Marinduque Wildlife Sanctuary

Declared as wildlife sanctuary in 2004 by virtue of Republic Act 7586 (National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992), two parcels of mountainous terrain of central Marinduque covering 9,759.60 hectares within the municipalities of Boac, Buenavista, Gasan, Sta. Cruz and Torrijos now constitute the protected area (PA) of Marinduque Wildlife Sanctuary. There are 23 barangays within the protected area, majority of which are thriving in subsistence agricultural economy. Kaingin, also known as slash-and-burn is a major challenge for MWS conservation management. This is coupled with wild life hunting, timber poaching and sporadic gold panning. Communities within the protected area are still in the process of creating a competent people’s organization, a viable partner in the sustainability of ecotourism development. (Marinduque Wildlife Sanctuary Ecotourism Management Plan 2016-2026)