Ten Knots Group bags World’s First Sea Turtle Friendly Tourism Certification

El Nido Resorts and Lio Tourism Estate in the Philippines become the first in the world to be awarded Sea Turtle Friendly™ Tourism Certification by the Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN). El Nido, a group of private island resorts, and Lio Tourism Estate are part of the Ten Knots Group, a subsidiary of Ayala Land, Inc.

Since 2017, El Nido Resorts and Lio Tourism Estate have worked with WFEN to develop, implement, and pilot best practice guidelines for resorts, tour operators, and other tourism businesses to contribute to conservation. They have demonstrated their commitment to sustainability and the protection of biodiversity, including critical mangrove, seagrass, and coral reef ecosystems.

Sustainable island resorts

The four standalone resort properties, Apulit Island, Miniloc Island, Lagen Island, and Pangulasian Island, as well as the 325-hectare Lio Tourism Estate, have met the requirements for mitigating key threats to sea turtles and their survival through their Be G.R.E.E.N. (Guard, Respect, Educate El Nido) program.

The program includes implementing best practices to minimize negative impacts on sea turtles. Specific conservation actions include ensuring beachfront lighting does not disorient hatchlings. The properties also conduct active sea turtle patrols by staff, which help protect nests, hatchlings, and adult turtles from poaching and other key threats.

In addition, the resorts prioritize guest education to highlight actions tourists can take to keep sea turtles safe. The initiatives include keeping a respectful distance from sea turtles in the water, never feeding them, and minimizing litter and marine pollution during their stay. The properties have eliminated disposable plastic products and host beach cleanup efforts to help address the global issue of marine plastic pollution.

Saving the last ecological frontier

Located in Palawan, the province referred to as the ‘last ecological frontier’ of the Philippines, Ten Knots Group properties span several islands in the municipalities of El Nido and Taytay. The island resorts are Miniloc, Lagen, Apulit, and Pangulasian. On the mainland, they have Lio Tourism Estate, better known as ‘Lio Beach’, a 325-hectare sustainably master planned mix-use destination.

With over 850 species of fish, 45 genera of corals, and at least a hundred species of birds, El Nido also hosts five out of seven marine turtle species in its waters.

Its beaches are important nesting habitats for three species: the endangered Green, the critically endangered Hawksbill, and the vulnerable Olive Ridley sea turtle. Other rare and protected species found on the resort properties include the Palawan Hornbill, the Asian Fairy Bluebird, and the Philippine Pangolin.

Ten Knots Group: The world’s first Sea Turtle Friendly™ resort

“This certification comes at an opportune time as Ten Knots celebrates its 40^th anniversary this year,” says Ten Knots Group Director for Marketing Joey Bernardino. “It validates our efforts, showing us how we are on the right track when it comes to preserving the environment.”

“We are proud to add Ten Knots as part of the global Wildlife Friendly™ family of brands,” said Julie Stein, Executive Director and Co-founder of WFEN. “They are a model we hope other resorts around the world will be inspired by to protect our fragile marine resources through tourism that advances conservation outcomes for species like sea turtles.”

Tourists can experience the world’s first Sea Turtle Friendly™ resort by flying direct to El Nido via Airswift, which has daily flights between El Nido and Manila, Cebu, Puerto Princesa, Busuanga, Clark, Bohol, and Boracay.

About El Nido Resorts

El Nido Resorts is a group of eco-resorts located in the municipalities of El Nido and Taytay in Palawan, Philippines. Beginning operations in 1979, the resorts offer genuine local hospitality and unique and enriching experiences amidst the beautiful natural landscape.

The group is currently comprised of Miniloc, Lagen, and Pangulasian Island Resorts in El Nido and Apulit Island Resort in Taytay. El Nido Resorts is blessed with being situated in an area of high biodiversity, and so stewardship is exercised over the flourishing environment, stressing the importance of preserving nature to all who visit.

About Lio Tourism Estate

Lio Tourism Estate is Ayala Land’s first tourism estate. It is located in the paradise of El Nido, Palawan, and has been master-planned as an integrated resort community with hotels and resorts, commercial establishments, residential communities, amenities, and facilities for eco-adventure and leisure travelers.

The 325-hectare development is guided by the principles of sustainability and inclusive growth, ensuring the least impact to the environment while benefiting the local community.

About Be G.R.E.E.N. (Guard, Respect, Educate El Nido)

Be GREEN started out as an environmental education program in 1999 aimed at teaching conservation to Ten Knots staff in the context of their work and personal lives. It eventually expanded to include nature interpretation training, community outreach, youth camps, and essentially any and all projects undertaken by Ten Knots’ Environment and Sustainability Department.

About Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN)

WFEN and its certification programs represent grassroots farmers, ranchers, herders, artisans, indigenous peoples, and conservation heroes from around the world, including two World Bank Development Marketplace Award winners, a U.N. Equator Prize winner, leadership in the world’s marketplace for REDD+ Carbon Offsets, and a Time Hero for the Planet.

Wildlife Friendly® products contribute to the conservation of over thirteen million hectares of diverse wetlands, forests, and grasslands; protect keystone endangered species in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin and North America, including the Snow Leopard, Elephant, Tiger, Cheetah, Red Panda, and Wolf; and benefit over 300,000 people through increased food security, income, and employment.