Siargao Island, renowned for its surfing waves, is also home to one of the country’s most biologically rich conservation areas, the Siargao Island Protected Landscape and Seascape (SIPLAS), a vast expanse of 283,974 hectares that serves as a biodiversity haven, sustaining both nature and people.

Declared under Presidential Proclamation 902 in 1996 and legislated under Republic Act (RA) 7586 that establishes the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) and RA 11038, or the Expanded NIPAS Act of 2018, SIPLAS covers the entire Siargao Island, including its nine municipalities and surrounding marine areas.

It protects a wide range of ecosystems, including terrestrial, wetland, and marine areas that are home to significant biodiversity.

At its heart, the effort to protect this island is a partnership.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) provides the legal framework and technical guidance, while local government units (LGUs) enforce local ordinances and integrate conservation into land-use plans. Communities, including people’s organizations, act as the stewards on the ground.

“Siargao’s natural wealth is both our shield and our source of life. Protecting it means securing our future,” Jelanie Superada, Ecosysem Management Specialist of the DENR said.

“Conservation cannot succeed without the people. Protecting Siargao is a shared responsibility, and its future depends on how well we embrace it together,” she added.

Biodiversity hotspot

SIPLAS is one of the country’s largest protected seascapes that covers 62,796 hectares of terrestrial habitats and 221,178 hectares of marine ecosystems, cutting across nine municipalities in Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands.

Moreover, it is one of the recognized Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) in the Philippines, with one of 117 Important Bird Areas (IBAs), and among the 206 Conservation Priority Areas in the country.

It is also where endangered animals like sea turtles, dugongs or sea cows, saltwater crocodiles, and even the tiny Philippine tarsier can still be found.

Locals as guardians

In Halian Island, Genelou Petallo, Sangguniang Bayan member in charge of the Committee for Environment of Del Carmen shared that its residents made history by declaring their island a 100-hectare Turtle Sanctuary through a local ordinance.

She said that residents volunteer to patrol the beaches, watch over turtle nesting sites, and make sure hatchlings reach the sea safely.

“Endangered na ang turtles. From nesting up to the release of hatchlings, kailangan talaga silang protektahan (Turtles are endangered. From nesting up to the release of hatchlings, they really need to be protected),” she said.

Petallo said that this hands-on protection by ordinary people shows that conservation can work best when the community itself takes the lead.

Another example is Sugba Lagoon, one of Siargao’s must-visit eco-tourism spots, which used to suffer from illegal fishing and logging.

Through the strong cooperation between the DENR, the local government, and the community, the lagoon is now protected and thriving.

“Illegal fishing and illegal logging are now under control because of active enforcement and cooperation with local communities,” Petallo said.

Caring for nature

For Siargao residents, caring for nature is also caring for their future.

The DENR said that three out of 10 locals farm, mostly coconuts and rice, while one in four relies on fishing.

The island supplies more than half of the fish eaten in the Caraga region, while tourism, because of Siargao’s natural beauty, has also become a main source of jobs and income.

Siargao’s almost 10,000 hectares of mangroves, the biggest in the country, are more than just tourist attractions because they act as natural shields against strong waves and typhoons, protecting communities.

The DENR said these mangroves helped save lives and property when Typhoon Odette struck the island in December 2021.

To safeguard Siargao, the DENR and local governments are carrying out a 10-year management plan, including zoning of protected areas, stricter building rules, relocation of families from hazard-prone areas, and more livelihood projects tied to conservation.

The Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) which brings together LGUs, agencies, NGOs, and people’s groups, is leading the effort to balance development with protection.

Together, they keep Siargao alive, not just for surfers and tourists, but for the generations of islanders who call it home. (PNA)