Effective Management and Sustainable Financing of Coral Reef Marine Protected Areas in the Philippines

As part of the upscaling of a ten-year EbA initiative, the achievements have been made possible with the generous support of the Global EbA Fund, the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR), UBS Optimus Foundation, ORRAA, and other valued partners.

The Verde Island Passage and Calamian Islands in the Philippines are home to some of the most productive and biodiverse marine ecosystems in the world. These marine ecosystems impact the livelihoods of over two million people. However, the effects of global climate change, such as increases in sea surface temperatures, sea level rise and shifts in the frequency and intensity of rainfall and storms have impacted the region. This is coupled with local impacts and weak management, threatening these ecosystems. Adequate funding is another problem, with temperamental grant financing and low private investment. Tackling these challenges, the project strengthened private sector engagement, catalysed EbA investments, and expanded access to financing for applying and scaling up EbA. It built a portfolio of investment-ready businesses and projects, generating investment incentives through a Blue Economy Investment Facility.

Project Status

Completed 31 December 2023

• 11 long-term co-management agreements for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) were adopted at a sub-national level for a duration of 10-years (renewable). This was arranged between Local Governments and a local non-profit entity for the MPAs.
• The project directly benefited 986 men and 396 females, all fishers who are benefitting from more resilient sources of protein, as well as new sources of income and new jobs.
• Moreover, 8 jobs were created with positions as MPA management team, MPA community officers and MPA rangers. They are all defined as green jobs, such as they fall in the category of “protecting and restoring ecosystems” and “other environmentally friendly processes” and were filled by local community members, 3 of whom were women.
• 5 Livelihood Programmes in progress with fishers, ecotourism, community-based aquaculture and mangrove restoration.
• Additionally, $572,000 of blended finance was mobilised because of the team’s efforts. Partial commitment as impact loans from private sector and partial commitment as a grant from the UN and Philanthropy.