Oriental Mindoro and Its Diverse Marine Ecosystem

ORIENTAL MINDORO

Mindoro Oriental locator map

Photo from: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental_Mindoro#/media/File:Ph_locator_map_oriental_mindoro.png

Oriental Mindoro is a province in the Philippines located in Luzon, about 140 kilometers (87 mi) southwest of Manila.

It was found to be the home of the most diverse marine ecosystem in the world by American biologists Kent Carpenter and Victor Springe in 2005. According to the study, they conducted, 2,983 species of algae, corals, crustaceans, mollusks, fishes, marine reptiles, and marine mammals were found in the Verde Island in Oriental Mindoro.

Verde Island is the top of what is called the “Coral Triangle” which consists of the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia. This triangle is considered the “global center of marine biodiversity”.

Puerto Gallera in Oriental Mindoro was declared as a biosphere reserve by the UNESCO in the 70s.

Mindoro Oriental Photo from: http://www.ormindoro.gov.ph/pages/photogallery.php

“The inverted-J-shaped Oriental Mindoro is endowed with some of the Philippine Islands’ best natures capes. Choose your own beach among the many that abound, from fawn beige to powdery white. Then match the experience with interesting mountain lairs, lakes, rivers, rain forests, wild animals, rare flora and fauna, and pocket communities of the existing ethnic groups. It has maintained its unspoiled environment, all within a rustic agricultural setting.

Indulge in a number of special interest tours while in the province, from mountain climbing to trekking, hiking, camping, butterfly watching, game fishing, and adventure trips to the wilderness. Enjoy active water sports such as scuba diving, snorkeling, and swimming. Visit the Mangyan settlement areas, and find it rewarding to engage in natural cave and waterfall exploration and island hopping.” Read More: http://www.tourism.gov.ph/SitePages/InteractiveSitesPage.aspx?siteID=22

Photo from: https://www.yapak.ph/where-to-go/oriental-mindoro-1752

Oriental Mindoro (or Mindoro Oriental) is a province of the Philippines located in the island of Mindoro under MIMAROPA region in Luzon, about 140 km southwest of Manila. The province is bordered by the Verde Island Passage and the rest of Batangas to the north, by Marinduque, Maestre de Campo (or known as Sibale but official name is Concepcion) Island, Tablas Strait and the rest of Romblon to the east, by Semirara and the rest of Caluya Islands, Antique to the south, and by Occidental Mindoro to the west. Calapan City, the only city in the island, is the provincial capital.

Oriental Mindoro is touted as the country’s emerging eco-tourism destination. In 2005, the Philippines was found to be the center of marine fish biodiversity and the home of the most diverse marine ecosystem in the world, by American biologists Kent Carpenter and Victor Springer. Most of the endemic species in the Philippines are found in the Verde Island Passage between Mindoro island and the main island of Luzon. The passage houses 2,983 individual species of algae, corals, crustaceans, mollusks, fishes, marine reptiles, and marine mammals, based on a study conducted by scientists Carpenter and Springer in 2005.

Our study indicates, however, that there is a higher concentration of species per unit area in the Philippines than anywhere in Indonesia, including Wallacea… Special attention to marine conservation efforts in the Philippines is justified because of the identification of it as an epicenter of biodiversity and evolution. Read More: https://orientalwonders.weebly.com/