Event: Regional Flyway Initiative Site Studies Philippines: Tubbataha Reef Natural Park The Tubbataha Reef Natural Park, located in the central Sulu Sea approximately 160 km southeast of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, is a remote and highly intact marine ecosystem composed of two coral atolls, sandy cays, and extensive open ocean. As the only marine RFI site in the Philippines, it supports globally important seabird breeding colonies, with Greater Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii exceeding the 1% flyway population threshold. The site also hosts several globally threatened and near-threatened migratory seabirds and waterbirds, underscoring its importance within the East Asian Australasian Flyway. Tubbataha Reef Natural Park, located in the central Sulu Sea approximately 160 km southeast of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, is a remote and highly intact marine ecosystem composed of two coral atolls, sandy cays, and extensive open ocean. As the only marine RFI site in the Philippines, it supports globally important seabird breeding colonies, with Greater Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii exceeding the 1% flyway population threshold. The site also hosts several globally threatened and near-threatened migratory seabirds and waterbirds, underscoring its importance within the East Asian Australasian Flyway. RFI Site Snapshot City Municipality Province Region Palawan Province Area Size 450,651 ha Geographical Coordinates 8.89° N, 120.06° E Conservation Designation Protected areaUNESCO World Heritage SiteRamsar SiteASEAN Heritage Park Key Habitats and BiomesA Coral reefsOpen marine watersSandy cays and isletsSeagrass beds Key Ecosystem Services and Values Provisioning: fisheries and marine resourcesRegulating: coastal protection and climate regulationCultural: tourism, recreation, education Global Climate Regulation: Estimated Carbon Storage and Sequestration Significant marine carbon storage and sequestration potential associated with coral reef and seagrass systemsDetailed site-specific estimates are limited EAAF Species Globally significant congregations:Greater Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii (LC) Small numbers:Christmas Island Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi (VU)Chinese Egret Egretta eulophotes (VU)Swinhoe storm petrel Hydrobates monorhis (NT)Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata (NT)Black tailed Godwit Limosa limosa (NT)Grey tailed Tattler Tringa brevipes (NT) Notable Biodiversity Green Turtle Chelonia mydas (EN)Hawksbill Turtle Eretmochelys imbricata (CR)Whale Shark Rhincodon typus (EN)Great Hammerhead Shark Sphyrna mokarran (CR)Whitetip Reef Shark Triaenodon obesus (VU)Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus (VU) Site Management Tubbataha Protected Area Management BoardDepartment of Environment and Natural ResourcesPalawan Council for Sustainable Development Key Drivers of Change Climate change and sea level riseIncreasing tourism pressureCoastal erosion of nesting isletsInfrastructure-related disturbances Opportunities for RFI Interventions Strengthening nature-based tourism management and waste systems; Enhancement of seabird and biodiversity monitoring programmes; Research on movement ecology and connectivity of seabirds; Assessment and implementation of nature-based solutions for erosion control; Strengthening site management planning and resilience Investment Range Over Time Period $4, 60,000 over 5 years Disclaimer The views expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) or its Board of Governors or the governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this publication and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use. By making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area, or by using the term “country” in this document, ADB does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. Topics Agriculture and Natural Resources Climate Change Environment Regional Cooperation and Integration