Apo Island, the pollution-free jewel of the archipelago

It's a small Philippine island, which aims to be a sort of citizen environmental laboratory. One of the first in the archipelago to have a protected marine reserve, which has today become a magnificent reservoir for the fauna and flora of the oceans. Buoyed by this success, the inhabitants of Apo Island have made their land the first zero-waste island in the entire Philippines, in a country where household waste is a scourge. That morning, a group of Israeli tourists arrived in the waters of Apo Island. Diving enthusiasts guided by Ron Cohen, who fell in love with these seabed eight years ago. “A lot of groups I receive come all the way to the Philippines just for Apo Island”he explains.

Since 1985, the island's waters have been protected, with demarcated fishing zones and a ban on diving without a sworn local guide or touching animals. The result is 400 types of coral, 650 species of fish and sea turtles everywhere you turn your head. Rimelo Tabanera, local guide, remembers the time when the inhabitants realized that the island was heading towards its doom, if collectively they did not change their habits. “I grew up on this island. The older generation used to kill underwater life, they also practiced fishing with dynamite”he assures. Divers, often enlightened amateurs, are not mistaken and have made the island one of their favorite destinations in the Philippines.

To protect their coral reef, the 1,000 inhabitants of the island took another decision, to be the pioneers, in the Philippines, of waste recycling.

Watch the full report in the video above.