6th Para el MAR in Iloilo to award PH's most outstanding marine reserves

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The Marine Protected Areas Support Network (MSN), in cooperation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Program (CMEMP) “Agos ng Buhay” will once again hold the Para el MAR: MPA Awards and Recognition on October 19-20, 2017 at the Iloilo Convention Center.

Diver does an assessment of the coral reefs in the Tubbataha Reef Natural Park (Photo by: AT Yniguez)

The Para el MAR (“for the sea”) is a biennial event hosted by the MSN to showcase the country’s best performing MPAs. It is part of a performance-based incentive mechanism to reinforce effective management and good, science-based governance. This year, the Para el MAR Awards and Recognition returns for the sixth time since the MSN started in 2007.

“Para el MAR shows those who share their good practices in marine conservation and protection, from practicing more responsible fishing to ecotourism and mainstreaming social enterprises for livelihood, industries and the maritime sector, to inspire MPAs in the Philippines,” says Dr. Perry Alino, MSN Coordinator. “It is an event for the sea, which is our life and our hope. It (the sea) helps provide us the air we breathe, the food we eat and the place we live in, our home,” There are 14 finalists for the locally managed MPA Category, 8 for NIPAS sites, and 3 for MPA Networks. Two MPAs will also be given a special recognition for their exemplary performance in introducing and consistently promoting best practices.

The two-day program will start with presentations from the LGUs of the finalists for all categories, followed by the launch of the DENR Biodiversity Resources Information Network Group (BRING) – HoPE (Hub of People and Environment) and the DOST funded BRING (Biodiversity Research and Information Network Group) – HoME (Hub of Marine Ecosystems). This is a joint collaborative undertaking of the two projects to link science to policy and action for resiliency and knowledge systems.

The event will cap off with an awards night where the winning sites from the three categories will be announced. Representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), DENR- Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA- BFAR) , and DOST- Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), NGOs and development partners are expected to attend the event.

MSN is an aggrupation of over 20 organizations coordinated by the Marine Environment and Resources Foundation, Inc., the support foundation of the UP Marine Science Institute.

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