Session 10 - Protected Areas

Bazaruto Archipelago: Protected Area Development and Management [Adobe Acrobat Format 70 Kb]

The Bazaruto Archipelago is situated about 20 km off the Mozambique coast, in Inhambane Province, between Vilanculos and Inhassoro districts. The Archipelago comprises five tropical islands: Bazaruto (12 000 ha), Benguerua (2500 ha), Magaruque (600 ha), Santa Carolina (500 ha) and Banguè (5 ha). The islands lie between 21° 27' and 22°  03'S latitude and 35°  19' and 35°  32'E longitude, the climate is moderately humid with an annual precipitation ranging between 466-1928mm and an average of 978 mm. These islands, composed of beach rock and sand dunes, are highly susceptible to movement caused by natural wind and wave action.

The Archipelago incorporates a wide range of distinct terrestrial and marine habitats including coastal sand dunes, pioneer dune vegetation, sand and rocky beaches. The Archipelago’s continental origin is evident on the larger islands, by the presence of mainland fauna and flora — crocodiles, red duikers, red squirrels, samango monkeys, four-toed elephant shrew, night apes and snakes. Over 180 species of birds have been recorded in the Archipelago. The islands are an important stopover for different species of migrating birds. About 45 species of reptiles and amphibians have also been recorded on the Archipelago. There are several lakes on Benguerua and Bazaruto islands where crocodiles still breed. Aquatic habitats include magnificent coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass beds. The largest population of the endangered dugong ( Dugong dugon) along the east African coast occurs in the Archipelago. Leatherback, loggerhead, green and hawksbill turtles nest on the islands, and ridley turtles occur offshore. Dolphins (spinner, bottlenose, common and humpback) are abundant. Bay mike and right whales are resident, and humpback whales pass the islands on their migration. A wide diversity of marine fish species occurs in the surrounding waters. Over 2000 individual species of fish have been recorded and a remarkable 80% of all marine fish families of the Indo-Pacific region are thought to occur in the waters surrounding the Archipelago. The species of high economic value for islanders include pixie, sand oysters ( Pinctada imbricata), corals, lobsters, squids, sea cucumbers and shells.

Integrated Coastal Management in Negros Oriental, Philippines: Participation in Coastal Habitat Assessment and Management [Adobe Acrobat Format 61 Kb]

Since its inception in 1996, the Coastal Resource Management Project (CRMP), an initiative of the Government of the Philippines funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has joined many government institutions and non-government organisations in working to thwart the destruction of Philippine marine resources. CRMP’s strategic objective is to establish sustainable coastal resource use along 2000 km of shoreline through multi-sectoral, multidisciplinary, integrated coastal management. Building on the experiences of past projects and programs, CRMP aims to effect change on both the national and local levels, simultaneously using top-down and bottom-up approaches. To accomplish this, CRMP applies participatory methods and adheres to a new paradigm of technical assistance that puts major emphasis on non-material interventions, strategic expansion, and sustainability (Courtney & White 1996).

Coral Reefs of the Abrolhos Bank, Brazil [Adobe Acrobat Format 31 Kb]

The Abrolhos Bank harbours the most biologically diverse coral reefs in Brazil, and the entire South Atlantic, and it is the only place where all species of the Brazilian coral reef fauna occur. Although low in diversity, the coral reefs of Abrolhos are exceedingly high in endemism, including 50% of its reef corals and many other unique reef invertebrates. One of the main reef-building species is an ancient genus, Mussismilia, itself endemic to Brazil.

Located off of the south-east coast of Bahia State, the Abrolhos reefs arise from a shallow sea floor (depth ranging from 15 to 25 metres) as straight columns, enlarging as they near the surface and forming structures resembling large mushrooms. These structures are referred