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An offshoot of two previous meetings of the ASEAN Working Group on Nature Conservation (AWGNC), the symposium workshop provided a forum for sea turtle experts from the ASEAN to present status reports on sea turtles from their respective countries. Resource speakers presented relevant topics including the ASEAN decision-making process, integrated protected areas as a tool for sea turtle conservation, worldwide status of sea turtles, sea turtle biology and ecology, and ongoing regional programs on sea turtle conservation. Four country reports and eight technical reports were presented providing extensive and up-to-date information about sea turtles from the ASEAN region.

It was very interesting to note that reports on tag recoveries presented by the participants and Dr. Limpus revealed that the Philippines is a crucial management area for sea turtles not only for the ASEAN region but also for the entire Asia-Pacific region. Loggerhead turtles from Japan have been reported recaptured as far south as Basilan in Mindanao, southern Philippines. Green turtles from Malaysia and the South Pacific island of Yap, Federated States of Micronesia are being caught in Philippine waters. Leatherback turtles from Terengganu, an important rookery in Peninsular Malaysia, are being caught by Filipino fishermen from southern Luzon, Visayas and Palawan. A hawksbill turtle from Malaysia was recaptured in Antique, Philippines.

It appears, based on these tag recoveries, that the islands of the Philippines lie along migratory routes of different populations of sea turtles from the Asia-Pacific region and possibly provide various critical habitats for these endangered species. This also gives the Philippines the serious responsibility of strengthening its sea turtle conservation program and initiating efforts towards establishing a regional center for sea turtle conservation in the country, a recommendation forwarded by the participants.

The workshop generated a significant output which is the Proposed ASEAN Regional Marine Turtle Conservation Program which was annexed into the report submitted to the AWGNC. This report along with the proposed regional program has already been approved by the AWGNC, and subsequently by the ASEAN Senior Officers on the Environment (ASOEN) which convened last April. Having been already approved by the ASOEN, the workshop output now serves as the framework for a regional cooperative program which will hopefully ensure the continued survival of sea turtles in the ASEAN region.

Cooperating to ensure the success of the symposium workshop were the Pawikan Conservation Project of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau-DENR, the Marine Turtle Foundation Inc. (a local NGO dedicated to supporting government initiatives on sea turtle conservation, as well as other marine wildlife species such as dugongs, whales and dolphins), and the WWF-Philippine Program which is currently in the process of developing its marine program. Valuable support also came from the Miriam-Peace Foundation and the ASEAN Desk of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Copies of the Proceedings are available from the Marine Turtle Foundation, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines; FAX: (632) 924-3690.

ROMEO B. TRONO, WWF-Philippine Program, Richbelt Tower Condominium, Suite 501, #17 Annapolis St. San Juan Metro Manila, PHILIPPINES.