Panglao 2003 coral reef project gathers world’s marine experts

TotalFinaElf Philippines (TFE Philippines) supports Panglao 2003, an international marine biodiversity project slated in May this year.

Citing the Philippines as among the world’s most fascinating areas for coastal ecosystems study, marine experts from 15 nations all over the globe will visit the Bohol province to embark on the project that aims, among others, to shed light on marine species diversity on a global scale.

The project’s main proponents are TotalFinaElf Foundation and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The other groups supporting the project are Conservation International and the ASEAN Regional Center for Biodiversity Conservation in collaboration with the University of San Carlos in Cebu City.

In line with its parent company’s commitment to the protection of coastal ecosystems, TFE Philippines has pledged its support for the project whose beginnings dates back to 1992, when TotalFinaElf Foundation found thousands of marine species in the exotic sites of New Caledonia. Similar studies follow in 2000 at Loyalty Islands in Lifou and in Rapa (Australes archipelago) in 2002. The project culminates in Panglao, which is considered to hold a key position at the heart of the Indo-Pacific species’ richness gradient.

A team of 75 international marine experts will conduct the 45-day fieldwork from May to July 2003 to acquire new scientific knowledge on the richness of Philippine marine species. Panglao 2003 is led by senior professors Dr. Philippe Bouchet of the French National Museum and Dr. Danilo Largo, Biology department chair of the University of San Carlos in Cebu.

Participants in the study are composed of marine scientists, professors, students, divers, technicians and volunteers from 15 countries, namely: Austria, Belgium, Italy, Australia, Russia, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan, France, New Caledonia, Norway, Spain, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and USA. Local institutions like the Philippine National Museum and the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines will also participate.

Panglao is located at the west portion of Bohol’s capital, Tagbilaran City.