2nd ASEAN Symposium and Workshop on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation. Click here

World’s first Trans-Boundary Marine Park between Sabah, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Introduction to the Turtle Island Heritage Protected Area (TIHPA)

History in the Development Of The Sabah - Philippines TIHPA

Management Objectives of the TIHPA

Institutional arrangements

Key Initiatives

Educational Goals Initiative Marked For Critical Funding

Research Objectives and Strategies

Economic Opportunities

Expected Deliverables

News Around the Region

Sharp decline in Turtle population

Turning to a Turtle Haven

MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES

Having formalized their joint conservation framework, both governments can now address specific management issues requiring urgent resolution. Globally, a myriad of interlinked phenomena threaten sea turtles with extinction. Accurately identifying, counteracting and preempting threats require site-specific management. The project intends to develop a management strategy for the TIHPA taking into consideration the input from both Malaysian and Philippine wildlife authorities. The management shall focus on the following main areas:

• The removal of turtle eggs by the residents of the fishing villages, either for local consumption or for sale.

• Enhancing the percentage of eggs utilised for conservation.

• Enforcement of regulations.

• Regulating access to the islands.

• Implementing light pollution control measures.

• The social needs of the resident villagers.

• Developing alternative forms of employment for the villagers.

• Eco-Tourism

• Educational Programmes.

• Promotional Material.

Research

• Research Programmes on the Islands.

• Standardisation of Research Techniques.

• Standardisation of Hatchery Techniques.

• Identifying foraging grounds within the Park boundaries.

• Automation of data retrieval systems and data sharing.