More than 5,000 sea turtle hatchlings have already been released on Isla Arena in the town of Narra, Palawan, through the pioneering efforts of the Paragua Wildlife Conservancy Inc., a nongovernment organization (NGO), whose aim is to conserve the endangered wildlife on small islands and coastal areas of Palawan.

                Central in the group’s advocacy is the Pugad Pawikan, a network of organizations with representations from the government, NGO, academe, the youth and the private sector all of which are driven toward the preservation of one of the country’s most precious treasures, the pawikan.

                The Philippines is home to five of the seven turtle species and six of the nine islands of the Turtle Islands Heritage Park in the world, putting the country at the forefront of the continuing battle for pawikan conservation.

                Isla Arena Marine Turtle Sanctuary has taken on the challenge of protecting its natural resources. It is spearheaded by Pawikan activist Engr. Roland Rodriguez, whose family owns a farm on the nearby islands of Taritien and Antipoloan fronting Isla Arena.

                Over the years, Rodriguez has led the efforts against poachers and blast fishermen, and lobbied against illegal practices, such as cyanide stun-fishing and harvesting of turtle eggs from the beaches of the 3.6-hectare island in the South-Central Sulu Sea.

                “We advocated for the passage into law of the Strategic Environment Plan for Palawan in 1992, which will allow sustainable development, and we encourage the private sector to contribute, in this initiative. The Philippines is one of the few privileged countries that is considered as a nesting site for hundreds of sea turtles. We would like to ensure that Palawan is fulfilling its part in making the country a true home for pawikan, which [number is] decreasing by the hour,” Rodriguez said.

                Isla Arena is mainly occupied by green turtles and occasionally by leatherbacks. When the sea turtles come onshore, at least 200 eggs are laid per batch with 45 to 50 days of incubation. The eggs are preserved in their original nesting ground, protected by nets around the area.

                Surrounded by hectares of coral gardens and sea grass meadows, the island retains hatchlings in float cages and releases them after a month when the baby turtles are bigger. In doing so, they are given a higher survival chance from predators. The hatchlings are then tagged and registered internationally in order to trace their return to Isla Arena to lay more eggs.

                Isla Arena has been identified by Pugad Pawikan as one of the pilot areas to save sea turtles—a nationwide movement together with a community of volunteers and concerned citizens.

                Louie Morales, chairman of Pugad Pawikan, reiterates that “the project is geared toward creating an educated and active community whose primary purpose is to generate awareness and encourage participation for pawikan conservation. Isla Arena sets a great example in our drive to reach this goal.” 

                A strategic turtle sanctuary, Isla Arena uses homemade floats, markers, traditional fish traps and gillnets especially to mark off the “marine-protected areas” of the island.

                The idea of creating a sanctuary and spawning area was a preferred method to obtain the support of local fisher folk for marine-resource conservation. Instead of using force or guards armed with guns, educating and befriending the people proved more viable in getting their cooperation.

                Recently, the Rotary Club of Puerto Princesa has provided buoys to mark off the protected areas, navigation channels, anchorage for small fishing boats and seasonal shift in current flows. Supplementing the homemade buoys, the Rotary buoys have greatly enhanced the stance and image of Isla Arena’s conservation efforts. The installed buoys create a friendlier environment compared with harsh “keep off” signs and raiding teams with court orders and ban mandates.

                Isla Arena continues to promote ecotourism in the country, especially by providing a living laboratory for sea turtles. Together with the preservation of other species in the area, such as Tabon birds and the Palawan Katala or cockatoo, Isla Arena is forming a sustainable living ecosystem to beat the odds of extinction of what is believed the lone remnant of the dinosaur age, the pawikan.

More than 5,000 sea turtle hatchlings have already been released on Isla Arena in the town of Narra, Palawan, through the pioneering efforts of the Paragua Wildlife Conservancy Inc., a nongovernment organization (NGO), whose aim is to conserve the endangered wildlife on small islands and coastal areas of Palawan.