Bohol creates wildlife

tourism board, TWG

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—The same week the Provincial Government formalized its partnership with a marine wildlife conservation group for sustainable management of the Bohol Sea and its resources which has become a viable tourism venture area, Bohol creates the sustainable wildlife tourism advisory board and technical working group.

By Executive Order No 24, Bohol via Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado fulfils the long dream of establishing a multi-agency technical advisory group that will focus on the sustainable management, governance and development of wildlife tourism in Bohol.

The move is yet another manifestation of the commitment to preserve Bohol’s rich natural and environmental resources, after charting the way to be a regenerative island, on to sustaining the designation as among the global geoparks list of the United National Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Bohol Geoparks Manager and Tourism Officer Joanne Pinat said.

The geoparks designation is a global drive to task site authorities to maintain its geological and ecological heritage, possibly by fostering sustainable tourism practices in ensuring the protection and preservation of marine, terrestrial and wildlife ecosystems.

Now known for its tarsiers, flying lemurs, macaques, flying foxes, pythons, civet cats, dolphins, whales, cave tours, fireflies and the whale sharks, questions on sustainability of these tours have surfaced.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan in Bohol has an approved ordinance on the protection and conservation of the tarsier, but there have not been any implementing rules and regulations that should accompany the ordinance, for its implementation.

In the order, Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado said, “in addition to terrestrial wildlife, whale shark interaction activities in Bohol have emerged as a significant tourist attraction.”

These however have raised concerns regarding the sustainability and adherence to legal and ethical standards particularly on the illegal feeding practices, ecological disruption and violation of local and national regulations, he added.

Bohol has also enacted Provincial Ordinance No 2020-08 which government Sustainable Marine Wildlife Interactions here, all aimed at ensuring protection and conservation of marine wildlife, including whale-sharks and promoting responsible tourism practices in line with environmental sustainability, appraises Bohol Environment Management Officer Jovencia Ganub, who also went with the enforcement team to implement the suspension of the whale interactions in Bohol.

However, at least three local government units opened up whale-shark interactions with practices not in line with the ordinance that the governor has to issue a stoppage if the interactions, to mitigate ecological disruption that happen when tourism operators lure the wild animals to the shallows by feeding them with krill.

According to the governor, his action is to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and strengthen Bohol’s commitment to marine wildlife conservation and sustainable tourism.

The governor’s action has opened up opportunities for critics and candidates to lambast on the governor’s stance, highlighting on depriving communities of livelihood.

Reasoning without the scientific data to back their claims, opportunistic candidates relied on rhetoric arguments to sway public opinion, something that a sustainable tourism wildlife advisory board and technical working group can easily counter. (PIABohol)

PROTECTING WHALES. Gov Aris Aumentado listens to Balyena.org’s Dr. Jo Marie Acebes explain about the whales which are found in the Bohol Sea and its potential for marine wildlife interaction. Protecting these giants however need to be part of the tourism viability study, thus an advisory council of experts is in line. (PIABohol)