ECOTOURISM AND THE USES OF FORESHORE AND MARSHLANDS IN
THE PHILIPPINES
(CASE STUDY : OLANGO WILDLIFE SANTUARY, CEBU)1
Introduction
Coastal Tourism in the Philippines
“Coastal tourism” brings up popular images of resorts at the seaside with white
sandy beaches lined with coconut palms and pristine, crystal clear waters.
Advertisements and travel trade literature have helped promote this image of the
three “S”s that coastal resorts usually offer – sun, sea and sand.
Tropical coastal areas have major advantages compared with the coasts in the
temperate climate zones. They are better suited to offer the combination of sun,
sea and sand to tourists year-round.
The Philippines’ tropical climate and
diverse 18,000-kilometer coastline on more than 7,000 islands have made it an
important area for coastal tourism development.
1
Paper presented by Florendo Barangan, Executive Director of the Coastal and Marine
Management Office, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Visayas Avenue,
Diliman, Quezon City, PHILIPPINES during the International Workshop on Beach
EcoWatch Program at Boracay Island, Philippines on May 31 to June 02, 2004
Figure 1. Some coastal tourism destinations in the Philippines:
Olango
Island
Coastal tourism deals with two complex systems – the tourism system and the
coastal system.
The former is primarily a human system and the latter, an
environmental one.
Naturally, there are close interactions between the two
systems, i.e. the impact of tides, storms, wave action and other natural
phenomena on costal tourism.
Of the same importance are the impacts of
tourism on the environmental and social settings of a coastal system. These
include accelerated beach erosion, deteriorating coastal water quality, dumping
of solid waste on beaches or in near-beach areas, coral reef degradation through
inadequate anchorage and landing facilities, salt water intrusion, increasing traffic
noise and congestion.
What is Ecotourism?
The Philippines, a developing country in Southeast Asia, is faced with the
challenges of an increasing population, poverty, inequality, and corruption. With
more than a quarter of the Filipino population falling below the poverty threshold,
the pressure for productivity and growth has led to practices that have resulted in
environmental stress and degradation. In response, the Philippine government
has adopted the rhetoric of sustainable development as defined by the 1987
World Commission on Environment and Development. Government policies on
economic development have reflected this vision of sustainability and poverty
reduction. A major part of the government's economic development plan is
ECOTOURISM.
Being a recent phenomenon, there are controversies surrounding the "lack of
clarity in the definition of ecotourism" (Ward-Davies, 2002). The problem appears
to lie in the association of the term with any type of nature, wildlife and adventure
holiday. Holidays marketed as ecotourism are often in reality opposite that of the
original concept of tourism in natural environments as defined in 1987 by Hector
Ceballos-Lascurain (cited in Boo, 1990, p.xiv), "Travelling to relatively
undisturbed or uncontaminated natural areas with the specific objective of
studying, admiring, and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and animals, as
well as many existing cultural manifestations (both past and present) found in
these areas."
The International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as : “responsible travel
to natural areas, which conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of
local people” (Lindberg and Hawkins 1993). Ecotourism should bring benefits to
locales in the area of the tourism activity. That may include a wider range of
locally owned and operated tourism business such as tour operators and travel
agents, small and medium guesthouses and hotels amongst others.
Ecotourism is not an easy panacea to replace the problems created by more
traditional forms of mass tourism. Rather, it requires good planning and product
development so it can cater to a more special clientele than mass tourism. It
needs to first determine the attractiveness of a local natural resource or tradition
and then harness a tourism market interested in the attraction and maintain it
through management and marketing. These ingredients do not come easily and
require organized and well-run business or community groups.
Coastal
community involvement in ecotourism as a livelihood is possible as long as the
community is willing to be organized as a business entity and learn to regard its
environment and traditions highly so that their pride and care can be selling
points of their tourism products.
What is foreshore?
A string of land margining a body of water, the part of a seashore between the
low-water line usually at the seaward margin of a low tide terrace and the upper
limit wave wash at high tide usually marked by a beach scarp or berm.
1998 Fisheries Code of the Philippines
Foreshore land is a part of the shore, which is alternately covered and uncovered
by the ebb and flow of the tide.
DAO 99-35, series 1999
That part of the land adjacent to the sea, which is alternately covered and left dry
by the ordinary flow of the tides.
The Law on Public Land Conflicts in
the Phils. by Alfonso S. Borja
That part of the shore, which is between high and low watermarks and alternately
covered with water and left by the flux and reflux of the tides. It is indicated by the
middle line between the highest and lowest tide.
Bouvier’s Law Dictionary, page 825
Figure 2. sample of a foreshore area
What are the importance of foreshore areas?

As buffer zones.
Foreshore improves water quality by filtering
runoff to remove sediment and associated insoluble contaminants,
to allow increased infiltration opportunity time for soluble nutrients
or pesticides to drain into the soil, to provide shade to watercourses
to help maintain temperature norms of the water thereby protecting
or providing habitat for aquatic life, and to provide sound barrier to
or from outside areas (roads, factories, parks).

Recreational activities.
Different activities happen in the
foreshore areas that are directly and intimately have contact with
water and thus should be protected for the benefit of the public.
Activities include among many others camping, picnic, swimming,
hiking, wading, and recreational fishing.

As ecotone.
Foreshore area is the transition zone between two
ecological communities (the ocean and the land) usually exhibiting
competition between organisms common to both. These area are
typically the most productive and diverse zones which should then
be preserved and protected.
•
Public access.
Foreshore area provides for access of fisherfolk
and the public to and from the sea
FORESHORE LAND USE AND DEVELOPMEN
FORESHORE LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT
Coastal areas all over the Philippines are being developed rapidly since people
like to live and do business near the sea. The consequences is that beaches and
foreshore land areas are in demand and are being utilized for industry,
construction, dumping, boat landings, recreation, habitation, and many other
uses.
Issues on inadequately regulated foreshore development
• Inadequate development setbacks from the water line – adequate setbacks
are essential to create an open space for access, to minimize negative impacts
on the near shore marine systems such as reefs and sea grass beds
• Increased pollution in near shore waters that emanates from shoreline areas
where there is a lack of control on activities. Domestic waste generated in
shoreline communities all goes to the sea. Septic systems constructed too
close to the beach drain to the sea and pollute the near shore areas,
especially in densely populated areas.
• Erosion of beach sand – usually resulting from the construction of structures
on or near the beach. Although sandy beaches will normally replenish
themselves after a storm, once a beach wall or perpendicular jetty is in place,
the natural movement and return of the sand is prevented.
• Squatting and illegal structures in foreshore areas – such settlements are
difficult to eradicate because squatters are usually aware that their presence is
illegal so they try to minimize opportunities for arrest and are adept in making
excuses about why they are there. Squatters in particular have the excuse that
they are poor, landless people with few alternatives. Unfortunately, the
continued prevalence of squatting only encourages more people to do the
same, mostly to the detriment of foreshore and beach areas and any hope of
environmental integrity
What is the difference between foreshore lands and marshy lands?
Foreshore land is a part of the shore, which is alternately covered and uncovered
by the ebb and flow of the tide while on the other hand, marshy land is a wetland
whose soil is permanently or protractedly saturated by water and whose
vegetation is dominated by grasses or sedges.
Marshlands/Marshes are defined as wetlands frequently or continually inundated
with water, characterized by emergent soft-stemmed vegetation adapted to
saturated soil conditions. There are many different kinds of marshes, ranging
from the prairie potholes to the everglades, coastal to inland, freshwater to
saltwater. All types receive most of their water from surface water, and many
marshes are also fed by groundwater. Nutrients are plentiful and the pH is
usually neutral leading to an abundance of plant and animal life. Marshes can be
sub-divided into two primary categories: tidal and non-tidal.
Functions & Values
Marshes recharge groundwater supplies and moderate streamflow by providing
water to streams. This is an especially important function during periods of
drought. The presence of marshes in a watershed helps to reduce damage
caused by floods by slowing and storing flood water. As water moves slowly
through a marsh, sediment and other pollutants settle to the substrate, or floor of
the marsh. Marsh vegetation and microorganisms also use excess nutrients for
growth that can otherwise pollute surface water such as nitrogen and phosphorus
from fertilizer. This wetland type is very important to preserving the quality of
surface waters.
Types of Marshlands
a. Non- tidal
Description
Non-tidal marshes are the most prevalent and widely distributed wetlands. They
are mostly freshwater marshes, although some are brackish or alkaline. They
frequently occur along streams in poorly drained depressions, and in the shallow
water along the boundaries of lakes, ponds, and rivers. Water levels in these
wetlands generally vary from a few inches to two or three feet.
It is easy to recognize a non-tidal marsh by its characteristic soils, vegetation,
and wildlife. Highly organic, mineral rich soils of sand, silt, and clay underlie
these wetlands, This type provide excellent habitat for waterfowl and other small
mammals,
Functions & Values
Due to their high levels of nutrients, freshwater marshes are one of the most
productive ecosystems on earth. They can sustain a vast array of plant
communities that in turn support a wide variety of wildlife within this vital wetland
ecosystem. As a result, marshes sustain a diversity of life that is way out of
proportion with its size. In addition to their considerable habitat value, non-tidal
marshes serve to mitigate flood damage and filter excess nutrients from surface
runoff.
b. Tidal
Description
Tidal marshes can be found along protected coastlines in middle and high
latitudes worldwide. Some are freshwater marshes, i.e. Agusan Marsh Wildlife
Sanctuary, others are brackish (somewhat salty) i.e. Buguey wetlands, Cagayan
Province, and still others are saline (salty), but they are all influenced by the
motion of ocean tides. Tidal marshes are normally categorized into two distinct
zones, the lower or intertidal marsh and the upper or high marsh.
In saline tidal marshes, the lower marsh is normally covered and exposed daily
by the tide. Saline marshes support a highly specialized set of life adapted for
saline conditions. Brackish and fresh tidal marshes are also associated with
specific plants and animals, but they tend to have a greater variety of plant life
than saline marshes.
Functions & Values
Tidal marshes serve many important functions. They buffer stormy seas, slow
shoreline erosion, and are able to absorb excess nutrients before they reach the
oceans and estuaries. High concentrations of nutrients can cause oxygen levels
low enough to harm wildlife. Tidal marshes also provide vital food and habitat for
clams, crabs, and juvenile fish, as well as offering shelter and nesting sites for
several species of migratory waterfowl.
Olango Island (Sanctuary for Migratory Birds)
Wildlife Sanctuary
Over
10,000
migratory
birds
are
in
Olango
Island,
97 species of birds: 48 are migratory species, 42 are resident and the status of 7 is
uncertain;
but
breeding
is
possible
to
all
of
them.
Among the 54 water-birds species: 32 species are waders, 13 species are
waterfowl
and
9
species
are
sea
birds.
Seven barangays are in Olango Island, and it has a total land area of 954 hectares.
Santa Rosa's area is 321 hectare and has about 4,500 inhabitants making it the
largest
barangay
and
the
gateway
to
the
island.
The whole island belongs to the City of Lapu Lapu in Mactan. It has its own electric
power plant. Potable water is mostly delivered to households in twenty-litercontainers.
Olango's rock base is coral limestone and littoral flats with thin sand or silt substrate
and exposed rock base. The alluvium occupies mostly the costal area of the island.
Most of the 920 hectares is composed of calcerous sand, derived from the
weathering of the limestone mixed with shell fragments.
TOURISM AND TOURISM RELATED VENTURES
Tourism is probably the only form Of
livelihood in which Olango has the most
potential. Its foremost attraction is its 920
ha
Olango
Island
Wildlife
Sanctuary
(OIWS), white beaches, SCUBA diving,
snorkeling and swimming attractions
Olango’s
proximity
to
an
international
airport, major urban and tourism center is an
The Olango Birds and Seascape Tour (OBST) offers a frontseat view of the wonderful world of birds and nature, and heart
warming encounters with the local community, who will treat
you to a charming experience of a little of our Filipino cultural
heritage.
advantage over other areas.
There are
already Existing tourism establishments in
Olango
and
more
places
are
considered.
OTHER TOURISM AND TOURISM RELATED VENTURES AND BARANGAYS INVOLVED
• Chartered boat service - Brgy. San Vicente
• Tourist vending – Brgys. Gilutongan and Caihagan
• Olango Bird and Seascape Tour- Gilutungan Island and Sabang
• Coral farm ecotour – Caw- oy
• Seafood restaurant by the sea – Caw-oy
• Shellcraft - Baring, Santa Rosa, San Vicente, Sabang, Talima, Tingo, Tungasan, Caw-oy
• Quilting – Caohagan Island
• Others - Agriculture, Forestry
being
ISSUES BESETTING OLANGO ISLAND

Environmental Issues ( exhaustion of natural resources)
o Fresh water resources
o Fuelwood
o Coral extraction
o Sandquarrying
o Illegal fishing practices (blast fishing, cyanide fishing, tubli,
Hookah diving )

Pollution
o Solid waste disposal
o Sewage and sewerage facilities
o Air pollution

Social Issues
o Coastal users
o Over population
o Literacy
o Gambling

Economic Issues
o Livelihood options
o Aquarium fish trade
o Tourism

Political Issues
o Laxity in the enforcement of fisheries laws by the bantay dagat
o Lack of support from barangay officials


Legal Issues

Intrusion of commercial fishing

Land ownership
Institutional Issues
o Unclear mangrove stewardship contract
o Extension of seaweed culture to another barangay
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE COASTAL
RESOURCES OF OLANGO ISLAND
1. Develop alternative enterprises that will benefit critical coastal resource
users and reduce fishing pressure
2. Create an island-wide CRM council to include representatives from each
barangay covering the island, DENR, PAMB, NGOs, youth sector and
private sector (i.e. resort owners, tour operators) to examine CRM issues
and form resolutions to address them
3. Create a zoning plan which will designate specific issues for different
zones based from the most feasible economic and environmental use i.e.
marine sanctuary, seaweed farming, scuba diving, fish cage culture, etc..
This zoning plan will be a good tool to guide the coastal resource planners
and managers especially LGUs in the development of the island
4. LGU should vigorously campaign for family planning and incorporate
measures in the school curriculum from the secondary and tertiary levels
5. LGUs and NGOs should Implement projects and initiatives that would
conserve the remaining resources and raise the standards of living of the
island dwellers
CONCLUSION
The main issues on CRM in Olango Island reflect the long held notion by the
island dwellers that marine resources surrounding their island is a “common
resource”; hence, there is free access to this resources. This had led to the
“ over fishing” where massive exploitation of marine resources due to population
pressure force Olango fishers to fish farther away in neighboring and distant
fishing grounds.
To reverse the current trend of Olango’s marine resources, short and long term
solutions should be instituted and opportunities should be created. The current
changes in national legislation enabled the LGUs to directly manage their own
resources. Truth is, many LGUs are now instituting conservation and
rehabilitation programs in their respective jurisdictions and enacting laws to
reduce or even eradicate the “open access” policy.
However, the areas previously available for open access to fishing would
become smaller as LGUs institute their own “restricted access” policy. With this
new development, there is a big possibility that Olango fishers who presently fish
outside the waters of Olango will be displaced.
To compensate for the lack of income of the fishers, external subsidiaries in the
form of alternative livelihood coupled with educating them of the importance of
the coastal resources, in the long run, the successor failure of CRM in Olango
will largely depend on how the fishers accept or reject the alternative livelihood
programs being instituted in Olango.
References
 Coastal Environment Profile of Olango Island, Cebu
 Q & A Foreshores
 Out of the Shadow Pamphlet (The Olango Learning Experience)
 Modeling the Way : Lessons in Developing Capacities for Coastal
Management in the Philippines
 Sustainable Coastal Handbook for the Philippines
 Philippine Coastal Guide Book Series
 World Wide Web