Biodiversity conservation and sustainable tourism: Philippine initiatives

Sustainable tourism or ecotourism has been identified as one of the measures to achieve biodiversity conservation at both in situ (e.g. protected areas) and ex situ (e.g. zoos) conditions. The management strategies to harmonize biodiversity conservation and tourism development in the Philippines include the establishment of the National Integrated Protected Areas System, which incorporates tourism as a source of alternative livelihoods for local and indigenous communities living both inside and adjacent to the protected areas. The management of community-based marine protected areas has demonstrated that protecting coral reefs not only adds premium to tourist experience but also helps sustain higher fish production. The use of flagship species instills long-term public awareness about biodiversity and effectively serves as a rallying call for conservation among local residents and tourists. Zoos can take direct actions to conserve species in ex situ facilities, and these actions can be integrated in zoo tourism. The Philippine initiatives to integrate biodiversity conservation in ecotourism development are also reflected in the national tourism policy framework referred to as National Ecotourism Strategy. Furthermore, a funding mechanism (Integrated Protected Area Fund) is established to ensure that the user fees from tourism within protected areas can help sustain biodiversity conservation and natural heritage protection.