MWRP Philippines: Encouraging Plastic Waste Reduction in Marine Protected Areas

Marine protected areas (MPAs) in the coastal zones surrounding Puerto Princesa City, Philippines, are home to rich marine biodiversity that sustains robust tourism and fishing industries on Palawan Island. Increasingly, MPAs suffer from the growing contamination of plastic waste, largely coming from Puerto Princesa City due to inadequate management of solid waste. High volumes of plastic waste harm the marine ecosystems, posing a threat to fishing and tourism livelihoods.

Marine protected areas (MPAs) in the coastal zones surrounding Puerto Princesa City, Philippines, are home to rich marine biodiversity that sustains robust tourism and fishing industries on Palawan Island. Increasingly, MPAs suffer from the growing contamination of plastic waste, largely coming from Puerto Princesa City due to inadequate management of solid waste. High volumes of plastic waste harm the marine ecosystems, posing a threat to fishing and tourism livelihoods.

In response, the project Mitigating Threats to Marine Protected Areas through Reducing and Recycling Plastic Waste employs a two-pronged approach: 1) providing technical assistance to municipal authorities for improved solid waste management (SWM) services, and 2) raising community awareness to increase household-level waste recycling.