El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected AreaEl Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area is a Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites located at El Nido; Taytay, Palawan, Region IV-B.
The El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area is located on the north-western tip of the mainland of Palawan. In 1991, the Government of the Philippines proclaimed Bacuit Bay as a marine reserve. In 1998, the protected area was expanded to include terrestrial ecosystems and portions of the municipality of Taytay. It is now known as El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area, which covers over 36,000 hectares of land and 54,000 hectares of marine waters. It contains towering limestone cliffs, beaches, mangroves, clear waters, unique forests over limestone and neat farmlands. It is home to five (5) species of mammals, including the Malayan Pangolin and 16 bird species endemic to Palawan including the threatened Palawan Peacock Pheasant, the Palawan Hornbill and Palawan Scops Owl. Bacuit bay is also home to the dugong, dolphins and marine turtles, many of which are threatened species. Colorful coral reef fishes are found here. Some of these are the: butterflyfishes, parrotfishes, wrasses, triggerfishes, angelfishes, surgeonfishes, damsel fishes, emperors, snappers, groupers and rabbit fishes.
In 1984, the then Ministry of Natural Resources issued a MNR Administrative Order No. 518 establishing a 36,000 hectare area in North-western Palawan as a Marine Turtle Sanctuary The El Nido Marine Reserve was expanded by virtue of DENR Administrative Order No. 14 Series of 1992, upon recommendations of the El Nido and Taytay Municipal Mayors to address livelihood opportunities for fishers. Proclamation No. 32 dated October 8, 1998 was passed to Congress for deliberation. Since 1989, several different government and non-government programs and projects have been introduced in the area. (Source: http://whc.unesco.org/)