By Cai U. Ordinario
THE coral cover of the famed tourist destination Boracay Island has declined 70.5 percent over a period of only two decades, according to a study by the Japanese and Philippine governments.
In a study on Boracay conducted from 2010 to 2015 by Japanese and Filipino scientists, the decline in Boracay’s coral cover coincided with a 38.4-percent increase in tourist arrivals.
The study cited unmonitored snorkeling and diving activities in coral-rich areas as the major contributors to the damage sustained by Boracay’s corals.
“It’s very crucial that the sustainability of Boracay’s environment will not be exchanged for short-term economic gains. We hope to continue working with planners and policy-makers in the island through knowledge- and technology-sharing that will help conserve the coastal environment,” Ariel Blanco, a scientist from the University of the Philippines, said.
Apart from the decline in the island’s coral cover, Boracay is also experiencing the shrinking of the beach area and sand erosion.
This was confirmed when Japanese and Filipino scientists installed CCTVs in select locations on the island.
UP scientist Miguel Fortes also cautioned that water-quality level at the eastern part of Boracay beach is alarming, making it unsafe for swimming and other human activities.
Fortes said the direct discharge of untreated waste water near the shore caused the poor water-quality level that consequently results in frequent algal blooms and coral reef deterioration.
“Jica [Japan International Cooperation Agency] shares the collective vision of stakeholders in Boracay to promote a more sustainable tourism development in the island,” Jica Senior Representative Takahiro Morita said.
“Tourism is an important economic driver in the Philippines. By protecting marine resources, we are also helping sustain the tourism industry and jobs creation in the country,” he added.
Boracay is a world-renowned tourist destination known for its four-kilometer beach of powdery white sand. Uncontrolled commercial development of the 1,000-hectare island since the 1990s, however, continues to threaten the island’s environment.
The coral-reef ecosystem is Boracay’s most important resource. According to sediment analysis, Boracay’s famous white sand is mostly from coral fragments and the seaweed Halimeda. The scientists also said coral reefs lessen the impact of strong waves to the beach, hence protecting it from sand erosion.
The study was undertaken as part of the Coastal Ecosystem Conservation and Adaptive Management (CECAM) project funded by Jica.
Aside from Boracay, the CECAM Project also covered other pilot sites that have their own ecosystem challenges, such as Bolinao in Pangasinan, Puerto Galera in Mindoro Oriental, Taklong in Guimaras, Naawan in Misamis Oriental, Laguna Lake and Manila Bay in Metro Manila.
CECAM is part of the “Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development,” established jointly by Jica and the Japan Science and Technology Agency.
It aims to address global issues through international research by Japanese researchers collaborating with their counterparts in developing countries.