Palawan is an archipelagic province, composed of 1,768 islands or 16% of the Philippine’s 7,100 islands. It is situated in the southwestern part of the country’s island chain. In terms of geomorphology, Palawan mainland is a narrow strip (625 km long and 40 km at its widest). It’s terrain is 63% hilly to mountainous, with only 37% flatlands. Located west of the Philippine fault lines, the province is free from earthquakes. Geographically, Palawan is located west of Pacific Ocean, and it is seldom visited by strong typhoons. As a consequence of the geological, geographical and geomorphological orientation, Palawan islands have become a haven of rich biological diversity, mineral resources and cultural diversity. It has unique and fragile environment. We can find two of the country’s UNESCO-designated World Heritage Sites in the province classified under the criteria of natural environment, namely: the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP) and the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP) or Underground River. The PPSRNP also received distinction as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature in 2012. Both the two heritage sites were also declared as Wetlands of Significant Importance by Ramsar Convention. Palawan province was declared as the World’s Best Island in 2013 by Travel+Leisure Magazine, Top Island and the Best Island in the World in 2014 and 2015, respectively, by Conde Nast Traveler.
The accelerating change and environmental challenges that confront the world today is felt more rapidly in the islands including Palawan because of their small physical scale, geographic isolation, unique biodiversity, and high population growth with significant seasonal in-migration from tourism1o. Diverse, unique yet fragile, the dynamic socio-economic system in the island province of Palawan poses various threats to the environmental system if not planned and managed sustainably. The PCSD, through the Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation System (EMES), undertakes comprehensive monitoring of the environment in the province. The EMES is a support mechanism of the Environmentally Critical Areas Network, as provided in the Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan Act or RA 7611. In the last 23 years, the overall status of Palawan’ ecosystem and natural resources has gradually changed. The first attempt to comprehensively account the status of Palawan’s environment was done in the 2004 release of the State of Environment Report. These changes were chronicled in the subsequent release by PCSDS of the update report on the state of environment of Palawan in 2010. This ‘State of Palawan’s Environment Report, 2015 Updates’ provides an up-to-date perspective of the current state and quality of the province’s natural assets. This report serves as a tool to help in the sustainable management of Palawan’s natural and physical environment. Section 1 of this report presents the brief profile of Palawan with characteristics, state and trends of bio-physical environment (land, forest, water; biodiversity), and socio-economic and cultural pattern, while Section 2 provides information on the resource management and governance in Palawan. In addition, a chapter on climate change implications to Palawan is presented. The report concludes with a perspectives on Palawan’s sustainable development and beyond.