Tubbataha's defenders just received an international award

"I am so proud because even if we are isolated for most of the year in the middle of the Sulu Sea, we are not unseen and unappreciated."
Jul 31, 2023
Tubbataha Reefs Rangers
PHOTO: ANDREW CABILES / MARINE CONSERVATION INSTITUTE

Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is home to close to 200 vulnerable and critically endangered species. It possesses one of the healthiest reef ecosystems in the world. With it comes the daunting challenge of having to defend it from constant environmental threats.

A team of Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park rangers has just been recognized by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) for their conservation efforts to preserve one of the Philippines' six World Heritage Sites.

Meet the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Rangers

The four Tubbataha Management Office rangers, namely Segundo Conales Jr., Noel Bundal, Jeffrey David, and Cresencio Caranay Jr., won the IUCN-WCPA International Ranger Award for their role in safeguarding the Tubbataha Reefs region.

They had been tasked with looking after about 181 threatened or endangered species in the 970-km2 no-take marine protected area. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is home to a thriving coral reef population. It earned a Blue Park Award in 2017 for its conservation effectiveness. These have led to gains like increased fish biomass, higher coral recruitment, and abundant indicator species, among others.

Together with the rest of the other members of the organization, Conales Jr., Bundal, David, and Caranay Jr. form the core group that oversees the management of these resources. They have been leading the Tubbataha Reefs' assigned rangers from the Philippine Navy, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the local government of Cagayancilloin.

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Rangers Caranay Jr., Conales Jr., Bundal, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Superintendent Angelique Songco, Blue Parks Ambassador Clément Pourtal, three enforcement officers on rotation in Tubbataha Reefs, and Jeffrey David.

Photo by The Blue Quest/Marine Conservation Institute.

Stationed in remote stations under unpredictable, at times dangerous conditions, they had spent two to six months guarding the park 24/7 in the past year, mostly spent in the Sulu Sea. They've been saving fish, turtles, and other wildlife from illegal activities and more. Suffice it to say, the group made some pretty big sacrifices.

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"This award belongs to all the men from the Philippine Navy, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Municipality of Cagayancillo who work with us to safeguard our country's marine biodiversity," Jeffrey David said in a statement.

He added: "I am so proud because even if we are isolated for most of the year in the middle of the Sulu Sea, we are not unseen and unappreciated; the international community recognizes our contributions to nature conservation."

The rangers also participated in government restorative justice programs, acted as snorkeling guides, and collected ecological data in the process. All these duties came to inform the educational outreach initiatives carried out in Tubbataha Reefs.

What Is the IUCN-WCPA International Ranger Award?

Tubbataha Reefs Rangers

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The IUCN-WCPA International Ranger Award is a distinction that honors the efforts of all kinds of rangers, from Indigenous, community, and volunteer rangers to employees in conserved areas. Individuals are honored based on how they address and assess the issues that these regions face.

This accolade comes from a joint collaboration, together with the International Ranger Federation, Re:wild, Conservation Allies, Universal Ranger Support Alliance, IUCN US, and WWF Tigers Alive Initiative. In the case of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park rangers, they will also be provided a cash prize worth $10,000 to support the organization's conservation efforts.

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PHOTO: ANDREW CABILES / MARINE CONSERVATION INSTITUTE
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