Apo Reef Natural Park bags int’l marine conservation award

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Protected Area Superintendent for Apo Reef Natural Park (ARNP) Krystal Dayne Villanada (right, standing) and Philippine Ambassador to Portugal Celia Anna Feria (middle, standing) receive the platinum-level Blue Park Award for the country’s effective conservation of the ARNP, a marine protected area (MPA) in the town of Sablayan, province of Occidental Mindoro during the 2022 United Nations Ocean Conference in Lisbon, Portugal on July 1. (Courtesy of DENR)

MANILA, Philippines — The Apo Reef Natural Park (ARNP) in Occidental Mindoro has bagged the prestigious Blue Park Award at the United Nations Ocean Conference for its marine wildlife conservation.

“We are very happy for this recognition bestowed on the Apo Reef Natural Park which is a testament of the hard work of our people at the Protected Area Management Office and all the stakeholders who have been with us in protecting and conserving this marine protected area,” Department of Environment and Natural Resources officer in charge Secretary Ernesto Adobo Jr. said in a statement on Thursday.

“This award is an impetus not only for our hardworking men and women in the field but also to the national government to boost the conservation efforts in our marine protected areas through our policies, programs, and collaboration with various stakeholders,” he further said.

The award was received by ARNP Protected Area Superintendent Krystal Villanada and Philippine Ambassador to Portugal Celia Anna Feria during the conference in Lisbon, Portugal on July 1.

“As ARNP is now being acknowledged globally, we are looking forward to expanding our networks and collaborations with different organizations to ensure a sustainable ocean for the future generation,” Villanada said in the same statement.

The Apo Reef Natural Park is the second platinum-level Blue Park Award recipient in the Philippines after Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park was recognized in 2017.

The Blue Park Award acknowledges outstanding efforts by the national governments, non-profit organizations, marine protected area managers, and local communities to protect marine ecosystems.

Aside from ARNP, Indonesia’s Raja Ampat Islands Marine Conservation Area and Colombia’s Old Providence McBean Lagoon National Park were also selected by an international council of marine experts, assembled by the United States-based Marine Conservation Institute, to receive the award. – Xander Dave Ceballos, INQUIRER.net intern