Case Study on Community-Based Eco Tourism Activities in Donsol, Sorsogon Seeing Eco Tourism as a Conservation Tool Towards Sustainable Development Presentation

8/3/2019 Case Study on Community-Based Eco Tourism Activities in Donsol, Sorsogon Seeing Eco Tourism as a Conservation Tool Towards Sustainable Development Presentation

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Case Study:Community-Based

Ecotourism Activitiesin Donsol, Sorsogon:

Seeing Ecotourism as a

Conservation ToolTowards Sustainable Development

Personal photos of Vinson Serrano taken May 2010

Serrano, Vinson P.Plan 201A

University of the Philippines- DilimanSchool of Urban and Regional Planning


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Donsol, Sorsogon

An Ecotourism DestinationDonsol is a coastal town with a total land area of 152.99 sq. km. andis located at the northwestern part of the province of Sorsogon,

which occupies the southern terminus of the Bicol Peninsula.

Of the total land area, about 25.64 sq. km. comprises the built-upurban area and 15.68 sq. km. is devoted to agriculturalpurposes, and about 13.86 sq. km. is reserved for recreational andtourism purposes. Some 5.33 sq. km. of undifferentiatedlands including waterways of are not fully developed.

Personal photos of Vinson Serrano taken May 2010


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Donsol, Sorsogon

Google Earth Image taken May 2010


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Source: BSWM- Donsol CLUP

Donsol,So

rsogon

MunicipalityofDon

sol,Sorsogon

It is geographically located about 12 54' 26.896" north latitude and

123 36' 28.867" east longitude.

It is 66 kilometers away from the City of Sorsogon and 51 kilometersaway from the City of Legazpi in the province of Albay

A provincial road connects Donsol to the municipality of Pilar whileprovision for road network connecting Donsol to the two adjacent

municipalities of Jovellar and Pioduran has been considered andincluded in the development plan of the municipality.


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The settlement role of the municipality of Donsol under the Sorsogon

Provincial Physical Frameworks Plan, Year 1993- 2002 is that of a smalltown. Its principal role therefore is as a Small Agri-Processing.

Sitting on the northwestern part of Sorsogon Province, Donsol marksthe provincial boundary on the northwest, adjoining the province of

Albay. The town has 51 barangays, 11 of which are

situated in the coastal areas of the municipality.

Donsol Comprehensive Land Use Plan. Local Government Unit of Donsol,Sorsogon. 07/17/2009.

Community-Based Ecotourism and Coastal Resources Management Project in Donsol, Sorsogon.

http://www.wwf.org.ph/about.php?pg=wwd&sub1=00011. 07/17/2009.

Donsol, Sorsogon

With a population of 39,995, population growth is relativelyhigh, at an annual rate of 3.23%, higher than the national

average of 2.36%.


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In January 1998, the sudden discovery of whale sharks or Butanding(Rhincodon Typus) along the shores of Donsol, Sorsogon in the Bicol

region have turned a once-quiet town from an ill-equippedcommunity into a potential ecotourism destination in the country.Such discovery brought an influx of tourists and unprecedented

effects of the growing community development giving rise to severalcommunity development problems. Moreover, the concept of

ecotourism is to be further established in the operations of themunicipal planning development as it aims to become an effective

tool for conservation towards sustainable development.

In a span of five years, Donsol, Sorsogon was transformed from a fifth classmunicipality to third class due to the economic benefits and contribution of this activity.to ecotourism activities.

Serrano, Vinson P. Aquatika: Whale Shark Exploration Center. University of Santo Tomas Undergraduate Thesis. Espana,Manila. 03/2010.



Inspite of the occurrence of whale sharks in other parts of the world, there is no otherplace like Donsol, where the major school of whale sharks

is found at a particular time. Such sighting proved that the bodies of water inDonsol are rich with the presence of phytoplanktons- microscopic species which are the main foodof these gentle giants. From then on, the continuous relationship of the whale sharks and the

shores of Donsol primarily gave more than enough opportunities to the locals and the neighboringtowns to economically sustain their everyday living as well as to divert their livelihood means of

fishing and farming to ecotourism activities.


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Whale Shark Watching: Response to Threats

Whale Shark Conference in Perth,Australia in May 2005

scientific experts and representatives from non-government organizations, inter-

governmental organizations, and the tourismindustry from 23 countriesagreed that ecotourism, when appropriate, is the obvious answer to reversethe effects of extractive uses of this magnificent creature.

Whale shark ecotourism has flourished in many

parts of the world, including Mexico, Belize,and the Seychelles, as a sustainable andequitable community-based venture.




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Assess the on-going activities and future

plans of development of Donsol,Sorsogon in line with their main ecotourism

activity- the whale shark interaction.

Furthermore, it is aimed to assess impacts ofdevelopment on the locality and how

ecotourism is aimed to become a tool forconservation towards sustainable

development.Its objective is to look on the aspect of sustainable development that

will incorporate environmental, experiential,

sociocultural, and economicdimensions of

every step of development in the municipality.

Objectives of the Study


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On the other hand, The International Ecotourism Society defines

Ecotourism as responsible travel to natural areasthat conserves the environment and improves the

welfare of local people.

Definition : Ecotourism and Carrying Capacity

According to The Australian National Ecotourism,

Ecotourism is defined as nature-based tourism thatinvolves education and interpretation of the naturalenvironment and is managed to be ecologicallysustainable.

Halpenny,E. Marine Ecotourism: Impacts, International Guidelines, and Best Practices Case Studies. The International Ecotourism Society. Burlington VT. 2002.M.E.Wood. Ecotourism: Principles, Practices, and Policies.United Nations Environment Programme. UN Publication. 2002.Lindberg, K. et.al. Ecotourism in the Asia-Pacific Region: Issues and Outlook. The International Ecotourism Society. 01/1998.

According to Halpenny (2002), carrying capacity is a measure of the amount ofhuman activity that a site can biophysically sustainwithout severelychanging its ecology. It aims to establish the limits of tourism development in a particulartowards the general concept of sustainability.


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A. Peak Season

Butanding Arribada FestivalWhale Shark Interaction

Donsol : Tourism Activities

To assess the ecotourism activities of Donsol, Sorsogon and its

implications on urban development, provided below is the list ofannual activities of the municipality.

Donsols Tourist Attractions. http://www.nscb.gov.ph/ru5/overview/profiles/donsol/tourism.htm. 08/31/2009.

B. Off-Peak Season

Firefly WatchingManta Ray DivingThe GrottoCatundulan

Tuba Falls

The Astilleros SiteTankulan Mangrove Ecopark

C. Daily Activity

SnorkelingBoatingScuba Diving


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Donsol: Establishment of Carrying Capacity

Inventory environmentMaintain an inventory of all resourcesExperts EvaluationIdentify all cultural and natural resourcesEvaluate available water and power resourcesIdentify the specific kinds and levels of useIdentify level of service proposedEstimate the maximum number of estimate effect of climatic

conditionsEvaluate the extent of buildings, landscaping and equipment

Halpenny,E. Marine Ecotourism: Impacts, International Guidelines, and Best Practices Case Studies. The International Ecotourism Society. Burlington VT. 2002.M.E.Wood. Ecotourism: Principles, Practices, and Policies.United Nations Environment Programme. UN Publication. 2002.Lindberg, K. et.al. Ecotourism in the Asia-Pacific Region: Issues and Outlook. The International Ecotourism Society. 01/1998.


12/23Source: BSWM- Donsol CLUP

SieveMap

Analysis

MunicipalityofDon

sol,Sorsogon

Base, General Land Use, Tourism and Transportation Facilities Map

Conversion of agricultural

lands to tourism related use

Sporadic development on

road networks brought by

linear development

Receding coastline resulted

by climate change and

human intervention

Poor waste management on

coastal barangays

No provision of disaster risk

related facilties

Urban fabric with no distinct

point affecting site

permeability and legibility

Less provision of communal

spaces and facilities such as

parks and public recreation

center


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Rapid development of

accommodation facilities (of

various levels) along coastal

barangays with improper

provisions on setbacks

Poor infrastructure

development (roads and

bridges)

High density of human

settlements in the Poblacion

Area

Poor sanitation and waste

management

Lack of protective services

facilities thus pose threat of

terrorism

Docking facilities with no

provision of regulation and

waste disposal contributes to

the environmental degradation

SieveMap

Analysis

MunicipalityofDon

sol,Sorsogon

Base, General Land Use, Tourism and Transportation Facilities Map



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TourismFa

cilitiesMap

MunicipalityofDon

sol,Sorsogon


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Transporta

tionFacilitiesMap

MunicipalityofDon

sol,Sorsogon


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Donsol: Ecotourism as Conservation Tool TowardsSustainable Development

In view of ecotourism as a conservation tool towards sustainable

development, Donsol community stakeholdersplayed a vital role in the development of

ecotourism activities and on furtheringtourism value of the site through educational

infiltration. Based on their set of annual activities, Donsol has a

rotational operation to sustain the tourism sector that resulted todrastic positive effects on economic, social, institutional andenvironmental aspects.


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ProposedG

eneralLa

ndUseMa

p

MunicipalityofDon

sol,Sorsogon


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Donsol: Ecotourism as Conservation Tool TowardsSustainable Development

The good transition of responsibilities- fromaccommodation, small-medium industries

supporting tourism, and other interconnectedindustries have harmoniously organized a

circumventing proportionality of symbiosis- that eachand every industry supports one another and reduce the negative impacts

of overlapping activity. Thus, this has made Donsol as a good model ofecotourism center in the Philippines, if not in the global perspective.


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Donsol Ecotourism : Urban Development Implications:Current Scenario and Recommendations

Donsols urban fabrichas been observed to develop on the idea of linear development

On the physical aspect, building regulations andstandards on setbacks were not strictly observed

thus needing an institutional revamp on the particular issue.

Integration of added protective services may addressthe growing threat of terrorism and crime incidence by opposing militantgroups on the area.


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Assite permeability is concerned- the ability of people to accessthe municipality in respect to proper urban form legibility, there are onlyonly two ways to access the current location of the visitor center frominland towns and cities- either by water or land access.

In line with this, the proponents recommendation regarding the location of

the visitor center should be relocated due to theoverlapping developments on the Poblacion area.

This has resulted to various problems of transporation, security, health andsanitation, and posses a bigger threat on environmental degradation.

Environment support facilities should be integrated on coast lines that willbe strengthened through policies or guidelines on accommodation

facilities. A provision of a central utilities system mayalso be provided, to secure environmental protection on the sensitive

typology of the municipality.


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Other tourism spots and attractions shown on the Municipal

Tourism Map should be explored and be strengthened toredirect human settlements from rising within the barangay boundaries ofPoblacion area.

Development of open parks and spaces within themunicipality could open up opportunities for the small scale to mediumscale industries.


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Disaster Risk Management Plan to prepare themunicipality in times of unwanted events that should be envisioned to

maintain good support on the tourism and livelihood of the municipality.

As the municipality is still predominant of agricultural lands, the

maximization of brownfield development should betaken into consideration so as to secure food security and mainstreamincome for Donsol in case of the absence of tourism influx.


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FIN

Documents

Case Study on Community-Based Eco Tourism Activities in Donsol, Sorsogon Seeing Eco Tourism as a Conservation Tool Towards Sustainable Development Presentation