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MOA between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of Malaysia Establishing Turtle Islands Heritage Protected Areas (TIHPA)



The Philippine-Sabah Turtle Islands harbour one of the world's few remaining major nesting grounds for green turtles (Chelonia mydas).  The establishment of the Turtle Island Heritage Protected Areas through this bilateral agreement between the government of the Philippines and Malaysia make the TIHPA the first and only transboundary protected area for marine turtles in the world.  
 
Focal Office:
Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB)
Country:
Malaysia
Partner Government Agency:
Sabah Parks, Sabah, Malaysia
Scope of Cooperation:
The Governments of the Philippines and Malaysia shall jointly manage and protect the TIHPA as a green turtle sanctuary through an integrated management program that shall highlight, at the minimum, the following:  (i) Implementation of an integrated and uniform approach to conservation and research that is oriented towards wise management of the TIHPA, (ii) Establishment of a centralized database and information network on marine turtles, (iii) Development of appropriate information awareness programs primarily targeted towards the inhabitants of the Turtle Islands on the conservation of marine turtles and the protection of their habitats, (iv) Implementation of a joint marine turtle resource management program, (v) Development and implementation of a training and development program for the staff of the TIHPA; and (vi) Development and undertaking of eco-tourism programs.

Source: http://www.gov.ph/1996/05/31/the-philippine-claim-to-a-portion-of-north-borneo-memorandum-of-agreement-between-the-government-of-the-republic-of-the-philippines-and-the-government-of-malaysia-on-the-establishment-of-the-turtle-i/
Next Meetings:
13th Meeting of the Joint Management Committee (JMC) for the Turtle Islands Heritage Protected Areas (TIHPA) [27-29 July 2017; Sabah, Malaysia]
This Page was updated on 01 July 2016 and will be updated on 01 August 2016