Located at the heart of Central Visayas, the Island province of Bohol is the 10th largest island
in the Philippines. It is composed of an oval-shaped mainland surrounded by 72 smaller
islands.*
One of the most marine diverse seas in our region, the Bohol sea supports big crustacean and
mammals like whales, dolphins, whale sharks, manta rays, and is home one of the largest coral
formations in the Philippines.
*From Bohol Tourism Office
With the onslaught of mass tourism in Bohol, biodiversity in sites such as Loboc River, Chocolate Hills, Panglao & Alona beaches can be overwhelmed by unsustainable tourism activities. There is an opportunity to offer a different side of Bohol to tourists not usually explored, sites that focus on sustainable tourism and community development
Through ecotourism, we can provide an alternative source of livelihood to locals who look towards other means such as overfishing, dynamite fishing, whaling, and mangrove cutting for charcoal. We can also provide more awareness for existing ecotourism sites created together with People’s Organizations, and enhance the offers of the destinations for continued tourist visits.
Bohol is blessed with mangrove forests around its river systems, estuaries and offshore islands. The island has one of the highest biologically diverse mangrove ecosystems with 26 mangrove species found on its shores. (bohol-philippines.com) However, its mangrove ecosystems are threatened, with human exploitation a large threat to their survival.
