Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park

Les noms des biens figurent dans la langue dans laquelle les Etats parties les ont soumis.

Philippines (Asie et pacifique)

Date de soumission : 07/01/2008
Critères: (vii)(ix)(x)
Catégorie : Naturel
Soumission préparée par :
Tubbataha Management Office
Etat, province ou région :
Municipality of Cagayancillo, Province of Palawan
Coordonnées
N8 57 11.88 E119 52 03.36
Ref.: 5279

Description

The Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP) is located in the center of the Sulu Sea some 80 nm southeast of the Palawan capital, Puerto Princesa City. It is composed of the North and South Atolls, the Jessie Beazley Reef and surrounding waters. Tubbataha is under the political jurisdiction of the island Municipality of Cagayancillo, which lies 80 nm to its northeast. The North and South Atolls are separated by a 5-nm channel. Each has an islet associated with it; the Bird Islet in the North Atoll and the South Islet in the South Atoll. Jessie Beazley Reef is 13 nm north of the atolls. The North and South Atolls have two main habitats: (1) Outer reef slope, and (2) Lagoon. These are very different habitats. The outer reef slopes have very clear water, strong wave action and currents, high oxygen and low nutrients, and a very wide depth range from about 1 m to over 40 m.

The surrounding waters is home to a wide array of marine life, from pelagic and demersal fish to top predators such as sharks, skates, rays, marine turtles, and cetaceans. Several of these are endangered species, e.g., whaleshark, sperm whale, hawksbill and green sea turtles. The significant extension of the boundaries of the Tubbataha Reefs World Heritage Site provides these migratory and endangered species a larger protected space to roam. These reefs are home to at least 374 species of corals, about 90% of all coral species in the Philippines and 80% of those found in the Coral Triangle. There are 479 species of fish, 79 species of marine algae and ten species of seagrass. Manta rays and sharks, as well as large schools of jacks and barracudas are frequently encountered. Marine mammals are also sighted during transition trips to the different dive sites. At least eleven species of sharks and eleven cetacean species have been observed and recorded. Sea turtles are a common sight. It is home to at least two species, with the islets serving as important nesting grounds. The presence of top predator species, such as tiger and hammerhead sharks, validate the ecological balance in the reef.

TRNP is uniquely positioned in the middle of the Sulu Sea. Therefore it is a critically important source of fish and decapod larvae that are disseminated throughout the Sulu Sea enriching the fisheries of islands surrounding it. Oceanographic research has shown that the northeast monsoon encourages the transport of larvae towards the Balabac Strait and the opposite monsoonal winds transport larva towards the southwest, to the Cagayancillo Islands and beyond.

Internal wave patterns have likewise been observed moving in a westerly direction, towards the eastern coast of Puerto Princesa City, bringing with it marine larvae that enhance the fisheries productivity of the Palawan mainland.

Valeur universelle exceptionnelle

Justification de la Valeur Universelle Exceptionelle

TRNP is universally important because it is one of the few remaining examples of a highly diverse near pristine coral reef in the world. Its location in the center of coral biological diversity in the world within the Coral Triangle, also a region of high fishing pressure, makes its protection even more critical to science and to the regional economy. Its huge assemblages of fish and corals are a significant attraction to scuba divers around the world and provide opportunity for education. It is a living laboratory with an enormous potential to contribute to educational and scientific advancement. The North Atoll, South Atoll and Jessie Beazley Reef are classic reef formations with a depth beginning at 2 meters to over 100 meters deep perpendicular walls with overhangs, ledges and caverns as well as extensive reef flats. The Atolls consist of lagoons with an average depth of 24 meters deep. Due to their position in the center of the Sulu Sea the three reef formations within the Park play a unique role in larvae dissemination and fish recruitment within the whole Sulu Sea system. TRNP also sustains the fisheries in the region. TRNP contains 374 species of corals representing almost 90% of all species in the Philippines. TRNP hosts considerable assemblages of marine life equal to, if not surpassing sites of the same size in the world. The Park is home to considerable

populations of critically endangered species such as marine turtles, cetaceans and seabirds and of protected species of fish, such as the Humphead Wrasse (Cheilinus undulatas), and mollusks such as the Topshells (Trochus niloticus) and clams (Tridacna sp.) Eleven species of cetaceans and eleven species of sharks have been identified. Two species of the highly endangered marine turtles nest in the islets and use the park as developmental stage habitat. TRNP is one of the few diverse strongholds of seabirds in Southeast Asia . A total of 99 species birds , residents and migrants, have been recorded on the islets and cay of the park.

TRNP is protected under the National Integrated Protected Areas System and the Palawan Strategic Environmental Plan Law of the Philippines. A multi-sectoral management body, representing national and local government agencies, NGOs, the academe and people's organizations manages TRNP. The Tubbataha Protected Area Management Board has managed the Park for eleven years and has since successfully adapted its strategies to the emerging challenges of administering the lone offshore MPA in the country. The TRNP Bill, which has been filed with the 13^th Philippine Congress, will further strengthen management institutions.

Satements of authenticity and/or integrity

With the expansion of its boundaries, the Tubbataha World Heritage Site management board is better able to protect its outstanding universal values and thus its integrity has increased. It now includes Jessie Beazley Reef in addition to North and South islets and almost three times larger open ocean area than previously. By extending the boundaries of Tubbataha to include Jessie Beazley Reef much vaster area is protected, which also benefits mobile and migratory species such as sea birds, whales, dolphins nad fish. This expanded area benefits from the protection afforded to it by the professional TRNP management regime. The presence of top predator species such as tiger and hammerhead sharks, validate the ecological balance in the reef.

Comparison with other similar properties

The Philippines has 27,000 sq km of coral reefs. Regrettably, unsustaining fishing practices have destroyed much of these reefs so that presently, only an estimated 5% of the country's coral reefs are in excellent condition. Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park belongs to that 5%. TRNP is considered the most intact and diverse of all the MPA's in the Philippines as well as within the Asian region. For example, it is among the last breeding strongholds for seabirds in Southeast Asia. Tubbataha's remoteness and protected status make it critical to the continued existence of brown boobies and the Philippine sub-species of Black Noddy, found nowhere else in the world.