Experts say global effort needed to protect ecosystem in West PH Sea
Think tank Stratbase ADR Institute, in partnership with the Embassy of Australia in the Philippines, organizes a marine conservation forum on Tuesday, August 27, 2024. (Photo by Stratbase ADR Institute/Facebook)
MANILA, Philippines — The government, private sector, and the international community must collaborate to protect the marine environment in the West Philippine Sea, said experts in a forum on Tuesday.
The West Philippine Se marine conservation forum was organized by a think tank Stratbase ADR Institute, in partnership with the Embassy of Australia in the Philippines. The forum was attended by marine science and geopolitical experts.
According to Armed Forces of the Philippines Spokesperson Col. Francel Padilla-Taborlupa, China’s reclamation activities in the West Philippine Sea damage corals, citing reports from Center for Strategic and International Studies that 21,000 acres of coral reefs have been damaged by China’s illegal activities in the sea.
“This is not just an AFP concern but the whole international community, and that’s why I believe that as like-minded nations, we are one in the same goal of having a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Padilla-Taborlupa.
Scientists, in July, aired their concern about the Philippine waters and the rest of the South China Sea reaching a “very critical point” with plastic pollution, coral bleaching caused by climate change, and overfishing being main factors.
Article continues after this advertisementStratbase ADR Institute President Dindo Manhit underscored the importance of multisectoral collaboration in ensuring that the country is protecting and preserving the rich resources from the seas.
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: Scientists warn WPS marine ecosystem at risk
“We believe that in our collective pursuit of marine conservation, people are tasked not only to protect our marine resources but to ensure their sustainable and responsible use,” Manhit noted.
“Our joint efforts serve as the hull that supports the rules-based order and the mast that sustains the region’s peace, prosperity, security, and stability amid the unsettling gusts by antagonistic actors,” he added.
Further, Australian Embassy to the Philippines’ Political Second Secretary Alex Sodomaco shared how Australia and Philippines have been strengthening ties “to work together to preserve the marine environment, combat climate change, and build our disaster resilience.”
Sodomaco also said that Australia invested P328 million to the country’s civil maritime security for fostering maritime government assistance and discussions on maritime issues surrounding Philippine seas.
READ: West PH Sea: Majority of Pinoys believe PH must form alliances – survey
Australia is among the countries that extends external forces and supports amid China’s rejection to honor the 2016 arbitral ruling on the West Philippine Sea in favor of the Philippines.
In addition, Non-Resident Fellow Dr. Mary Kristerie Baleva emphasized that entering environmental agreements like the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction adds an “additional layer” or legally binding obligations to help protect and conserve marine environments.
“Policy definitely needs to be informed by science, and that is the marriage we need to come up with in order to be effective stewards of marine biodiversity and ecosystems,” said Baleva.
Moreover, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Biodiversity Management Bureau Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Chief Lea Avilla shared that the agency is conducting marine conservation expeditions with other Filipino scientists and researchers “to improve policy development and strategy formulation for marine conservation and sustainability.”
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