Kimberly Mamburam

Kimberly “Kim” Mamburam, one of Conservation Nation’s 2026 Conservationist Grant recipients, is a marine conservation practitioner committed to advancing science-based, community-led conservation in the Philippines. As Conservation Officer at Sulubaai Environmental Foundation, she works with coastal communities, local governments, and conservation partners to strengthen marine protected area management, sustainable fisheries, and livelihood programs in Taytay, Palawan.

With a background in fisheries and marine science, Kim believes that lasting conservation begins by listening—to the people who depend on the sea and to the ecosystems that sustain them. Her work is guided by the principle of understanding both community needs and ecological realities, then translating them into practical, collaborative solutions that keep people and nature in harmony. Through research, capacity building, and stakeholder engagement, she strives to empower communities to become active stewards of their marine resources.

Kimberly is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Ocean Sciences at the University of the Philippines Visayas. She is a licensed professional teacher, a registered fisheries professional, a certified PADI Rescue Diver, and a 2025 Young Southeast Asian Leadership Initiative Professional Fellows Program (YSEALI PFP) Fellow.

Project Overview

Debangan, a coastal community in Taytay, Palawan, Philippines, is home to resident marine turtles that have occupied its seagrass meadows and coastal waters for decades. Their year-round presence has made Debangan one of Taytay’s emerging ecotourism destinations, attracting visitors seeking close encounters with these iconic marine species. With the recent establishment of the 119-hectare Debangan Marine Protected Area (MPA), there is a unique opportunity to integrate marine turtle conservation into community-based tourism while ensuring that tourism activities remain sustainable.

Despite the ecological and tourism value of these turtles, conservation efforts are still limited. Tourism is largely unregulated, and visitors often touch, chase, or closely approach turtles without understanding the impacts on their behavior and welfare. Local residents and tourism stakeholders also have limited knowledge of responsible wildlife interactions. In addition, there is no baseline information on turtle species, habitat use, nesting areas, or threats, and no community-led monitoring or conservation program to guide management.

The Debangan Bantay Pawikan Initiative aims to establish a community- and science-based marine turtle conservation program that supports responsible ecotourism in Debangan. This initiative will generate baseline data on turtle species, habitat mapping, potential nesting areas, and threats to inform conservation planning and MPA management. At the same time, local community eco-guides will be trained to participate in turtle monitoring, nest identification and protection, data collection, and visitor education. Education and awareness activities will engage both residents and tourists by promoting responsible wildlife interactions through community workshops, visitor orientation materials, and interpretive signage.