WFEN Welcomes Mangrove Paddle Boat Tour Guide Association Inc
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The first Certified Wildlife Friendly® Enterprise in the Philippines
Palawan, Philippines – July 17, 2014 – The Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN), a global community dedicated to supporting products that conserve threatened wildlife and contribute to economic vitality in rural landscapes, is pleased to announce the awarding of Wildlife Friendly® Certification to Mangrove Paddle Boat Tour Guide Association Inc. located in Sabang, Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
The old growth mangrove forests of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP) are one of the most important biodiversity conservation areas of the Philippines. Mangroves are highly significant in supporting the rich marine life in the St. Paul Bay where smaller fish feed and reproduce. The mangroves are home to reptiles (Phyton sp., Mangrove snake (Bioga dendrophila), and Water Monitor lizard (Varanus palawanensis), as well as breeding site for endangered avian species such as the Palawan Peacock Pheasant (Polyplectron emphanum), White-collared Kingfisher (Halcyon chloris), Stork-billed Kingfisher (Halcoyn capensis), Eastern Reef Egret (Egretta sacra), and Pale Spiderhunter (Arachnothera dilutior).
Sabang Mangrove Paddle Boat Tour provides a unique eco-tourism experience by hosting guided canoe trips and boardwalk access to this unique, centuries old forest and its wildlife. But they also take an active role in protecting its wildlife and educating Filipinos and visitors about the importance of conserving this important ecosystem and the endangered species that need the mangroves to breed, migrate through and call home.
Human pressures on coastal ecosystem of Palawan are high, with land competition for aquaculture, agriculture, infrastructure, and tourism. The delicate balance of the mangrove ecosystem is vital to the health and vitality of the mangrove itself and the overall biodiversity of marine, freshwater and terrestrial endangered species.
“Our product is the beauty and service of the mangroves to the environment; protection of wildlife in the area is very much our concern” – notes Sabang community member and paddle boat guide, Crisanto. The Mangrove Paddle Boat Tours have increased community and visitors’ awareness on the significance the mangrove ecosystem and serve as patrols to protect the wildlife and habitat.
“WFEN is thrilled to have our first Certified Wildlife Friendly® enterprise in the Philippines. The Mangrove Paddle Boat Tour Guide Association is doing such wonderful work to protect endangered species and the unique Mangrove habitat of Palawan. The eco-tourism product they provide is truly an experience that visitors will remember for a lifetime.” says says Ann Koontz, WFEN board, vice president who was on hand in Palawan to award the association their Wildlife Friendly Certification.
WFEN Enterprise Network Members and their Certified Wildlife Friendly® enterprises share the WFEN vision for a world where people and wildlife not only coexist but thrive. WFEN Certified Wildlife Friendly® enterprises are committed to creating beautiful products and services that are provided in a manner that respect the producers, land, and wildlife.
WFEN membership is open to businesses and non-governmental organizations who are committed to the WFEN mission and who actively contribute to Wildlife Friendly® business practices. This contribution may be through building Wildlife Friendly® supply chains, production, sourcing and selling Certified Wildlife Friendly® products, building increased awareness and demand with consumers, and implementing best practices for biodiversity conservation and business.
Mangrove Paddle Boat Tours can be booked upon arrival in Palawan at the Mangrove Paddle Boat Tour Guide kiosk located at Sabang, Cabayugan the jumping off point for visiting Saint Paul’s Park.
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About Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network
WFEN and its Certified Wildlife Friendly® and Predator Friendly® certification programs represent grassroots farmers, ranchers, artisans and conservation heroes from around the world including two World Bank Development Marketplace Award winners, a U.N. Equator Prize winner, leadership in the world’s marketplace for REDD+ Carbon Offsets, a Time Hero for the Planet, and a National Geographic Big Cats Initiative grantee. Certified Wildlife Friendly® products contribute to the conservation of over twelve million hectares of diverse wetlands, forests, and grasslands; protect keystone endangered species in Asia, Africa, and Latin and North America, including the Snow Leopard, Elephant, Cheetah, Spectacled Bear, and Wolf; and benefit over 200,000 people through increased food security, income and employment. For more information visit: www.wildlifefriendly.org
Contact:
Wildlife Friendly
Julie Stein: Julie@wildlifefriendly.org