Gigantes Islands, Iloilo

Address: Carles, Iloilo

Description: The Gigantes group of islands in Carles, Iloilo are endowed with limestone forests, caves, and white-sand beaches. It is classified as a high urgent conservation priority under the Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Priority-Setting Program (PBCPP) It is home to a wide variety of species, 2 of them endemic: the Gekkonid Lizard (Gekko gigante) and the Island Forest Frog (Platymantis insulatus). The 44,249-hectare site is marred with political, economic, and cultural issues, which result in resource degradation, insecurity, and vulnerability of the island and its communities.
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Status: Newly Opened

Site Profile Summary

 

Site Profile

Ecosystem Types	Forest, Coastal, Marine
Protection Status	Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act 7160)
Area	44,249.76 hectares
Biogeographic Features	Two main islands: Gigante Norte (with smaller islets Bulubadiang, Gigantillo and Gigantuna); and Gigante Sur (Antonia, Bantigui, Cabugao, Tanguingui) The islands are located within the Visayan Sea, one of the most productive fishing grounds in the country. As part of the Coral Triangle, these islands contain some of the most biologically diverse and richest coastal and marine resources.
Flora	Leucaena leucocephala), which provide a distinct ecological assembly of microorganisms, insects, mammals and fishes. Highly sensitive, the fragile limestone of karst forests make them prone to surface changes caused by road construction or agricultural activities. The once thick mangrove forests of Gigantes’ northern coasts have dwindled to thin patches (Alcala, et. al, 2011)
Fauna	Gigantes Islands are known for their bivalve (scallop/clam) and squid fisheries. South and North Gigante Islands have also been recognized as a key site by the Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) because the area, specifically South Gigante, is the only known habitat of the Critically Endangered Island Forest Frog (Platymantis insulates) and the Gekkonid Lizard (Gekko gigante). These species dwell in limestone karst forest and caves in forested lowlands. (An Island Way of Life. Kalikasan BCSD Series 15.) Gigantes is also home to seven endemic bird species: Philippine Coucal (Centropus viridis), Philippine Hawk Owl (Ninox philippinensis), Philippine Nightjar (Caprimulgus manillensis), Pygmy Swiftlet (Collocalia troglodytes), Philippine Pygmy Woodpecker (Dendrocopos maculatus), Philippine Bulbul (Ixos philippinus), and the Pygmy Flowerpecker (Dicaeum pygmaeum (Alcala, et. al, 2011)
Livelihood Resources	Majority of the households depend on fishing
Other Matters of Significance	Gigantes Islands is one of the 6 conservation priority sites of FPE. At the height of Typhoon Yolanda (2013), in addition to devastation of infrastructure and livelihood, it was reported that caves, where endemic species of geckos and frogs thrive, were used as refuges / evacuation sites. Several caves have high levels of disturbance from human activity (treasure hunting, collection of speleothems, high human foot traffic, graffiti / vandalism, litter, and mining for guano). Despite this, the status of Platymantis insulatus and Gekko gigante are secured, according to a cave assessment completed in 2014. A long term ecological program to monitor the population of the two species (both those inside the caves and those that inhabit forests over limestone karst) is highly recommended.

 

 

Sociocultural Situation

• Appreciation of the importance of resource protection, biodiversity conservation, and its critical link to the communities' well-being and survival is lacking

Economic Situation

• The islands are marred with widespread poverty (poverty incidence rate is 80%). There is a need for greater community representation and participation in the barangay development councils..

Geopolitical Situation

• The prevalence of destructive activities and the entry of commercial fishing exact heavy toll on fisheries resources. Unregulated toursism activities are placing the carrying capacity of tourist sites at risk. Policies are available but enforcement remains problematic. 
• Local government units adopted a strategic action plan (2012-2016), focusing on five strategies: sustainable fisheries, livelihood, healthy community, biodiversity conservation, and ecotourism. Disaster risk reduction management (DRRM) will also be given attention.
• The Island Sustainable Development Alliance (ISDA) for Gigantes intends to coordinate the conservation strategies and initiatives in the island. 

Threats

• Poverty has driven local development to become heavily reliant on natural resources.
• Vast forest denudation due to charcoal making and slash and burn farming. The remaining scrub vegetation is stunted. This has changed climatic conditions in the island, and exposes teh topsoil to erosion during monsoon season. 
• In-migration and unmanaged tourist activities put the delicate balance of cave and karst ecosystems at risk. Pollution from settlements and conversion of land and marine territory have negatively tipped the island's biodiversity status.
• Increasing unsustainable fishing practices have caused the number of fish to dwindle
• The need to rehabilitate the ecosystems is all the more pressing. The link between the state of the ecosystem and the impact of disasters must be clearly established. Effective management of ecosystems that produce healthy forests, mangroves and coral reefs can reduce physical exposure to hazards and increase both ecosystem and community resilience. An integrated conservation management framework must be pursued and safeguarded, in consultation with experts and local partners.

FPE-funded Projects and Initiatives

Year	Project	Amount Funded	Proponent
2016	Building Resilient and Sustainable Small Island Communities The project builds on the gains of the ongoing engagements in Gigantes, and focuses on addressing the gaps in the 5-year Strategic Plan (2012-2016), facilitate formulation of the 10-year conservation management plan, enhance community organizations to develop functional protection mechanisms, and develop informed communities as active partners towards island resilience and sustainable use of the island ecosystem.	PhP2,000,000	University of the Philippines Visayas Foundation, Inc. (UPVFI)
2015	Strengthening Multi-Stakeholder Convergence for Gigantes, Carles, Iloilo The project facilitated the consolidation of post-disaster and development initiatives of various organizations to enhance coordination, convergence, and mitigate duplication and overlaps. With SCI, PLS and ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, the project sought to unify programs, support build back better objectives, and promote small island resilience.	PhP150,700	University of the Philippines Visayas Foundation, Inc. (UPVFI)
2015	Workshop on Gigantes Islands Caves Conservation	PhP73,150	FPE Visayas Regional Unit
2012	Framework Development and Strategic Planning for Sicogon/Gigantes	PhP799,300	Iloilo Caucus Of Development NGOs (ICODE)
2009	Natural Resource Inventory and Resource Management Assessment for The Islands Of Sicogon and Gigantes, Municipality Of Carles, Iloilo	PhP1,004,000	Panay Rural Organizaing for Reform and Social Order, Inc. (PROGRESO)

 

 

 

 

Key Outcomes

As of February 2017, the project, Building Resilient and Sustainable Small Island Communities is ongoing. Project updates include:

Convergence

• A Sustainable Tourism Plan, as part of the 10-year Gigantes Islands Conservation Plan, has already been conceptualized. The Technical Working Group will convene on March 1, 2017 to work on the draft.
• Avicennia sp. (local name: miyapi) was planted by the community, with the guidance of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) – Philippines, in a 2-hectare area of Barangay Gabi in Gigantes Sur. The community was also trained by ZSL on the correct protocols of mangrove planting.
• Capacity building activities on organizational development & leadership for ISDA was conducted. Further training activities are in process.

Organizing

• Twenty-six (26) environmental youth champions were identified and were sent to Danjugan Marine Camp (an FPE partner) for further training on marine conservation.
• The identified tourism policemen awaits formal deputation, they were however, been deputized as Bantay Dagat.

Education and Knowledge Management

• The project facilitated Convergence and ISDA meetings in the Municipality of Carles and in Gigantes on August 2016, which resulted to a planning workshop on Ecotourism.
• Conservation corners in identified schools were established, but it needs more information materials for students’ reference and use.

Reference

An Island Way of Life: Resource Assessment and Strategic Plan Development for Gigantes Islands, Carles, Iloilo, 2013. Kalikasan BCSD Knowledge Series 15. Foundation for the Philippine Environment and Iloilo Caucus of Development NGOs (ICODE).