Apo Reef
| Apo Reef | |
|---|---|
| Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List | |
 |
|
| Country | Philippines |
| Type | (tentative) Natural |
| Criteria | vii, ix, x |
| Reference | 5033 |
| UNESCO region | Asia-Pacific |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 2006 (submitted) (Unknown Session) |
Apo Reef is a series of coral reefs encompassing 34 square kilometers within the waters of Occidental Mindoro in the Philippines. It is the world's second-largest contiguous coral reef system and the largest in the country.[1] The reef and its surrounding waters are administered as a National Park as part of the Apo Reef Natural Park project; the Apo Reef is within the Sulu Sea.[2]
Contents |
Geology [edit]
Apo Reef can be found around 33 kilometers west off of the mid-western coast of the Philippine island of Mindoro. Two separate coral reefs make up the atoll-reef system. The two reefs are separated by a 30 meter-deep channel between them.[1] Several environments can be found within the reef's boundaries. Aside from coral reefs, seagrass meadows, beds of macroalgae and mangrove stands are present on and around the reef proper.[3]
Conservation history [edit]
The waters of Apo Reef are protected within a National Park encompassing 274.69 km2 of the reef and its surrounding area.[4] Of the total area, 157.92 km2 comprises the Apo Reef Natural Park while the remaining 116.77 km2 constitute a buffer zone surrounding the national park.[1]
Politically, the reef lies in waters within the jurisdiction of the province of Occidental Mindoro in region IV-B of the Philippines. It is directly administered by the local government of the municipality of Sablayan.[3]
Originally, Apo Reef was first officially declared a "Marine Park" by then-Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos in 1980.[5] This was followed up with the local government of Sablayan declaring the reef a special "Tourism Zone and Marine Reserve" three years later.[6] In 1996, the entire reef was declared a protected natural park by then-president Fidel Ramos.[4]
In 2006, the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources submitted the reef to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre for consideration as a World Heritage Site.[1]
Following a survey by the local chapter of the World Wide Fund for Nature, fishing within the reef was banned by the Philippine government in September 2007.[7][8] The marine park would be opened for tourists to help generate funds for its protection as well as provide an alternative livelihood for hundreds of fishermen in the area.[9]
Marine Biodiversity [edit]
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Yellowmargin triggerfish in Apo Reef
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A cushion star in Apo Reef
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Yellowish white soft coral in Apo Reef
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A yellow crinoid in Apo Reef
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A sea cucumber in Apo Reef
See also [edit]
- Apo Reef Light
- List of protected areas of the Philippines
- List of World Heritage Sites in the Philippines
- Tubbataha Reef
References [edit]
- ^ a b c d "Apo Reef Natural Park". UNESCO World Heritage: Tentative Lists. UNESCO. 2006-05-16. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-08.
- ^ C.Michael Hogan. 2011. Sulu Sea. Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. P.Saundry & C.J.Cleveland. Washington DC
- ^ a b "Apo Reef Marine Reserve". Local government-declared MPAs. Marine Protected Coast, Reef & Management Database. 2006-06-07. Retrieved 2007-10-08.[dead link]
- ^ a b "Presidential Proclamation 868" (Press release). Office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines. 1996-09-06.
- ^ "Presidential Proclamation 1801" (Press release). Office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines. 1980.
- ^ "Resolution No. 1108" (Press release). Sangguniang Bayan ng Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro. 1983.
- ^ "Philippines bans fishing to revive biggest reef". Yahoo! News (Yahoo! Inc.). 2007-10-02. Archived from the original on October 6, 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-08.
- ^ "Philippines bans fishing to revive biggest reef". Reuters News (Reuters Inc.). 2007-10-02. Retrieved 2007-10-08.
- ^ Philippines bans fishing to revive biggest reef
External links [edit]
Bibliography [edit]
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Conservation of Priority Protected Areas Project, Apo Reef Natural Park Brochure. Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro; List of Proclaimed Marine Protected Areas; Protected Areas And Wildlife Bureau, 2004.
- "Apo Reef Marine Reserve". Local government-declared MPAs. Marine Protected Coast, Reef & Management Database. 2006-06-07. Retrieved 2007-10-08.[dead link]
Coordinates: 12°39′42″N 120°24′52″E / 12.66167°N 120.41444°E
