Description of the attraction
The El Nido - Taitay Protected Area is the largest marine reserve in the Philippines, located at the northwestern tip of Palawan Island. It includes the territory of the El Nido resort and the neighboring town of Taitai. The total area of the reserve is slightly more than 903 square kilometers, of which 60% is in the sea area.
Interestingly, local residents are actively involved in various environmental educational programs carried out by the reserve, for example, in projects for the protection of forests and marine life. Community organizations also contribute - for example, WWF employees regularly participate in patrolling the territory together with the administration and collect funds for conservation projects. And considerable funds are needed - according to experts, about 180 thousand dollars are required annually to maintain the successful operation of the reserve. Part of the funds comes from the tourism business, which is highly developed in the territory of El Nido - Taitay: each tourist pays half a dollar a day for staying in the reserve.
El Nido - Taitai, unique for its flora and fauna and unusual geological formations, is one of the most biologically rich Philippine ecosystems. The landscapes of the reserve are incredibly diverse - here you can see more than 50 sandy beaches, sheer limestone cliffs, in the crevices of which swiftlets nest, birds of the swift family, five types of forests, including evergreen rainforests and mangroves. The protected area is home to 16 endemic and 10 vulnerable bird species, including the Palawan hornbill, the thrush shama and the Palawan tit. 6 species of marine mammals are also endemic to Palawan Island, including dolphins and dugongs. The marine life of the reserve is also unusually diverse - 100 species of coral, 813 species of fish and 4 species of endangered sea turtles.
Of particular interest to scientists is the fact that the nature of El Nido - Taitai in its species diversity is closer to the northern island of Borneo, and not to the rest of the Philippines, which makes this reserve unique on a national scale.
