15-588: Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area encompassing the municipality of Turtle Islands in Tawi-Tawi , Philippines . It spans six islands: Great Bakkungan , Baguan, Boan, Langaan, Lihiman, and Taganak . With a total area of 242,967 hectares, the sanctuary is situated between the Sulu and Celebes Sea , straddling the Malaysia–Philippines border . Except for uninhabited Langaan and Baguan,
30-576: A national park under Republic Act No. 11038 (Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018) signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in July 2018. The Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary is a recognized nesting ground for the green sea turtle ( Chelonia mydas ) and the hawksbill sea turtle ( Eretmochelys imbricata ), both of which are endangered species. Among the sanctuary's islands, Baguan alone accounts for approximately 63% of all turtle nestings. At least 71 species of birds were observed in
45-552: A total area of about 7,760,000 hectares (19,200,000 acres) – 15.4% of the Philippines' total area. The first important legislation that formed the basis of the current system of national parks and protected areas in the Philippines is Act No. 648, enacted in 1903 by the Philippine Commission . This act authorized the civil governor to "reserve for civil public purposes, and from sale or settlement, any part of
60-714: Is a plantation of Casuarina equisetifolia . List of protected areas of the Philippines In the Philippines, protected areas are administered by the Biodiversity Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992. As of 2020, there are 244 protected areas in the Philippines, covering
75-413: Is only possible with strict guidance and under supervision of the staff of the officials of the government. For a successful conservation and protection program, the support of the locals was very important. Fishing, for most of them, is the most important activity and source of income. Hunting sea turtles and collecting the turtle eggs for food, had always been a possible source for additional income. From
90-409: The end of August to December, turtles come by the hundreds from the surrounding coastal waters, to lay and dig their eggs into the sand. The staff of the conservation project were able to succeed in convincing the locals the need to minimize their collecting activities. Local men, women and children, are now involved, helping with the protection activities. Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary was declared
105-590: The first national park in the Philippines established on June 27, 1933, following this act. A series of acts and legislations were passed in the next decades that aimed to further strengthen these policies, including the Revised Forestry Code of 1975 ( Presidential Decree No. 705 ) and Forest Administrative Order No. 7. Following the 1987 Constitution , the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act
120-702: The island are most likely smooth-coated otters according to otter specialists. The other species that can be found in the Philippines is the Asian small-clawed otter , locally known as dungon in Palawan . Very little natural vegetation exists on the islands, except for Baguan and Langaan. Baguan is notable for its significant 89% coverage of beach forest while Langaan features smaller patches of beach forest. Additionally, there are limited areas of beach forest found on steep rock cliffs in Great Bakkungan and around
135-411: The islands are home to over 5,000 residents, with Taganak as the primary island. Together with three islands of neighbour country Malaysia and the surrounding coral waters, Turtle Islands are one of the world's few remaining major nesting grounds for the green sea turtles . In 1996, the islands were declared as Turtle Islands Heritage Protected Area by the governments of the Philippines and Malaysia as
150-461: The mud volcanoes in Lihiman. Buchanania arborescens was the most common species encountered, followed by figs ( Ficus spp.), Lumnitzera littorea , Excoecaria agallocha , Xylocarpus granatum , Xylocarpus moluccensis and Ceriops spp. In Bakkungan and Boan, Antidesma spp. grows in the grassland areas. Also, surrounding the active mud volcano on the northern section of Lihiman
165-464: The only way to guarantee the continued existence of the green sea turtles and their nesting sites. For the islands, the Philippine government decided to create special protection zones, and within these zones, only scientific and conservation activities are allowed. In other zones, certain rules are adapted to prevent too much impact by people on the environment and the turtles. Visiting these zones
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#1732780187391180-989: The public domain not appropriated by law for special public purposes." A total of eight national reserves had been established on July 26, 1904, pursuant to this law. These are the Lamao Forest Reserve in Bataan , Mariquina Reserve in Rizal , Angat River Reserve in Bulacan , Caliraya Falls Reserve in Laguna , La Carlota Reserve in Negros Occidental , San Ramon Reserve in Zamboanga , Magalang Reserve in Pampanga , and Hacienda San Antonio in Isabela . In
195-542: The same year, the Forest Act of 1904 ( Act No. 1148 ) was adopted that expanded the scope of protected areas in the Philippines. Among the first of such mountain forest reserves to be declared was Mount Maquiling declared on November 21, 1910. On February 1, 1932, the National Parks Act ( Act No. 3195 ) was enacted that formally established the national parks system in the country. Mount Arayat became
210-513: The wildlife sanctuary. These include the vulnerable grey imperial pigeon ( Ducula pickeringii ), the near-threatened Mantanani scops owl ( Otus mantananensis ) and the Philippine megapode ( Megapodius cumingii ). A possibility of a second otter species in the Philippines had been raised with the recording of two romps (two adults and one pup) of otters in the Turtle islands. Otters found in
225-400: Was enacted which further enhanced the administration and classification of protected areas and broadened the mandate of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in enforcing its provisions. Protected areas in the Philippines encompasses 4,620,000 hectares (11,400,000 acres) of terrestrial areas and 3,140,000 hectares (7,800,000 acres) of marine areas. They are managed according to
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