-with.html

COMMUNITY-BASED SUSTAINABLE TOURISM:

MANGROVE PADDLE TOUR

2013 Earnings of

mangrove tour guides:

- 1.9 million pesos or

$43,000 (about $ 170

/month/member)



Assisted by the ff:

NGO: Environmental Legal Assistance Center

(ELAC), ABS-CBN Foundation, Puerto Princesa

City Tourism Office

UNDP Grant of Pesos 150,000 (US $ 3,000) given

to the community and cooperative

CBST: Bunglon Cave (Ugong Rock, Palawan BR

Source: https://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/ShowuseReviews-g294257-d2104146-r155323776-Ugong_Rock-Puerto_Princesa_Palawan_Island_Palawan_Province_Mimaropa.html

2. Community-based Sustainable Tourism Activities in

Palawan BR: Caving (Rock) Adventure



CBST) Bunglon Cave (Ugong Rock, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan BR

Complimentary attraction to the Puerto

Princesa Underground River: Bunglon

Cave (1 particular stalactite: Ugong

Rock – humming sound)

> Benefiting the locals: guided tour, hiking

up the rock

Year No. of Tourists Income (US $) Philippine Peso

2008 109 143 7,150

2011 31,056 150,000 7.5 million

2012 47,183 276,000 13.8 million

2013 50,385

Source: https://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/ShowuseReviews-g294257-d2104146-r155323776-Ugong_Rock-Puerto_Princesa_Palawan_Island_Palawan_Province_Mimaropa.html


Zero Carbon Resorts (ZCR) Project

P C S D

Reduce = resource consumption and waste

production

Replace = old technologies with new,

energy-efficient ones.

Redesign = constructing

carbon-neutral or energy-self-sufficient

building.

Zero Carbon Demonstration Building in Palawan

P C S D

3. Challenges, Opportunities and

Moving Forward



Challenges:

Overcrowding: more people, traffic & consumption

Noise : as noise increases, attraction decreases

(tourists contribute to noise)

As social and cultural instability rise, attraction falls

(Tourism shakes cultural stability)

www.unesco.org/education/tlsf/mods/theme_c/mod16.html?panel=1#top

How tourism can contribute to:

Appropriate development (Economic sustainability)

> (Ex. economic dependence, etc.)

Equity and peace (Social sustainability)

(address Social dislocation, Loss of cultural heritage, etc.)

Conservation (Environmental sustainability)

> (address environmental degradation, etc.)

Democratic participation (Political sustainability)Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park


Challenges:

Sources: www.peopleandtheplanet.com/index.html@lid=26809&section=47&topic=44.htmlwww.unesco.org/education/tlsf/mods/theme_c/mod16.html?panel=2#top



www.peopleandplanet.com/index.html@lid=26809&section=47&topic=44.html

Explore ecotourism

satisfied the desires of the growing numbers of ‘discerning’

tourists who wanted to get-away-from-the-hordes’

Responsible holidays

protect local cultures, communities, landscapes & environments

Engaging and benefiting indigenous people

Experiential tourism

Encompass ecotourism, nature, heritage, cultural and soft

adventure tourism, rural & community tourism

Nature tourism - growing at 10-12 % a year

Opportunities

Opportunities

Do not repeal the very tourist that would be the ideal:

long-staying, high spending, committed to quality



www.unesco.org/education/tlsf/mods/theme_c/mod16.html?panel=1#top

www.peopleandplanet.com/index.html@lid=26809&section=47&topic=44.html

Example: utilizing the hinterlands & beaches

became an attractive possibility (for those who think

they do not have tourism sites)



Moving Forward: Sustainable approach to tourism

Do not impair the natural environment nor the socio-

cultural fabric of the host communities with tourist arrivals.

Local communities and environment should benefit from

tourism, both economically and culturally.

Utilize tourism resources and attractions so as not to

compromise their subsequent use by the future

generations

Source: www.unesco.org/education/tlsf/mods/theme_c/mod16.html?panel=1#top



Moving Forward: Emphasize on community-based

sustainable tourism (CBST)

Community-led, empowering people

Assisted by government and civil society

Beneficial to people, culture & environment



Moving Forward: ‘Tourism Certification’

Certification –assessed

entity/establishment, or destination

has met a set of minimum standards

Sources: htttps://gstcouncil.org/gstc-criteria/

www.sustainabletourism.net/sustainable-tourism/sustianable-tourism-resource/tourism-accreditation-and-certification

GSTC Criteria:

Sustainable management

Socio-economic impacts

Cultural impacts

Environmental impacts (consumption of

resources, reducing pollution, conserving

biodiversity & landscape)

2 sets of GSTC Criteria:

1. Industry criteria (for hotesl and tour

operators)

2. Destination criteria



Promotes sustainable

destination

development

Improves community

involvement

Technical assessment

and guidance

towards compliance

‘ANAHAW’, The Philippine Sustainable Tourism Certification

> Reduce Carbon or

environmental footprints:

Energy

Water

Waste

Other resource

management

Benefits:

Lowers operational costs ~ boosts revenues

Attracts new market of green consumers

Enhances brand image



Source: UNEP, www.gdrc.org/uem/eco-tour/st-whatis.html

Ecological

1. Optimal use of resource

2. maintain essential ecological processes

3. help conserve natural heritage & biodiversity)

Economic

1. provide fairly distributed socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders

3. employment & income earning opportunities,

4. social services to host communities )

Social-cultural

1. respect for culture of host community, and

2. conserve their living cultural heritage & traditional values

Sustainable

Tourism

Development

Ultimately, sustainable tourism should balance…


Palawan, Philippines Thank you for your attention

Our Biosphere.Our Home.

www.palawanbr.pcsd.gov.ph

PCSD

UNESCO Biosphere Reserves · CBST) Bunglon Cave (Ugong Rock, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan BR...

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