Turtle Islands Integrated Conservation and Development Project (ICDP): A collaborative government and NGO approach for management

Abstract

The Philippines Turtle Island is a significant green turtle rookery in the Asia. Unlike the Sabah Turtle Islands that is protected entirely by law, Baguan is the only island declared as a marine turtle sanctuary. In 1996, A Memorandum of Agreements between the DENR and World Wildlife Fund (WWF-Philippines) paved the conception of the Turtle Islands Integrated Conservation and Development Project which aims to enhance the participation of local communities in conservation while provide them economic opportunities to eventually wean them from turtle egg collection. This paper presents the initial activities undertaken for the implementation of an Integrated Conservation and Development Project in the area.