International photogs show Danajon Bank to the world to raise awareness for its conservation

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — The combined conservation and protection efforts are not enough to save the Danajon Double Barrier Reefs (DDBR), or the Danajon Bank, which is the only one of its kind in Southeast Asia and one of only six in the world.

This prompted the International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCPs) and the Project Seahorse Foundation (PSF), in coordination with the DDBR Management Council to launch a photo exhibition in the provinces, which are part of the Bank, and in various cities around the world starting this June.

This advocacy campaign has been aimed at raising awareness, especially on the prevailing situation of DDBR, which has been subjected to man-made pressures and lethal fishing methods.

The photographs would be shown locally and globally for the people to see and appreciate the need to protect this rare but threatened double-barrier coral reef in the Philippines, as well as to educate the world of its value that would draw them into helping in protecting and conserving this unique marine world.

“Preparations are now underway to make this show realized,” said Joel Molina of the Bohol provincial government in a conversation with PSF officials.

The PSF said in part: “Expedition: Danajon Bank is an international photo exhibition, book, and advocacy campaign about marine conservation, one of the most important issues today. It's collaboration between the world's top nature photographers and marine scientists.

“Our project aims to capture Danajon Bank in all its fragile beauty and share the images with the world to raise awareness about the threats facing this important ecosystem and many thousands of fragile marine ecosystems around the world,” it added.

The ILCP vowed to “produce a beautiful hardcover photo book and launch a series of large-scale photo exhibitions at aquariums in London, Chicago, Hong Kong, Manila, and beyond. The result will be a powerful photographic legacy that will help conservationists push for increased marine protections in the Philippines and around the world.”

The project involved an award-winning team consisting of legendary photographers Thomas Peschak, Luciano Candisani, Claudio Contreras Koob and Michael Ready, along with leading conservation experts Drs. Amanda Vincent and Heather Koldewey.

The week-long shoot took place off Bilangbilangan and Batasan of Tubigon town; Hanbungan, Cuaming, and nearby islands of Inabanga and Buenavista towns; island-barangay of Handumon in Getafe; and island-barangay of Guindacpan in Talibon. 

Candisani, a native of Brazil, explained: “By getting this story (narrated in photographs) out into the world, we hope to inspire new environmental protections for Danajon Bank.”

Fellow photographer Thomas Peschak of South Africa said in a huddle with The Freeman said he would try to put their Danajon photos out in the National Geographic and Time magazines.

“Beginning in June, photographs from Danajon Bank will be shown in public exhibits at aquariums in Chicago, Hong Kong, Manila and London. ILCP and PSF will also publish a hardcover book about Expedition Danajon Bank. Also, our photographers will share stories from the expedition in National Geographic News Watch and other media outlets. All of these communications efforts will bring increased world attention to this global marine treasure in need of protection.”

Peschak, Candisani and fellow photographers Contreras of Mexico and Ready of the U.S., along with Tyler Stiem of Canada and Dr. Nick Hill of the U.K. combed through the Danajon Bank underwater for the photographs.

Following the shoot, the ILCP and PSF met with the media in a press conference in Manila where they presented what they have done for the DDBR, according to Angie Nellas, the local official of the PSF.

The PSF's local personnel (Hazel Panes, Myrtle Paquibo and Rosemarie Apurado) and their foreign counterparts, Polly Marshall and Hannah Rawnsley of London and Carissa Shipman of the US also worked on their share of the advocacy by conducting surveys on fish stock in Bilangbilangan and nearby islands off Tubigon town.

Meanwhile, Bohol officials, led by Gov. Edgar Chatto and his counterparts from the provinces of Cebu, Leyte and Southern Leyte and representatives of national government agencies and non-government organizations (NGO) have committed to continue the works to save and preserve the DDBR via a memorandum of agreement signed on May 18, last year.

The MOA outlined each tasks of the newly-formed Danajon Double Barrier Reef Management Council (DDBRMC), now being chaired by Chatto, with executive director Rose-Liza Osorio, of the Coastal Conservation for Environment Fund (CCEF), as the secretariat. (FREEMAN)