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Philippines

Saavedra

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Conservation and community benefit: New guard post at Saavedra Fish Sanctuary

Date Approved: 11.2002

Ocean

This project protects ocean ecosystems, making coastal communities more economically and physically secure in the face of climate change.

In 1996, the coastal fishing community of Saavedra worked with a local NGO to create a 20-acre marine sanctuary. Since then, the Saavedra Fisherman’s Association has guarded the sanctuary from fishing. The results have been great: The sanctuary area is now rated as one of Cebu Island’s top diving destinations.

But after years of exposure to the elements, the guard post at the sanctuary area has become dilapidated. It can no longer provide adequate shelter during rains. Seacology is funding construction of a new, permanent guardhouse for the fish sanctuary. The Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation will monitor the progress of construction and disbursement of funds.

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Project Updates

July 2004

The guardhouse was completed, and a dedication ceremony was held in April 2003. In addition to being used as a guard post for the fish sanctuary, the house has served as the venue for the Saavedra Fishermen’s Association’s monthly meeting and a receiving area for visitors from neighboring marine protected area associations. In 2004, the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources and USAID cited the Saavedra Fish Sanctuary as a destination in the Philippines where sound and replicable resource management and local governance provide a model for coastal resource management.

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Project Photos

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