| Sustainable livelihoods through biodiversity – Holcim Philippines |
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Description Balaoan is a coastal municipality in the Philippine province of La Union. Its coral reefs, long recognized as locations of high biodiversity, have over time become severely stressed due to illegal fishing and overexploitation of marine resources. By the 1990s, sea urchins, previously in abundant supply, were extinct, and local communities’ socio-economic conditions likewise suffered. |
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ObjectivesThe ‘sea urchin grow-out’ project was initiated by a local political icon with the financial support of Holcim Philippines and the technical support of the state university’s fishery research institute. Its aim was to develop a sustainable livelihood for the communities through biodiversity. |
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Activities Sea urchins were reintroduced to the region through a concerted hatchery (or ‘sea ranching’) program and an association, comprising local fishing families, was incorporated. The initial project partners soon received support from government agencies. A grant to the community was earmarked to ‘help alleviate poverty among coastal people by maintaining the existence of sea urchins in the area’. A capacity-building workshop was conducted to enhance technical skills and entrepreneurial ability amongst fishers. From an initial ten families, the project now involves 47 families. The declaring of the region as a Marine Protection Area (MPA) was seen as crucial to the viability of the project. Despite initial community fears, it was soon recognized that the spawning cages would be better protected inside the MPA, thus providing more sea urchin juveniles which could be raised to marketable size and later sold. |
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Results Sea ranching in the MPA has enhanced the natural regeneration of fast dwindling resources. The population of sea urchins has increased, at the same time serving as a showcase of cultural technology. The project demonstrates that rehabilitating natural resources and biodiversity can also provide a source of sustainable income for local communities. The partnership is continuing between Holcim and the government of Balaoan. The community is supported with the promotion and marketing of their marine products – for example, following sample testing by government experts, national attention for the urchins’ superior quality has led to increased sales. In 2005, Holcim also constructed a livelihood center for the community – to cater not only for the coastal communities but also accommodate inland communities’ needs for training and capacity-building. |
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