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Apo Reef is a series of coral reefs encompassing 34 square kilometers within the waters of Occidental Mindoro in the Philippines. It is the world's second-largest contiguous coral reef system and the largest in the country.[1] The reef and its surrounding waters are administered as a National Park as part of the Apo Reef Natural Park project; the Apo Reef is within the Sulu Sea.[2]
Geology Apo Reef can be found around 33 kilometers west off of the mid-western coast of the Philippine island of Mindoro. Two separate coral reefs make up the atoll-reef system. The two reefs are separated by a 30 meter-deep channel between them.[1] Several environments can be found within the reef's boundaries. Aside from coral reefs, seagrass meadows, beds of macroalgae and mangrove stands are present on and around the reef proper.[3] Conservation history The waters of Apo Reef are protected within a National Park encompassing 274.69 km2 of the reef and its surrounding area.[4] Of the total area, 157.92 km2 comprises the Apo Reef Natural Park while the remaining 116.77 km2 constitute a buffer zone surrounding the national park.[1] Politically, the reef lies in waters within the jurisdiction of the province of Occidental Mindoro in region IV-B of the Philippines. It is directly administered by the local government of the municipality of Sablayan.[3] Originally, Apo Reef was first officially declared a "Marine Park" by then-Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos in 1980.[5] This was followed up with the local government of Sablayan declaring the reef a special "Tourism Zone and Marine Reserve" three years later.[6] In 1996, the entire reef was declared a protected natural park by then-president Fidel Ramos.[4] In 2006, the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources submitted the reef to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre for consideration as a World Heritage Site.[1] Following a survey by the local chapter of the World Wide Fund for Nature, fishing within the reef was banned by the Philippine government in September 2007.[7][8] The marine park would be opened for tourists to help generate funds for its protection as well as provide an alternative livelihood for hundreds of fishermen in the area.[9] See also References External Links Travel Guide: Sablayan (Apo Reef/Pandan Island) Bibliography - Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Conservation of Priority Protected Areas Project, Apo Reef Natural Park Brochure. Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro; List of Proclaimed Marine Protected Areas; Protected Areas And Wildlife Bureau, 2004.
de:Apo-Riff sv:Aporevet tl:Bahurang Apo
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