Palawan’s Siete Pecados bags Blue Park award

MANILA, Philippines — A marine protected area (MPA) in northern Palawan has received the Blue Park Award for ”exceptional marine biodiversity conservation.”

The Marine Conservation Institute (MCI) said Siete Pecados is one of the three Blue Parks awardees this year, joining the ranks of Tubbataha Reef Natural Park and Apo Reef Natural Park.

Siete Pecados will receive $6,000 and join a growing network of MPAs that have met the highest science-based standards for conservation effectiveness.

The award was conferred during the Our Ocean conference in Athens, Greece last week.

“This Blue Park Award is an honor to receive. We want Siete Pecados Marine Park to meet or exceed science-based Blue Park standards so we can conserve critical habitat, promote ocean health and ensure economic security for our children and generations to come,” park manager Jose Mazo said.

The event highlighted contributions toward the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework’s target to protect 30 percent of marine and coastal areas by 2030 (30×30), showcasing the Blue Park Award winners as outstanding examples of effective biodiversity conservation.

”As the global community works toward 30x30, it is critical that we not only create more marine protected areas, but we ensure they offer effective protection to marine ecosystems and benefit local communities,“ MCI president Lance Morgan said.

Siete Pecados is part of the Calamian MPA, which protects 1,100 kilometers of marine habitat.