EDGE Community


Project information

[Project name/title]
Conservation of mushroom coral in the Polillo Islands


[Project description/overview]
The project will develop and implement a conservation action plan for the mushroom coral (Heliofungia actiniformis), in the Polillo Islands in Luzon. This will act as a flagship for broader marine conservation action, including community and local government engagement and capacity building, as well as the implementation of coastal marine resource management plans.

Location:
Luzon, Philippines

Project type:
Conservation

Relevant EDGE species:
Elegance coral (Catalaphyllia jardinei)
Pearl Bubble Coral (Physogyra lichtensteini)
Mushroom Coral (Heliofungia actiniformis)

Project members:
Ditto dela Rosa




Relevant species
17. Elegance coral (Catalaphyllia jardinei) VU

This aptly named coral is truly enchanting, contrasting velvety, green corallites with bright pink tentacle tips.

[Relevance description]
31. Pearl Bubble Coral (Physogyra lichtensteini) VU

A gigantic yet attractive colonial coral which is popular in the aquarium trade.

[Relevance description]
39. Mushroom Coral (Heliofungia actiniformis) VU

A beautiful, free-living species with stripy soft tissue and a large, central mouth.

[Relevance description]
Project summary

The specific objectives of this project are as follows:

  1. Conduct a rapid assessment of the reefs around Polillo Island to the Quezon mainland to determine the presence, distribution and abundance of the three focal EDGE Coral Reef species.
  2. Assess the direct and indirect threats to the species in the project area.
  3. Collect detailed information on the mushroom coral, Heliofungia actiniformis e.g. abundance, size, distribution, associated species.

Conservation outcomes and benefits include:

  1. Key knowledge gaps addressed informing conservation of the focal coral species, H. actiniformis, and where possible targeted conservation actions initiated.
  2. Local stakeholders engaged to ensure support of the species conservation action plan developed from this fellowship.
  3. Awareness of focal coral species, the threats facing them and their habitat, and potential local solutions
 
Project members

Works with local governments, academia, community-based organizations and NGOs in marine conservation.

[Member role description]
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Associated Blog Posts
13th Jul 12
Ditto dela Rosa is our EDGE Corals Fellow, who works with local governments, academia, community-based organizations and NGOs in the Philippines. One of his ...  Read

14th Feb 12
I’m Gregorio E. dela Rosa, Jr. but people usually refer to me as Ditto. I have been working as a research specialist for Haribon Foundation for the Conserv...  Read

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