Verde Island Passage Has Been Recognized as a “Hope Spot”

(SPOT.ph) The global center of marine diversity in the Philippines is now a Hope Spot, as declared by international organization Mission Blue on July 22.

The Verde Island Passage's recognition as a "Hope Spot" will allow Mission Blue to "plan for the future and look beyond current marine protected areas." One way is to push for a community reef monitoring program. Doing so will enable researchers and volunteers to do restoration work for local reefs that lack natural resilience. 

Mission Blue is also conducting research on coral rearing and spawning techniques on healthy coral reefs with help from De La Salle University.

“It’s low-tech but accurate in the data we’re collecting,” Dr. Terrence Gosliner from the California Academy of Sciences said.

The Verde Island Passage is a major waterway that separates southern Luzon Island from northern Mindoro Island in the Philippines. It is home to an abundance of marine life within its one-million hectare of coral reef, mangrove, and seagrass habitats.

Also read: Mindoro Oil Spill Reaches World's Center of Marine Biodiversity

What does it mean for Isla Verde to be considered a Hope Spot?

Mission Blue is an international marine conservation nonprofit dedicated to global efforts for ocean exploration and protection through the promotion of critical marine areas known as “Hope Spots.”

According to the SEA Institute, this is an “international recognition for the Philippines, one that brings honor and reminds us of our responsibility to protect our waters.”

Environmental degradation continues to happen on Verde Island’s shores, including the recent Mindoro oil spill in March. In a previous interview with SPOT.ph, University of the Philippine - Marine Science Institute associate professor Dr. Irene B. Rodriguez said that "the long-term impacts will come from prolonged exposure to the oil spill that may lead to [the] death of marine organisms including keystone species."

Following the Hope Spot title, a series of advocacy campaigns will also be launched in hopes to raise more awareness on the Verde Island Passage.

“The global attention and credibility of the Hope Spot designation will bring an immense degree of visibility, pride, and increased commitment to all stakeholders—communities, government officials and agencies, academia, and NGOs, across the Verde Island Passage and the entire Philippines,” Dr. Wilfredo Licuanan from the De La Salle University said.

There are currently 165 Hope Spots in the world, covering 57,577,967 km2 of ocean.

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