By Robert Maico
MABINI, Batangas, May 24 (PNA) — Dr. Chris Meyer, marine biologist and Smithsonian scientist, together with Dr. Rusty Brainard, Coral Reef Ecosystem Division, US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and their team conducted a community orientation and introduction to the Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures (ARMS) on May 22 at Planet Dive, San Teodoro Village in this town.
Dr. Chris Meyer in his presentation about the Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures as a tool for biodiversity monitoring mentioned that “Batangas Sea is the most diverse spot in the planet” because of its unique biodiversity (biological diversity).
“The Coral reefs here is spectacular that the next generation will witness this creatures,” Meyer added.
He emphasized on the importance of monitoring biodiversity in ecosystems around the world. This includes genetic variation within species, the variety of species in an area, and the variety of habitat types within a landscape.
As a professional bio-scavenger, Dr. Meyer, has the passion of travelling to remote places around the globe to catalogue every living thing big enough to be picked up.
He mentioned that aside from Batangas Sea, there are other places in the country that offers biodiversity such as Boracay Beach, Pagudpud Beach, Mactan Island, Panglao in Bohol, Camiguin, Dakak in Zamboanga del Norte, Honda Bay, El Nido in Palawan and Siargao Island.(PNA)