About CMEMP
The Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Program or CMEMP is a national program which aims to comprehensively manages, address and effectively reduce the drivers and threats of degradation of the coastal and marine ecosystems in order to achieve and promote sustainability of ecosystem services, food security and climate change resiliency for the benefit of the present and future generations.
Objectives
- Establish a well-connected network of MPAs to ensure the effective and sustainable management of C & M resources
- Implement sustainable management of C & M resources to contribute to food security and improve human well-being
- Effectively reduce threats and factors of degradation
- Enhance formation of positive values
- Develop and/or enhance skills and expertise of DENR concerned staff as well as other stakeholders
Scope and Coverage
All coastal and marine areas of the Philippines covering all, but not limited to the NIPAS Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), Locally-Managed Marine Protected Areas (LMMPAs), Marine Key Biodiversity Areas (MKBAs), and adjacent municipal waters.
Management Approaches
- Integrated Coastal Management
- Partnership Building
- Ecotourism/Sustainable Tourism
- Protection, Management and Law Enforcement
- Communication, Education and Public Awareness
- Valuation of Ecosystems Services
PROJECT COMPONENTS
1.Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network Establishment and Strengthening
MPA Network Establishment and Strengthening this shall provide protection and restoration of degraded coastal and marine habitats essential to the ecological processes and survival of depleted, threatened, rare, or endangered species and population through the establishment of MPA networks. Networking of individual MPAs shall include:
- Assessment, Mapping, and Site selection — it shall include among others resource assessment, mapping, delineation, and marking of boundaries of coral reefs, sea grass beds, mangrove areas, mudflats or soft-bottom and associated communities including the identification, characterization and analysis of threats affecting them. This will complement the ongoing assessment efforts covering all NIPAS sites concerned to include areas adjacent to the Pacific and the Western Philippine Sea. Following the assessment is the selection of potential sites for establishing MPAs based on a set of criteria, including bio-geographical, ecological, spatial, social, socio-economic, and political considerations, among others. For MPA networking, ecological, institutional, and social components will be considered.
- Management Plan Development — this shall include crafting of a sound MPA management plan through full community involvement and multi-stakeholder participation in the development and implementation. This shall also include mainstreaming climate change mitigation, disaster risk reduction, and business and financing mechanisms in each MPA/MPANs management plan.
- Maintenance and Protection— this includes the development schemes to promote cooperation, coordination and partnerships among different stakeholders including the enhancement of existing marine protected areas and MPA Networks to provide support in the protection of coastal and marine ecosystems. It shall also include the repair of damaged and disturbed coastal ecosystems by protecting and allowing ecosystems to recover naturally or use of technologies grounded on scientific basis and consistent with the overall management goals.
2. Biodiversity-Friendly and Social Enterprise Development
This shall involve the conduct of economic activities and practices of micro, small and medium enterprises, LGUs and People’s Organizations that promote the sustainable use of coastal and marine biological resources; create wealth and value; and open opportunities for the equitable sharing of benefits among stakeholders. The provision of these livelihood options shall help sustain the community support on all coastal and marine management efforts.
3. Capacity Building
This shall be the training of DENR concerned staff at the national and regional/field offices to develop their skills and expertise on coastal and marine management.
4. Technical Assistance
The capacity building trainings received by the DENR personnel shall be cascaded to the LGUs, other stakeholders, and partners in the field. The DENR may engage the services of a third party to provide assistance with regards to the sustainable financing or alternative livelihood for the concerned stakeholders.
5. Knowledge Management
A knowledge management platform shall be developed to serve as a repository of all data and information on the coastal and marine ecosystems including the results of the assessments. This shall be used to generate useful information for the management of coastal and marine biodiversity.
6. Social Marketing and Mobilization
A well-designed communication framework, strategies, and approaches shall be developed to promote public awareness, in still social and environmental consciousness and effect behavior change with regard to the coastal and marine ecosystems. This shall include establishment of linkages among all stakeholders, and Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) surveys, among others.
7. Monitoring and Evaluation
The DENR Policy and Planning Service in collaboration with the BMB shall conduct periodic monitoring and assessment of the CMEMP.
