During the IUCN
Crocodile Specialist Group working meeting in Florida
in October 2002 a large number of presenters provided new information
on distribution, population size and conservation of the various
crocodilian species in the world. The research findings and
conservation activities regarding C. mindorensis
in Northeast Luzon were received with optimism: at least there
is a perspective for this species. It was concluded that there
is an urgent need to develop a conservation strategy based on
four dimensions: (1) public awareness, (2)
effective protection, (3) scientific research,
and (4) rural development
CROC
made a start to improve environmental education and public awareness
campaigns to inform the general public about crocodile conservation.
Studies on local attitudes, cultural values and perceptions
of crocodiles provided inputs for tailor-made awareness raising
campaigns. Students of CDCAS designed a poster, which will be
distributed in Northeast Luzon. These campaigns should continue
and be extended to a larger audience, including school children
to provide the coming generation with a good understanding of
the need to conserve such a precious endemic species.
Second, several Philippine crocodile populations
have been identified in Northeast Luzon since 1999. Now, the
challenge is to protect these populations. The municipal crocodile
sanctuary in Disulap River provided a blueprint for protection.
Other sites might require other approaches. Designing a protected
area is, however, easier that enforcing the rules and regulations.
If the implementation of conservation measures is not developed
and sustained, the Philippine crocodile faces a grim destiny.
Third,
CROC started to provide the necessary data
for effective crocodile conservation. The results of these studies
are, as was stated above, only the beginning. There is an urgent
need for up-to-date reliable information on the ecology of the
Philippine crocodile and about the social context in which it
survived to design effective conservation actions.
Fourth, people living in and around crocodile
habitats are generally poor upland dwellers. There is a strong
connection between poverty and unsustainable resource use practices,
which endanger the Philippine crocodile. Only if the root cause
of these problems is effectively tackled can conservation succeed
in the long term. The CROC follow-up project will shifts its
priorities from a narrow focus on student-led research to a
more integrated approach, which will cover these four dimensions
of crocodile conservation in Northeast Luzon.
One
of the main problems that were identified during the IUCN
Crocodile Specialist Group working meeting regarding
Philippine crocodile conservation is the lack of a strong local
organisation which focuses on in situ conservation of C.
mindorensis and the lack of local people with
the necessary capacities to form such an organization (see also
Oliver 2002). CROC started with just that: enhancing the capabilities
of students in crocodile research and conservation activities.
In the follow-up phase CROC proposes to continue with strengthening
local capacities. CROC wants to establish a local organization
that will focus on crocodile conservation in Northeast Luzon.
Such an organization would have to grow and would also have
to be able to arrange its own funding at the end of the CROC
project for a continuation of activities.
CROC
will continue to work with students from Isabela State
University. Integrating crocodile conservation in the
curriculum of the sociology, forestry, environmental science,
development communication and biology departments has the following
benefits: (1) delivering long-term scientific
data, (2) developing the skills and networks
of a future generation of local young conservation professionals,
(3) enhancing the capacity of the local Academe.
Another
reason to apply for this follow up award is that with the ending
of Phase I of the NSMNP-CP
and CROC there is currently no NGO or project
continuing with Philippine crocodile conservation work in northern
Luzon. The NSMNP-CP Phase II is going to be
implemented by WWF Philippines and will start
in 2003 with the identification of possible conservation programs.
CROC II wishes to work closely together with WWF in the Northern
Sierra Madre Natural Park and complementing activities will
be proposed to WWF, especially with regards to livelihood assistance
to local residents that will be effected by the establishment
of crocodile sanctuaries. However, the NSMNP-CP Phase II will
be limited in extent to the park and direct surroundings while
several crocodile populations are being found outside this coverage
area of the NSMNP-CP. CROC II is not limited to one area and
focuses explicitly on the Philippine crocodile. Without a follow
up of activities there is a large chance that conservation of
crocodiles will not be continued in Northeast Luzon.
1 There
was good news about nearly all species, especially the threatened
freshwater species of Southeast Asia such as the Siamese crocodile
Crocodylus siamensis and the Chinese Alligator Alligator chinensis.
Both these severely threatened species have been successfully
reintroduced and new populations have been discovered of C. siamensis.
