I.

Title of Project Proposal Integrated Research and Development on Biodiversity

Assessment and Conservation Towards Sustainable
Coastal Resources Management in Zambales

II. Proponents
DR. ANNIE MELINDA PAZ-ALBERTO Program Leader
DR. RONALDO T. ALBERTO Project Leader
DR. KARL MARX A. QUIAZON Project Leader
DR. ARMANDO N. ESPINO Project Leader
DR. JOSE ABUCAY Project Leader
Prof. OLIVA B. PARICO Project Leader

III. Name of other Research Staff

Prof. CECILIA T. GALVEZ Study Leader
Prof. ROWENA A. SAZON Study Leader
Prof. JURELAC MARQUEZ Study Leader
Ms. PRECIOUS JOAN P. SIBULBURO Study Leader
Mr. MARVIN CINENSE Study Leader

IV. Rationale
The Philippines is very rich in coastal resources due to the presence of 7, 107
islands. The coastal zone has an area of about 11, 000 square kilometers (km2) of land
and 267, 000 square kilometers (km2) of water. Around 62 % (49.6 million) of the
Philippine population resides within the coastal areas and about a million people
depend on coastal and marine areas for their source of living (Junio-Meñez et al,
2007). Coastal resources in the Philippines indicate a high level of degradation due to
anthropogenic activities such as pollution, habitat destruction, overexploitation and
siltation/sedimentation which contributes to the worsening condition of the country’s
coastal and marine resources.
The coastal resources are highly productive and biologically diverse ecosystems
containing varied habitats such as estuaries, mangroves, seagrass, coral reefs, beaches
and wetlands that provide numerous ecological, economic and socio-cultural benefits
to communities (Junio-Meñez et al, 2007; Paz-Alberto, 2006).
Biodiversity refers to the totality of life forms and the areas they occupy or the
variety of life on earth which pertains to the millions of plants and animals and even
the microorganisms including the genes that they contain and the ecosystem that they
form (Paz-Alberto, 2005). The Philippines is one of the megadiversity countries that
contain two-thirds of the world’s diversity (Heaney & Mittermoier, 1998; Junio-
Meñez et al, 2007). The Philippines is also considered as the “epicenter” or the
“center of the center” of global marine biodiversity. However, a lot of problems are
besetting the richness of the biodiversity in the Philippines particularly in Central
Luzon, one of the regions of the Philippines which is considered to be the food basket
of the Philippines. Other regions are dependent on Central Luzon for food and other
resources.
Zambales is one of the provinces of Central Luzon. It is located on the western
coast of Central Luzon. It is bounded on the north by Pangasinan, on the east by
Tarlac and Pampanga, on the south by Bataan and on the west by the South China
Sea (http://www.islandsproperties.com/places/Zambales.htm). Zambales is well
known for its coastal resources, lovely beaches and considered to be one of the
marine conservation priority areas of national and global importance as identified by
the Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Priorities (Ong, P.S. et al (eds) 2002).
Moreover, Zambales was also identified as one of the priority areas for the
conservation of dugongs, cetaceans, seagrass, seaweeds, whale sharks and turtles.
However, threats to coastal resources are increasing and very alarming which could
lead to coastal resources degradation and loss of biodiversity.
Signals of climate change are already evident in the Philippines as shown in the
increasing temperature trends, sea level rise and extreme climate event occurrences.
The Philippines runs the risk of being affected by more frequent and severe El Niño
and La Niña events resulting to droughts and floods, respectively. Intense and
frequent precipitation events due to increased south-west monsoon activities and
severe storm occurrences have been taking place lately, causing massive landslides
and flash floods(Amadore, 2005)
Moreover, it is interesting to note that according to recent international study of
seven countries in Southeast Asia, the entire Philippines is considered to be among
the “most vulnerable” areas to climate change in the region (Tubeza, (2009).
Moreover, the social watch recently reported that among the top ten provinces at risk
to climate change are: Albay; Pampanga; Ifugao; Sorsogon; Biliran; Rizal; Northern
Samar; Cavite; Masbate; and Laguna. In general, the regions of Central Luzon and
Bicol rank high to very-high on the risk scale according to the Philippine Climate and
Weather-Related risk Map of the Manila Observatory and Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (Social Watch, 2009)
It is in this context that this research program shall be conducted to assess the
present biodiversity and evaluate the threats, causes of problems and conservation
interventions present in Zambales coastal resources. Moreover, risk analysis and
assessment shall likewise be done in the present coastal resources management
programs being implemented in Zambales coasts to determine the appropriateness of
the existence of these coastal resources management programs.
 Conceptual Framework on Integrated Research and Development on Biodiversity Assessment and Conservation Towards
Sustainable Coastal Resources Management in Zambales

SOCIO ECONOMIC PROFILE

POLICY PROFILE

ASSESSMENT STUDIES LOCAL COMMUNITY/INDIGENOUS

KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS

PHYSICAL A
PROFILE AND SS
ENVIRONMENTAL E ZAMBALES CLIMATE CHANGE
SS COASTAL  IEC
QUALITY VULNERABILITY  DATABASE
M RESOURCES
E MANAGEMENT
WATER  BIODIVERSITY USERS
N
AIR MAPPING
T
CLIMATE LOCAL COMMUNITY/INDIGENOUS  BEST PRACTICES ON
S DENR
SEDIMENTS ASSESSMENT STUDIES KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS CLIMATE CHANGE
T BFAR
U ADAPTATION LGUs
D  BEST CONSERVATION Local People
I CONSERVATION STRATEGIES STRATEGIES OF
BIODIVERSITY STOCK Academe
E CRM MARICULTURE COASTAL RESOURCES
ASSESSMENT  APPROPRIATE
S MPAs ECOTOURISM
MARINE ORGANISMS/FISHES CONSERVATION
MANGROVE SPECIES ECOGOVERNACE
STRATEGIES IN
SEAGRASS SPECIES COASTAL RESOURCES

MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION

OF HIGH VALUED MARINE ANALYSIS
SPECIES
V. Objectives
1. To conduct assessment of the diversity of important plants and animals in the
selected coastal resources in Zambales.
2. To determine which organisms are considered endangered or in state of decline.
3. To conduct molecular identification and phylogeny of high valued marine plants in
the selected coastal resources of Zambales.
4. To identify molecular markers of high valued plants.
5. To identify the phylogenetic relationships of high valued plants.
6. To assess existing stock population of all marine fishes present in Zambales coasts
through molecular approach on its parasites as biological tags.
7. To determine the sources of all levels of impacts of environmental
problem/degradation of the coastal ecosystems in Zambales.
8. To determine the environmental quality of the selected coastal resources of
Zambales in terms of water, climate and air.
9. To assess the impacts of coastal resources management programs being
implemented in Zambales in terms of the physical and chemical characteristics of
the coastal waters; biodiversity and other economically important aquatic species
and socio-economic status of the community living in these coastal areas.
10. To assess the socio-demographic and economic profile of selected communities in
the selected coastal resources of Zambales.
11. To determine and document the indigenous knowledge system, cultural, and
resource management practices in the conservation of the coastal communities in
the selected coastal resources of Zambales.
12. To identify the CRM related issues and problems and recommend solutions/options
for better management strategies of the present CRM programs.
13. To evaluate the local policies pertaining to coastal resources management and
biodiversity conservation in the barangay, municipal and provincial level.
14. To identify and assess the climate change vulnerability of the selected coastal
resources in Zambales.
15. To determine and document the best practices of the local communities in climate
change adaptation and mitigation in the selected coastal resources of Zambales.
16. To establish database management on the existing diversity of organisms, physical
profile, socio-economic profile, etc of the coastal resources in Zambales.
17. To develop biodiversity mapping of selected coastal resources of Zambales.

VI. Expected Outputs

1. Database Management of the selected coastal resources of Zambales regarding the
biodiversity; physical profile; socio-economic profile; demographic profile; policy
profile, fish stock assessment.
2. Biodiversity Mapping
3. Molecular identification and phytogenetic relationship of high valued marine
species.
4. Best Conservation Strategies of Coastal Resources of Zambales
5. Appropriate Conservation Strategies in Coastal Resources and Biodiversity
6. Climate Change Vulnerability of the Coastal Resources and its Biodiversity
7. Best Practices in Climate Change Adaptation in Zambales Coastal Resources
 8. Indigenous Knowledge Systems on Biodiversity Conservation

VII. Program Components

Project 1: Assessment of the Diversity of Plants and Animals in the
Selected Coastal Ecosystems of Zambales
Study 1: Assessment of the Environmental Quality of the Selected
Coastal Ecosystems of Zambales
Study 2: Assessment of the Diversity of Plants and Animals in the
Selected Coastal Ecosystems of Zambales
Study 3: Molecular Identification and Phylogeny of High Valued Marine
Plant Species in the Coastal Resources of Zambales

Project 2: Molecular Approach on Stock Assessments of Marine Fishes

Along Masinloc, Zambales Coasts Using Parasites as Biological
Tags

Project 3: Assessment of the Costal Resource Management Programs

Present in Zambales

Project 4: Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for the Selected

Coastal Ecosystems and Communities in Zambales

Project 5: Database Management of Biodiversity in the Selected Costal

Ecosystems of Zambales

Project 6: Socio-economic, Anthropological and Policy Studies on

Biodiversity and Coastal Resource Management in Zambales

VIII. Budgetary Requirements

Year 1 Year 2 Total
Project 1 1, 815, 600 984, 800 2, 810, 400
Project 2 1, 000, 000 1, 000, 000
Project 3 1, 000, 000 1, 000, 000
Project 4 699, 200 699, 200
Project 5 1, 000, 000 1, 000, 000
Project 6 690, 400 690, 400
7, 200, 000

IX. Duration: 2 Years

X. Implementation Plan

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
PROJECTS ACTIVITIES Year 1 Year 2
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Project 1 Procurement of equipments, supplies and
Assessment of the materials
Diversity of Plants
and Animals in the Sediment and water sampling analysis
Selected Coastal
Ecosystems of Secondary data gathering for air, water and
Zambales sediment quality (NOTE: For data w/c could
not be gathered by the project)

Assessment and identification of the plants

and animals in the mangroves, coral reefs
and seagrass ecosystems

Data Analysis

Molecular identification and phylogeny of

high valued marine plant species

Data analysis

Final writing of report

Project 2 Assessment of the existing stock population

Molecular of marine fishes
Approach on
Stock Determine parasite diversity and host
Assessments of specificity infecting marine fishes
Marine Fishes
Along Masinloc, Impacts of Climate Change on parasite
 SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
PROJECTS ACTIVITIES Year 1 Year 2
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Zambales Coasts diversity
Using Parasites Final writing of report
as Biological
Tags

Project 3 Assessment of physical characteristics

Assessment of
the Costal Assessment of biodiversity
Resource
Management Assessment of coastal resources management
Programs Present programs
in Zambales
Mapping of coastal resources management
programs present in Zambales

Final writing of report

Project 4 Secondary data gathering for climate present

Climate Change in Zambales for 10 years
Vulnerability
Assessment for Assessment of the impacts of climate change
the Selected in selected coastal ecosystems and local
Coastal communities
Ecosystems and
Communities in Determine and document the best practices
Zambales of the local communities in climate change
adaptation

Analysis of data

Report writing
 SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
PROJECTS ACTIVITIES Year 1 Year 2
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

Project 5 Secondary data gathering for all biodiversity

Database data present in Zambales
Management of
Biodiversity in Database development for biodiversity and
the Selected coastal resources management programs
Costal
Ecosystems of Biodiversity Mapping/making of maps
Zambales
Final production of maps and database for
biodiversity and coastal resources
management programs
Project 6 Assessment of socio-demographic, economic
Socio-economic, profile of the local communities
Anthropological
and Policy Assessment of indigenous knowledge
Studies on systems or anthropological studies on
Biodiversity and biodiversity conservation and coastal
Coastal Resource resource management
Management in
Zambales Study and evaluation of policies present in
national, regional and local biodiversity
conservation and coastal resource
management

Analysis of data
Final report writing
 XI.
XII.