ecotourism report

1. CASE STUDY
Local Community,
Marine Tourism and
Conservation;
Pamilacan Island, Bohol

2. Presented by:
 Barredo, Natasja Ansherine
 Bercilla, Mary Paola

3. I. KEY PROBLEMS AND ISSUES:
• Environmental Issues and Risks associated with
unsustainable use of natural resources such as
(Unsustainable fishing practice)
i.e. hunting whale sharks, dolphins, and other
large marine species
• Scarcity of Freshwater and lack of water supply
• How to sustain the tourism development in
Pamilacan, Bohol

5. II. BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND
RELEVANT FACTS ABOUT PAMILICAN ISLAND,
BOHOL
• Pamilacan means “resting place of the mantas” though
some local folks say that the name of the island was
derived from the word “pamilac” or harpoon, a common
fishing implement used to capture whale sharks, manta
rays and dolphins
• Pamilacan is an island in the Bohol Sea, situated 12.5
kilometres south of Bohol Island, Philippines. It is a
barangay of the municipality of Baclayon. It is a small
island between the deep sea of Bohol and Mindanao with
an area of 175 ha

6. II. BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND
RELEVANT FACTS ABOUT PAMILICAN ISLAND,
BOHOL
• It is one of the best spots in the Philippines for
viewing dolphins and sharks in the wild. A yearly
average of 1,252 tourists was recorded from 2003
to 2008, according to DOT in 2009.
• There were no evidence of foreign or aboriginal
settlement on the Island apart from the ruins of a
17th century Spanish fort

9. LOCAL COMMUNITY
• Home to more or less 200 families
• Nearly 90% of the
residents-adults-third-fourth
generation were born on the
island. They were the pioneering
fishers and whale hunters who
settled in Pamilican during the
height of the whale watching
venture in the Sea of Bohol

10. LOCAL COMMUNITY
• Fishing was the main
occupations in the barangay
before tourism was
introduced
• Supplementary income
comes from the sale of
animals and by-products
such as goats, chicken, pigs,
and cows

11. LOCAL COMMUNITY
• Annual plants such as onion and root crops are cultivated due to
the scarcity of freshwater
• Rain is the main source of freshwater for farming and domestic
use
• Two deep wells are used
for the whole community
for washing clothes and
for bathing while there
is no safe drinking water.
They rely on rainwater,
coconut water, and
filtered/tap water

12. MARINE TOURISM
• No fewer than three community-based outfits organize
expeditions and employ former whalers. All use old
converted whaling boats and local crews. Boats hold four
to six people.
• Whale sightings are relatively rare, but the best time for
spotting them is from February to July; dolphins are
common year-round.
• The tourism peak season starts from December and lasts
until May with the highest visitation rates occurring in
March and April

13. MARINE TOURISM
 Aside from the beautiful white sand beaches,
magnificent dive sites, dolphin and whale watching, and
bountiful marine life, the island also boast of a 200-year-
old Spanish fort. It is situated at the northeast side of the
island. In the past, it served as a watch station for
intruders such as pirates and other enemies of the
Spanish colony.
 To cater to tourists, locals and foreigners alike, a resort
has recently been developed in the island, the Pueblo
de Pamilacan Island Resort. Cottages and a souvenir
shop are available and the resort offers guided tours
around the island and dolphin and whale watching
expeditions

14. MARINE TOURISM
• Though whales and many of the dolphins are most
active at night and during early morning, the best
time to watch them is at dawn. Trips usually begin
in March until the onset of the rainy season in June
or July though tours depend much on weather and
sea conditions.
• International tourist are mostly Japanese and
Koreans
• Very few stay overnight because tourism facilities
are limited

15. MARINE TOURISM
• Since marine mammal sightings are not always
guaranteed, a few recreational activities are offered
in Pamilacan such as swimming, snorkeling, diving,
and village tour and mainland Baclayon such as
nature and cultural tours, and caving
• Beach walking is also a relaxing leisure which is
enhanced by the presence of beautiful seascape,
numerous seashells scattered on the white
powdery

16. CONSERVATION
• Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) or marine reserves
are areas set aside to protect coral reef ecosystems
and associated plants and animals. Also maintain
the biodiversity inherent in coral reefs, and sustain
their usefulness in the economic enterprises.
• Through the initiative of the Silliman University, the
Pamilacan Island Fish Sanctuary was established
in 1986. The marine reserve is about 12 hectares in
area. The reserve was officially recognized as a
“no-take zone” only in 1994 by virtue of Municipal
Ordinance No. 1

17. CONSERVATION
• In 1992, Fisheries Administrative order No. 185 ban “the
taking or catching, selling, purchashing, possessing,
transporting and exporting of dolphins” including all
cetaceans and porpoises
• In 1998, the ban was broadened to include whale
sharks and manta rays (Fisheries Administrative Order
No. 193)
• Convention on the international Trade in Endangered
Species of Flora nad Fauna (CITIES)- an international
treaty that protects wild species in international trade

20. Manta Ray

21. • Coral reefs- a tourism asset
• The daily life of local residents
• Sand mining

22. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO SUCCESSFUL
COMMUNITY –BASED TOURISM
1. External Support and early intervention
2. Economic benefits and incentives
3. Collection and sharing of user fees
4. Regulatory measures
 Coral reefs and dive sites
 Cetacean/whale shark- visitor interactions
5. Local community networking and collaboration
6. Social equity
7. Training and capacity building
8. Continuity, monitoring and evaluation

23. III. ALTERNATIVES
If we want to, we can reverse most of the destruction. In
some situations it might only take a decade, in other situations it
might take many centuries. Yet in the end we can have
productive and healthy Island again as is shown way back then.
We do however need to act on it now, before we cross the point
of no return.
• As an alternative to continues declined in our marine
resources due to over and destructive fishing. Local
community must be monitored that instead of harming the
marine they rather protect and conserve it for tourism since it
is becoming their main source of income nowadays. They
should develop it to be a more presentable and lovely
attraction to attract more tourist.

24. IV. PROPOSED SOLUTION
Greenpeace
• An independent organization that works for the
conservation and protection of environment.
• They have many set of campaigns to protect the
world we live in, including Campaigns about
shutting down whaling fleets and scuttling illegal
whaling vessels.
• Responsible for the moratorium which means the
ban of whaling, which help the right whale to
rebound and recover from being endangered.

25. IV. PROPOSED SOLUTION
Recycle water
• Harvesting what little rain water they received. It is
collected when it falls on the earth, stored and
utilized at a later point. It can be purified to make it
into drinking water, used for daily applications and
even utilized in large scale industries.
• Rainwater harvesting is a process or technique of
collecting, filtering, storing and using rainwater for
irrigation and for various other purposes.

26. IV. PROPOSED SOLUTION
Achieving sustainability within the budget, the best
practice doesn’t always require to be expensive.
• Traditional design
Traditional building techniques result in less earth
moving and disturbance
• Energy
• Native vegetation landscaping
Authentication
Attracts native wild life
Low cost low water usage
Not introducing weed and self sustaining

27. IV. PROPOSED SOLUTION
• Transport
Unique tourism experience with affordable
price
Must be ensure the safety
• Handicrafts and arts
• Apply labor instead of technlogy

28. V. RECOMMENDATIONS
Achieving sustainable tourism requires motivation,
determination and a systematic approach. They should
encourage each other to contribute to protecting and
enhancing our natural, built and historic environment; and,
as part of this, helping to improve biodiversity, use natural
resources prudently, minimize waste and pollution
specially in water for the place is experiencing water
shortage, and mitigate and adapt to climate change
including moving to a low carbon economy. Inspire the
community to join the campaigns at the same time, let
them take in knowledge about the effects of whaling.