Chapter 3

Ecotourism Design
Good design is essential for the full enjoyment of ecotourism sites. A well-
designed ecotourism facility promotes environmental preservation, cultural
sensitivity, inclusion, gender sensitivity, and safety. In countries located near
the equator, it is advisable to follow tropical design principles.

Good Design Principles

According to Rawsthorn (2008), something is well-designed if it fulfills its
function efficiently but is also beautiful. According to her, a well-designed
product is easy to use, technologically innovative, ethically made, and
environment-friendly. The last two characteristics enable guiltless enjoyment of
the product. These design principles should also be applied in making an ecotourism
facility. Wright (n.d.) added that a good design is intuitive, long-lasting,
honest, thorough, and minimalist.
A well-designed ecotourism facility should enable the exploration of a place and
create satisfying experiences. It should be ethically made (e.g., does not involve
exploitative labor or result to animal cruelty) and must be environmentally sound.
After all, ecotourism should promote nature conservation. An ecotourism facility
must be compatible with a place's natural and cultural values. It should not
destroy the natural appearance of the site nor introduce themes that reduce its
authenticity and indigenousness. Endangered species and their habitats must be
protected from potential impacts. If impacts could not be avoided totally,
mitigating measures should be put in place.
In addition, a well-designed ecotourism site is safe. It should be situated away
from hazardous areas, such as flood basins, steep slopes, earthquake faults,
wildfire-, erosion, or avalanche-prone areas, and from wild animal corridors.
Finally, a well-designed facility promotes inclusive use.

Choosing an Ecotourism Site

Choosing where to establish an ecotourism facility requires knowledge of where the
ecotourism spots are. In the Philippines, ecotourism sites had been selected based
on their natural and/or cultural features, availability of ecotourism product(s),
level of social/political support, accessibility from major international and
domestic gateways and tourism sites, current market demand from international and
domestic visitors including the potential appeal to these markets, availability of
visitor facilities and services, local benefits accruing to the community through
livelihood and employment opportunities, and peace and order, security and safety
(National Ecotourism Strategy, 2002).
Based on the above criteria and on their natural and cultural values, ecotourism
sites are classified into banner, key, emerging, and potential ecotourism sites.
Banner sites are the ones with the highest natural and cultural values. An
ecotourism project located in a site of outstanding value will be able to attract
attention and generate financial and promotional support compared to projects
located in more obscure places.
A site can be considered as having outstanding value if it is listed as a UNESCO
heritage site, a banner ecotourism site in the (Philippine) National

Ecotourism Strategy
(2002), and/or if it possesses cultural identity. According to Prof. Felipe de
Leon, Jr., former chairman of the National Commission for Culture. and the Arts
(NCCA), cultural identity derives from: (1) originality, (2) indigenousness, (3)
authenticity, (4) uniqueness, (5) historicity, (6) magnitude, and (7) excellence.
Out of more than 200 protected areas in the Philippines, 18 were given priority
status for ecotourism development (NES, 2002):
1. Coron Island, Palawan
2. El Nido Managed Resource Protected Area, Palawan Malampaya Sound
Protected Landscape and Seascape, Palawan Mt. Guiting-guiting Natural Park, Sibuyan
Island, Romblon
 3. Mts. Iglit-Baco National Park, Mindoro
4. Mt. Isarog National Park, Camarines Sur
5. Mt. Malindang National Park, Misamis Occidental
6. Mt. Pulag National Park, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya
7. Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary
8. Apo Reef Natural Park
9. Batanes Protected Landscape and Seascape
10. Bataan National Park
11. Kanlaon Natural Park
12. Mt. Kitanglad Natural Park
13. Mt. Apo Natural Park
14. Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park
15. Siargao Protected Landscape and Seascape
16. Turtle Island Wildlife Sanctuary
These sites are deemed ideal for ecotourism operations.
Mehta (n.d.) advised that an ecotourism site must have access to public utilities,
proximity to various transportation modes and transportation infrastructure, and
social services. Places of spiritual value (e.g., burial places) must not be built
over but preserved.
The next stage is to assess the place in terms of access. As much as possible, the
ecotourism operation must use previously disturbed areas and access to the site is
possible using existing roads and tracks. It is also advisable to locate
development and activity on a lower value habitat instead of a high conservation
value one.
Ecotourism operation should also avoid riparian zones and narrow and steep slopes.
Development footprint including appropriate barriers to limit activity to
stabilized and designated areas must be made (Mehta, n.d.).

Sustainable Building Design

Fisher (1992 in Soliman & El-Din Rashed, 2002) listed five major principles of an
environmentally sustainable building design: (1) healthful interior environment,
(2) energy efficiency, (3) environmental form, (4) use of ecological materials, and
(5) good design.

To provide a healthful interior environment, materials and building systems should

not emit toxic substances in the building. Interior must be revitalized and cleaned
with filtration and plantings. Energy use must be minimized through energy-
efficient cooling, heating, and lighting systems. The design of the building(s)
must be suitable for the ecology of the site, the nature of the region, the
climate, and local culture. The materials to be used in construction must also
minimize destruction of global environment by having low embodied energy, which is
the amount of energy that came into the sourcing, production, and delivery of
materials used in construction. Good design means that efficient, sustainable, and
elegant relationship of function, circulation, form, mechanical systems, and
construction technology have been achieved.
There should be communal areas to encourage social interaction among park users.
For example, cottages may be clustered around an open court and equipped with
benches. Such social interactions provide opportunities to create business
networks, friendships, or even romantic relationships that make an ecotourism
experience more memorable.

Ecotourism Facility Design

The design and appearance of the ecotourism facility should be compatible with the
landscape and local conditions. The overarching design philosophy of the facility
should be climate-sensitive and exude a strong "sense of place." A sense of place
is the feeling of being in a unique and authentic setting as compared to what one
feels when in a replicated site (replica tourism). Creating a sense of place
involves accentuating all the sensory elements that make the place unique sight,
sound, smell, texture, and taste (Mehta, n.d.).
The aspect and orientation must optimize insulation, ventilation, and heating and
cooling. Landscape features must be reflected in design through scale, form, color,
and texture of the facility. One design aspect in this regard is to mimic the
surrounding areas in terms of the roofline; pitched roofs will blend well in a
mountainous area while flat roof lines are suitable on flat terrain, such as in a
desert or plain. The architecture and materials of the facility should reflect
indigenous design whenever possible.
The facility must be designed so that it does not dominate landscape features. For
example, the building should not be taller than the trees and built on top of a
hill that it breaks the natural contour of the land. Moreover, "biomimicry" may be
employed such as tree-house accommodation in a forested area. For landscaping,
endemic, low maintenance plant species must be used. Imported plants sometimes
cause species infestation and wiping out of local plants. They are also more
expensive to maintain or do not bloom or grow into healthy plants. Special care
must be given to trees that will be affected by ecotourism-related constructions.
Trees should be retained, relocated, or replaced. Mehta (n.d.) suggested limiting
pruning to preserve the natural appearance of landscapes; using natural landscape
approach where there is progression in size of plants from small varieties or
ground cover to larger shrubs located closer to building walls; and using massing
concept, which is the planting of the same species of plants in clusters (similar
to what you would see at Ayala TechnoHub in Quezon City and EDSA Shangri-La Hotel).

The size of the ecotourism facility should be as small as possible with. smaller
footprints, thus maximizing open spaces and will also result in lower construction
cost.
(Concentrating development in a particular site will minimize cost of
infrastructure provision. In particular, common public areas like the lobby,
reception, parking lot, and restaurants should be located at the central part of a
park or resort to make them convenient for all guests.) Recycling, water and energy
conservation, and waste minimization practices should be visible and promoted to
visitors. Existing structures, particularly those adjudged as heritage buildings
such as churches, ancestral houses, watchtowers, or warehouses, should be preserved
and configured for adaptive reuse if needed. Adaptive reuse is defined by Republic
Act 10066 (2009) as "the utilization of buildings, other built-structures, and
sites of value for purposes other than that for which they were intended originally
in order to conserve the site, their engineering integrity, and authenticity of
design."
Outdoor lighting may be used on pathways for orientation and safety but not
spotlights or floodlights, which create light pollution. To further reduce the
lighting, movement sensors and portable lights may be used.
Mehta (n.d.) recommended to minimize vehicular traffic inside the site. Sufficient
parking space must be made available at the ecotourism park entrance and
sustainable forms of transport (animal drawn carts, bicycles, or golf carts) can
ferry the guests into the park itself. Internal roads should not be more than 5
meters wide to discourage speeding and minimize impediments to wildlife mobility.
In addition to the aforementioned guidelines, Calanog et al. (2012) suggested
taking advantage of a site's natural scents and sounds. For a country like the
Philippines with heavy rainfall for half of the year, they also recommend
integrating cisterns, tanks, or dams to collect rainwater for use during the drier
months. This is especially advisable for places where piped water is not available,
such as on small islands.
Maintaining scenic views contributes value to the tourist experience. By providing
panoramic windows to let guests enjoy such views, savings on interior art
decorations can be realized. Units or rooms with better views can be sold at higher
rates, contributing to higher incomes. Taller buildings must be built behind
shorter ones; cottages must be arranged so the guests occupying rear units can
still enjoy the natural scenery. When possible, build only on one side of a river.
Protection barriers or guards should not be too high as to obstruct the view of
people on wheelchairs.
Do not plant trees that will obstruct a nice view; mangrove planting along
coastlines where there are beautiful rock formations is not advised. When natural
scenery is not visible in certain cottages, a garden may be built within a
courtyard, with each unit having direct access to it by way of wide doors.
Buildings must be below the tree line and ridgeline to preserve the natural
appearance of a place (Mehta, n.d.).
While many ecotourism planners advocate biomimicry and the use of indigenous
materials, some planners like Gil (2009) support "ecotecture" where buildings are
made of more modern materials like glass, cubic in shape, and do not look that
"natural." However, it is the resort layout that takes information from nature; the
buildings could be arranged in the shape of a young fern. Regardless of the design
philosophy, each structure must be able to provide a comfortable place to eat, hang
around, sleep, and bathe. Sustainable and affordable energy can be supplied,
cottages or facilities must have comfortable beds, fans or air-conditioning units
during hot and humid weather, and clean toilets and shower facilities should be
provided. Moreover, instead of local materials like bamboo, wood, stone, ice, or
salt, there is an eco-resort in East Timor where the cottages were fashioned from
container vans.
Ecotourism operations must be able to preserve the environment. The use of recycled
materials or those taken from sustainable production systems and supplied with
minimal packaging and no residual wastes are encouraged. Waste minimization must be
a goal throughout an ecotourism project's life cycle from the onset of construction
to operations and possible decommissioning. In the event that an ecotourism project
has to be decommissioned, the site must be brought back as close to its original
condition as possible (Eagles et al., 2002).
It is not advisable to build accommodation facilities onsite; park visitors have to
use accommodation facilities in adjacent towns or homestays in neighboring villages
(Eagles et al., 2002). Such option will not only bring benefits to local people but
also minimize the need of residents to travel to work. Except for the greater
control over the operations of accommodation facilities and generating added
income, Eagles et al. (2002) mentioned the main objections against building roofed
accommodation in protected areas: they are not compatible with a natural area as
they tend to be polluting; they require services which need to be transported into
the area, which create secondary impact on the area; development can also grow out
of hand.
Inclusive Design
It is also advisable to make the site accessible to persons with disability (PWDs).
Universal design concepts may be implemented in certain ecotourism sites. PWD-
friendly design must provide for ample width for paths and boardwalks, manageable
slopes or inclines (1:8 ratio), and firm surface materials for wheelchairs.
Some tips from Byahut et al. (2004) and Parks Canada (n.d.) on accessible outdoor
facilities include the following:
1. A minimum of two wheelchair spaces for a seating capacity of up to 100 seats and
four wheelchair spaces for seating capacity from over 100 to 400 seats.

Tropical Design
In a tropical country like the Philippines, tropical architecture is most
applicable.
According to Gut et al. (1993 in Ossen, Abdul Majid, & Ahmad, 2008), the main
principles in designing a tropically responsive building are:
1. heat gain minimization during daytime and heat loss maximization at
night in hot seasons;
2. site selection according to micro-climatic variables (e.g., air
temperature extremes between day and night, humidity and precipitation, radiation,
winds);
3. building structure optimization with respect to thermal storage and
time lag;
4. control of solar radiation; and
5. regulating air circulation.
Regulating the temperature in a building to comfortable levels may be done by
positioning the building properly, having adequate distances from other buildings,
installing shading devices such as eaves and awnings around a structure, installing
8 cm-thick polystyrene insulation underneath a metal roof, having a green roof
(garden or simply a bed of grass) on the roof top, having a hollowed attic and high
indoor ceilings with ventilation mesh, using porous wall materials, and having
walls with big openings like doors and windows (Ossen et al., 2008; Prianto,
Bonneaud, Depecker, & Peneau, 2000). For walls, lessening solar absorption can be
done by using light reflective material, making the walls thicker and having
thermal insulation. For windows, it is important to position them away from either
the east or west whenever possible; planting trees around the building,
landscaping, using vines and creepers on walls, integrating internal shading
devices (e.g., blinds, lovers, drapers, screens) and external shading devices
(e.g., overhangs, fins, canopies, awnings) are recommended.
Shallow pools can also add a cooling affect. Ventilation will be facilitated by
making the windows small and placed high on the wall under the eave, aligning
windows and doors to capture breezes and allow cross-flow breezes. Likewise, high-
level ventilation can be achieved through roof cavity space via roof vents. Raised
floor design and use of slatted floors can promote air circulation as well. To
prevent heat island effect, it is recommended that paving is interspersed with
patterns of grass cover and by choosing light-colored, rough paving surfaces (Ossen
et al., 2016). Lighter colors with rough finishes also reduce glare. Other measures
suggested by Calanog et al.
(2012) are installing wind chimneys to cool the inside of a structure (similar to
the Occupational Safety building along North Avenue, Quezon City), putting screens
on doors and windows to prevent the entry of insects, sourcing materials locally
which also nurtures local culture, and situating service areas away from sleeping
quarters.
Mosquitoes can be repelled by planting lemongrass, marigolds, chilies, and basil
(Lao National Tourism Administration-Asian Development Bank, 2005).

In the Philippines where there is abundance of sunshine during the first half of
the year and rain during the remaining half, rain catchment cistern and solar power
for heating or lighting could be incorporated into the ecotourism site design.
Rainwater stored in such cisterns could be pumped to water gardens and flush
toilets.
In addition to landscaping, Inskeep (1991) prescribed the use of trees and shrubs
for establishing pathways, controlling wind flows, blocking unwanted views, and as
fences or boundaries for tourist sites to direct breeze and dissipate noise. In
Banaue, the flash from unpainted iron roofs contrast with the surrounding green of
the rice terraces. Thus, conservation experts suggest painting iron roofs brown or
green to eliminate reflective light from such roofs and make structures blend
better with the environment.
Safety Considerations
Danger zones in an ecotourism park must be clearly marked. The roofs of cottages,
visitor center, lodges, and other covered structures must be able to withstand 150
kph winds (Calanog et al., 2012).
An ecotourism facility should be prepared for emergency situations such as bush
fire. There should be water tanks installed for such eventuality (Gil, 2009).
Boardwalks and ramps must be equipped with handrails while barriers or guards must
be installed along ridges to prevent falls. Pathways must have sufficient setbacks
and a minimum vertical height allowance of around 8 feet from trees or protruding
branches. Fences must be built near hazardous areas like a precipice, waterfalls,
blind spots, and vehicular traffic (parks. cityofboise.org, 2004).
Situate facilities away from wildlife habitats to avoid close encounters of humans
and potentially dangerous animals. Animals must not be caged; they should be
allowed to roam free in their natural habitat so it is humans who are supposed to
adjust.
Designate trails for biking and hiking to prevent park users from wandering into
potentially dangerous areas.
Single entry unisex bathrooms rather than multiple stall restrooms are preferred
because they prevent attacks from strangers because of better visibility. Access
doors for these toilets must be clearly visible to adjoining public streets or
driveways (parks.
cityofboise.org, 2004).
Parking lots must be on level ground. Each slot must be wide enough for safe
maneuvering. Parking curbs or stoppers prevent cars from overshooting the slot and
bumping into another car or falling.
Cultural Sensitivity
The ecotourism facility must apply cultural sensitivity in the provision and design
of facilities. For example, signage must be multilingual based on the biggest
nationality groups visiting the area. Toilet facilities must accommodate cultural
and

1. At least one accessible route complying with necessary dimensions for

wheelchair access shall be provided within the boundary of the site from public
transportation stops, accessible parking spaces, passenger loading zones, and
public streets or sidewalks to an accessible building entrance they serve.
2. Walks, halls, corridors, passageways, aisles, or other circulation
spaces shall have 2,000 mm minimum clear headroom.
3. The universal standard color contrast code of white and blue should be
followed in all the signage and all numeric as well as alphabetical information
sources.
1. Ground and floor surfaces along accessible routes and in accessible
spaces including floors, ramps, stairs, and curb ramps should be level, stable,
firm, and slip-resistant.
2. The edges of reflecting pools must be protected by railings, walls,
curbs, or detectable warnings.
3. Accessible parking spaces shall be at least 2,400 mm wide. Parking
access aisles shall be part of an accessible route to the building or facility
entrance.Two accessible parking spaces may share a common access aisle.
4. At least one accessible parking space must be provided for every 25
slots;
5. two percent must be accessible parking space if there are more than 500
slots.At least one entrance in the facility should have accessibility to the
disabled person. In the case of a new construction, this entrance should be the
main entrance. The position of this entrance and alternate routes should be well-
marked through proper accessibility signage using the international symbol of
accessibility.
6. Door handles should be lever type rather than circular knobs or
latches.
7. A toilet cubicle designed for a wheelchair user should be of internal
dimensions not less than 1,500 mm x 1,500 mm with a clear space not less than 900
mm wide next to the water closet:
8. Clear knee space provided below a drinking fountain should not be less
than 750 mm high and 230 mm deep.
9. Provide boardwalks if topography is broken or rough to avoid compaction
of sensitive vegetation or where the ground is permanently or seasonally wet or
soft.
10. Campgrounds must have natural-looking firm surface, not paved to
maintain the desired camping experience.
11. Provide floating docks in places where water level rises and falls.

religious preferences. For example, there must be a combination of both western

(sitting-type) and eastern style (squatting type) toilets. Toilet paper, bidet, or
hand showers must be available. If a place has a sizable number of Muslim visitors,
prayer rooms could also be provided.
Gender Sensitivity
The needs of everyone must be taken into consideration in the design of facilities.
In particular, women and LGBT visitors should have their own comfort rooms. Toilets
for women must have more toilet cubicles than toilets for males. Some areas are
more liberal than others wherein gender-neutral toilets are installed for male,
female, and people of any gender identity (members of the LGBTQ community).
However, more conservative societies will only install separate toilets for male
and female.

Chapter 4
Ecotourism Facilities

Considerations in Facility Siting and Construction

Proper siting of ecotourism facilities helps preserve and enhance the aesthetic
value of the site and prevents disrupting animal movements and plant growth.
According to Calanog, Reyes, and Eugenio (2012), the carrying capacity of the site,
density of structures, slope, vegetation, wildlife, views, natural hazards, energy
and utilities, visitor circulation, conflicting uses, and tenurial arrangements
must be factored in when planning where to build ecotourism infrastructure and
facilities. In addition to these, the peace and order situation in the prospective
site must be considered.
Every site has a carrying capacity, or the maximum number of visitors that it can
accommodate without creating permanent negative impacts to the site. Carrying
capacity is influenced by many factors, such as the sensitivity of the place, the
behavior of expected visitors, and the kind of ecotourism activity carried out in
the ecotourism site. For example, a place with animals that have low birth rates
may be more sensitive than a place populated by animal species that reproduce
faster. Fewer visitors who are noisier are not any better than bigger groups of
relatively quiet tourists. A place that is planned for camping will require less
number of people per area than a picnicking
area.
In terms of density, there should be a balance between dispersing and concentrating
structures and facilities in a site (Calanog et al.; 2016). Dispersing facilities
can distribute the impact of tourism across a wider area, which means that the
impact could be handled by the ecosystem more effectively. However, this will
entail higher costs in providing roads, electricity, water, and other facilities
than if facilities were concentrated in one place. Concentration also minimizes the
footprint of buildings resulting in smaller areas needing to be cleared of
vegetation.
Whenever possible, structures must be built around trees; trees should not be cut
down. Native species of plants must be used for landscaping because they are better
adapted to the environment. Non-native species may infest an area because they have
no natural enemies in that area. For example, imported species of trees can ease
out all other tree species in a forest, causing loss of biodiversity. Water
hyacinth (water lily), another invasive species, suffocates rivers and ponds, and
impedes water flow.
Avoid placing structures in nesting, feeding, and roosting sites of threatened,
endangered, and rare wildlife species. Provide design features that enable animals
to move about in their natural habitat. For instance, when building boardwalks it
is advisable to use stilts rather than solid structures in order not to impede the
movement of animals. In the case of piers, solid walls can result in erosion or
sand attrition and eat up the foundation of the pier and cause it to collapse
eventually.
Visitors could better enjoy the sceneries by building structures on just one side
of a river, building taller structures behind shorter ones or those on lower
elevation, and positioning windows to beautiful sights like a waterfall, sunset, or
a seascape.
Taking advantage of natural views also saves money by not having to buy artworks
for decorations. It is advisable to use materials or colors that blend well with
the surrounding areas so as not to reduce the natural appearance of a place. For
example, dominant green color in a mountain area.
unpainted iron roofs often shine in the midday sun and contrast dramatically with
the
Buildings must be placed to take advantage of natural breezes and avoid intense
sunlight. Lodgings and trails should be located to optimize visitor flow,
contribute minimal disturbance to natural features, and provide easy access to
visitors (Calanog et al., 2012). Different uses of the site must be geographically
separated enough to avoid conflict. For example, activity areas must not be too
close to sleeping quarters where sleeping guests may be disturbed from the noise.
Ideally, the reception, dining, and recreational facilities should be placed
centrally in an ecotourism site. This makes such facilities within convenient
distance to visitors from all accommodation cottages in the site. If these
facilities were located on one end of the resort, then the occupants of the
farthest cottages would have to walk the longest. Alternatively, bicycles, golf
cars, or other energy-efficient modes of transportation could be made available to
the guests.
Areas with tenurial conflicts must be avoided, such as places where there is an
ongoing legal battle for ownership from different owners and between different
indigenous people's groups (Calanog et al., 2012).
Ecotourism should be an experience that can be enjoyed by everyone including
persons with disability (PWDs), slow walkers, and the elderly. PWDs can enjoy
ecotourism activities like strolling, diving, swimming, skydiving, bungee jumping,
camping, picnicking, and the like. As such, PWD-friendly design features must be
incorporated into the siting and construction of facilities in ecotourism areas.
For example, accommodation facilities must be accessible by people with mobility
problems. There should be rooms dedicated to people on wheelchairs or those using
crutches. These rooms must be located on the ground floor of an ecolodge.
The buildings must have ramps with 1:12 incline and wide enough for wheelchairs.
Along corridors and bathrooms, there must be railings for elderly people to hold on
to. There must be dual height drinking fountains, tables, and kitchen sinks to
accommodate people on wheelchairs. Fire alarms and doorbells must have auditory and
visual indicators for blind and deaf people. For the blind, there should be signs
in Braille in elevators if provided. Door locks and faucets should use lever type
fixtures.
Parking space for cars carrying PWD must be provided and located closest to
building
entrances.

Facilities in an Ecotourism Site

The facilities in an ecotourism site should be designed and constructed in such a
way that they preserve the natural quality of the site, promote a sense of place,
evoke positive emotions, and provide uniquely satisfying experiences. These
facilities include parking lots, blinds and observation platforms, trails,
boardwalks, ecolodge, canopy walks, glass viewing platforms, zip lines, and the
like.

Parking Lots
Potential tourists are more likely to come to an ecotourism site if they know that
secure parking spaces are available. Visitors can shift to traveling on foot or
bicycles while inside the ecotourism site. In addition to bike trails, the
ecotourism management entity can also provide bicycles either for an additional fee
or integrated into the entrance fee. The bicycles must be suitable for the kind of
bike trail on the site.

Blinds and Observation Platforms

Oberbillig (2002) has written extensively about blinds and is the main reference of
this section. He defined a blind or hide as "a structure that conceals viewers and
photographers from birds or other wildlife...making it possible to see wildlife
behaving naturally, undisturbed by human presence." A blind may consist of
platforms and observation towers that partially hide viewers, which makes wildlife
get used to presence of people in those locations. This habituation depends on
species, with some wildlife more easily disturbed or more likely to "flush" than
others.
Blinds allow visitors to view or take pictures of wildlife species that are very
sensitive to the presence of humans. Sometimes, they are the only means to observe
wild animal behavior at close range. By directing and concentrating visitors in
designated locations, blinds help lessen environmental impacts.
Blinds function as visitor management tool as well. Separating photography blinds
from viewing blinds ensures that photographers and casual viewers do not disturb
each other. Blinds also cue visitors when to pay full attention in viewing nature.
Through innovative design and use of technology, blinds can create positive visitor
experience by amplifying awareness of sound, touch, and smell. A blind may be built
so that viewers can watch from below or from above. Microphones placed outside a
blind can bring natural sounds into a blind facility. Sometimes audio recordings of
animal sounds are played at appropriately low decibel to educate people about
natural sounds.
Blinds also provide temporary shelter from the elements and dangerous animals,
offering safety to both wildlife and people. Well-designed blinds or other viewing
facilities may enhance the appeal of nature sites, aiding in their promotion.
Whether a blind is necessary or not depends on a number of considerations.
Apart from the costs, it is important that the wildlife species being observed are
already habituated to people or can get used to viewing. If the species is too
sensitive to even the slightest movement or presence of people, then a blind will
be useless.
The approach to the blind should be well-designed so that people are encouraged to
use the blind, rather than simply walk around it. The approach to the blind must
"hide" visitors, or the blind itself will be useless. The wildlife viewing
opportunity should be consistently of high quality or visitors will lose interest
in using them. Finally, the target audience should want to use it.

The blind must harmonize with the natural values of the place and create minimum
disturbance to a site. If possible, build a blind into a hillside. Below-ground
blinds can also provide new perspectives to viewing nature. A blind can be
camouflaged by the use of paint or by mimicking the natural features of the
landscape; cut the viewing ports in the shape of bird or plants. Native plants must
be allowed to grow around the site. The approach trail or boardwalk must wind
around natural features. Use native materials.
The blind must also blend well with the culture of the place. Existing structures
may be modified to serve as a blind. Preserve old structures to provide historical
drama to the place. Heritage interpretive staff and local historians may be able to
assist in creating stories that appeal to users.
For maintenance, it is important to trim the vegetation around the blind regularly
to maintain the view. Lumps and bumps must be minimized for the benefit of people
on wheelchairs.
There are many types of blinds. Viewing or observation blinds are built for
birdwatchers, wildlife viewers, photographers, and nature enthusiasts so that they
can view animals at a reasonably close range while hiding them to avoid disturbing
the animals. Blinds must be able to disguise the human shape. Structures should
have back walls to avoid backlighting viewer silhouettes. Viewing holes or slits
should be of varying sizes and heights to accommodate adults and children. Viewing
blinds should also be big enough to accommodate groups. They must be oriented to
best lighting so that birders, for instance, can accurately perceive color, which
is important for identification. Besides being functional, blinds must have
aesthetically pleasing designs which complement the local environment and
communicate a sense of place.
Photography blinds are best to use when: (1) wildlife frequently and predictably
uses the site, (2) there is high interest from photographers, (3) wildlife has to
be protected from photographer disturbance, and (4) there is a need to separate
photographers from casual viewers. Photography blinds must be oriented for best
morning or evening light and avoid unsightly intrusions in the camera view frame
such as power lines. People must be able to go in and out of such blinds without
disturbing wildlife. The viewing holes must be oriented toward scenic foregrounds
and backgrounds. Orient the blind to take advantage of the best light during the
half hour before and after sunrise or sunset, also known as the "golden hour."
Provide multiple portals that can be opened and closed depending on the location of
light source. The blind must be enclosed on all sides so that animals cannot see
the people inside. Carpeting can be used to minimize noise. The blind must be
comfortable because photographers often wait hours to take the best shot. Quiet,
swivel chairs with adjustable backrests are ideal to use. Openings must be big
enough for large telephoto lens to fit and tilt. Camouflage the blind.
Observation decks or platforms are best to use when the elevation will provide
better viewing experience and wildlife is not sensitive to the sight of humans.
Towers may be best when visitors need protection from dangerous animals and when a

unique perspective is desired. For example, in a heavily forested area, people will
not be able to see much unless they go up the observation tower. Temporary blinds
are best when wildlife viewing opportunity and visitor use are seasonal or
inconsistent; managers desire less impact to site; resources are limited; the site
is remote; or when funds are limited. Mobile hides may be borne by a land vehicle,
a boat, or a hot-air balloon (Shanks, 1998).

Trails
A trail is a "corridor, route, or pathway that has strong linkages with the natural
environment, open space networks, and cultural heritage" (Drew Grocke & Cahalan,
2003). According to the DEN (2009), trails must be designed for safe and convenient
access, and as a means for interpretation and recreation. Trails should direct foot
traffic away from ecologically sensitive areas. The trail can be a foot or a built-
up trail.
In areas where trails are present, it should be maintained to avoid creating new
trails.
Introduce built-up trails for areas with heavy flow of visitors or heavy traffic.
The trail must be laid out in consideration of the scenic views and wildlife
movement. Trails must also take into account varying levels of physical ability
wherever possible.
Land-based trails are distinguished from surrounding landscape by a visible trail
surface, pathway, a series of signs, trail markers, or landmarks. Aquatic trails,
however, may be a mapped or frequented route through the waterway. They can focus
on features like a reef or a shipwreck (Drew et al., 2003).
The Trails for All Ontarians Collaborative (2006) provided the following guidelines
to make trails provide as close to a natural experience as possible:
1. Choose the trail route to ensure that the natural occurring soils are
suitable for the trail.
2. Minimize the size of the buffer zone between the trail and nature to
get people experience nature closer.
3. Use curvilinear trail design so the trail winds naturally through the
environment and to give the trail a more natural feel.
4. Design the trail so users can make use of natural features rather than
constructed facilities. For example, a fallen tree trunk is preferred to benches
for sitting.
There are many types of trails:
-
Shared-use trails or greenways have gentle grades, more rounded turns, and hardened
surfaces made of asphalt or crushed stone. They accommodate a variety of uses that
include biking, hiking, strolling, jogging, inline skating, birdwatching, dog
walking, horseback riding, and picnicking. Travel on this trail is faster than on
other types of trails. Greenway trails often have distance markers that may include
an official symbol for the trail. Directional, regulatory, and cautionary signs are
typically used along greenway trails.

2. Hiking trails are designed for foot travel. They have minimal impact on the
3.natural environment and therefore have the fewest and simplest signs.
Horse trails are natural surface trails designed for equestrian use. They may be
either double or single track.
1. Interpretive trails interpret natural or cultural features in the
landscape.They are often accessible to persons with disabilities and have a very
gentle grade for strolling at a casual pace. Interpretive trails can be nature
trails that educate users about natural features, history, or wildlife.
2. Fitness trails are designed to increase the physical fitness of users.
In Korea, there are parks along such trails, which are equipped with exercise
machines.
3. Water trails are designated for travel by motorized or non-motorized
watercraft. For recreational use, facilities should include docks, boat launch
sites, day use areas, campsites, parking lots, and public access.
4. Mountain bike trails are designed for low-impact use and range from
general use to challenging. In addition to markers and regulatory signage, mountain
bike trails include signs indicating the trail's level of difficulty.Mountain bike
and cross-country ski trails can be rated according to difficulty level. Difficulty
ratings are based on the challenges a trail presents to an average user's physical
ability and skill based on factors such as alignment, steepness of grades, gain and
loss of elevation, and natural barriers that must be crossed.An example of a
mountain bike trail difficulty rating system:
• Easy (green): For all users. Has obvious, well-marked trails and roads,
gentle grades, firm and stable tread, and only minor obstacles.
• More difficult (blue): Intermediate to advanced users. Has steeper
terrain, narrower trail, variable tread, and some unavoidable obstacles.
• Most difficult (black): Advanced to expert. Steep terrain, narrow with
unavoidable obstacles, and variable tread.
All trails should be evaluated to determine the length of trail or trail segment,
surface type, firmness and stability, typical and minimum tread width, typical and
maximum running slope, and typical and maximum cross slope. Other information could
be length of trail segments, location of the first point of exception to accessible
standards, tread obstacles that limit accessibility, elevation, and total elevation
change.
In constructing trails, there are various materials that can be used. Asphalt is
one of the best materials for trail making. It is relatively expensive but lasts
the longest; it is low maintenance as well and can be painted with directions or an
artistic design.
Rubber surface, which is made from recycled ground rubber tires, offers pedestrians
and joggers a low-impact, good traction, firm but resilient surface.

Drew et al. (2003) recommended the following guidelines for marking trails:
• Use aluminum nails as aluminum resists corrosion better than other
metals and will not damage a saw.
• When driving nails into trees, leave about a half inch to allow future
tree growth.Place marks at eye level or higher in case of horse trails.
•
•
• Mark trails in both directions to gain each perspective.Trails need to
be continuously marked; mark trails such that the next is clearly visible from the
previous one.
•
• Prune vegetation in front of way marks.Painted blazes (trail signs)
should have sharp corners and straight edges so that they are easily spotted from a
distance.
Boardwalks
Boardwalks are raised platforms that facilitate movement over wetlands, mangrove
swamps, rainforests, or along a beachfront. Boardwalks are built on spots where the
soil or surface is not suitable for walking, such as over sharp rocks or muddy
ground. They could also be built along sheer walls, such as on one spot in Sohotón
Cave in Basey, Samar. Boardwalk decking should be raised about half a meter to
minimize trampling on delicate vegetation by letting water and animals to pass
through and avoid damage to natural geological features such as coral rocks,
limestone, or cave formations (Drew et al., 2003). Class II and III cave boardwalks
should be located where the stalagmites, stalactites, or other cave resources will
not be damaged (DENR MC 2007-04).
According to the DEN's cave classification system (DENR MC 2007-04), Class I caves
are closed for ecotourism activities. These caves have delicate and fragile
geological formations, threatened species, archeological and paleontological
values, and are extremely dangerous. Mapping, photography, educational, and
scientific activities may be carried out in these caves. Class Il caves have
hazardous conditions and contain sensitive ecosystems of high geological,
archeological, cultural, historical and biological values. Sections of the caves
may be closed seasonally or permanently.
They are open to experienced cavers and guided educational tours. Class III caves
do not have threatened species and lack archeological, natural history, and
cultural and historical values. They are open to inexperienced visitors as long as
they are accompanied by cave guides. The caves may also be utilized for other
economic purposes such as guano extraction and edible bird's nest collection.
Boardwalks protect people from accidents by enabling them to traverse over craggy
trails and hidden pointed objects in murky waters. They could be directed around
points of interest along a trail such as giant trees, orchid colonies, a waterfall,
or a scenic view, thereby enriching the visitor experience. To make boardwalks look
as natural as possible, they should follow the contours of the natural surroundings
and combined with other natural materials along a trail, such as logs, rocks, or
bridges.
To make inclusive, durable, and safe boardwalks, the width of the boardwalk must be
at least 120 cm wide to allow two wheelchairs to pass by. The materials for the
posts could be concrete or treated wood. Posts should be driven 75 cm to 1 m into
the ground to make them steady. Cross-bracing between pairs of posts will provide
additional rigidity. Decking material may be of treated wood with a thickness of at
least 25 mm and plank width of 70 mm to 150 mm. The gaps between the decking planks
should not be more than 10 mm to prevent walking sticks and shoe heels from getting
stuck between the planks. The deck should have non-skid surfaces or grooved.
Handrails should be provided on the boardwalk to support the weight of a person who
has slipped. A steel cable should connect the handrail support posts through a hole
drilled in the top of each post. At certain distances on the boardwalk, a widened
area twice the width of the boardwalk may be provided to allow a group to stop and
enjoy a particular point of interest (Drew et al., 2003).

Ecolodge
An ecolodge is "a 5- to 75-room, low-impact, nature-based, financially sustainable
accommodation facility that helps protect sensitive neighboring areas; involves and
benefits local communities; offers tourists an interpretive and interactive
participatory experience; provides a spiritual communion with nature and culture;
and is planned, designed, constructed, and operated in an environmentally and
socially sensitive manner" (Mehta, 2007 in Erdem & Tetik, 2013). Ecolodges are
accommodation facilities that fit into the "existing context, rather than imposing
on it" (Glenski, 2010).
Ecolodge's principles include water conservation, preservation of flora and fauna,
designed to create a small footprint, and interpretive programs to educate both
employees and tourists about the surrounding natural and cultural environments
(Mehta 2002, in Glenski, 2010).
The following criteria for the construction of ecolodge in the International
Ecolodge Guidelines are basically the same for ecotourism itself (Bien, 2002: 140;
Wood, 2002: 28; International Finance Corporation, 2004: 28; Mehta, 2007: 419;
Dizdarevis, 2010: 27):
• Conserve the surrounding's natural and cultural element.
• Have minimal impact on the natural surroundings during construction.
• Fit into its specific physical and cultural contexts through careful
attention to form, landscaping, and color, as well as the use of localized
architecture.
• Use alternative, sustainable means of water acquisition and reduce
water consumption.Provide careful handling and disposal of solid waste and sewage.
•
• Meet its energy needs through passive design and combine these with
their modern counterparts for greater sustainability.
• Endeavor to work together with the local community.

Ecotourism
• Offer interpretive programs to educate both its employees and tourists
about the surroundings natural and cultural environments.Contribute to sustainable
local development through research programs.
•
Several other guidelines are provided by Mehta (2007) and Fischer-Zernin and
Schipani (2005):
• Concentrate development in less sensitive areas.
• Rather than building artificial swimming pools, make use of natural
swimming areas, such as rivers, lakes, or sea.
• Avoid prominent marinas, jetties, or embankments, which destroy the
natural look of the place.
• Pay attention to natural hazards such as undertows (e.g., quicksand,
cliffs, falling rocks, dangerous animals).
•
•
•
•
•
•
Preserve the best views from your site.
Do not impede the flow of drainage ditches.
Follow setback and buffer zone rules.
Adapt old or traditional buildings for reuse as ecotourism facilities.
Do not locate parking space in front of cottages.
Use native architecture and local building materials (e.g., bamboo, nipa, marble).
• Use native style furnishing.Maintain a design theme for all structures.
•
• Use local handicraft for decorations.Avoid using concrete.Do not paint
on wood; use some treatment to show its natural beauty.

•
• Hide electric wirings.
Put facilities like cottages in clusters to reduce footprint.
Do not build above the tree line.
To prevent blocking views, do not build structures above a ridge line.
Build cottages on stilts to allow movement of animals and growth of plants.
Orient buildings to take advantage of natural shade and airflows for cooling.
If photovoltaic cells are to be used, orient to maximize exposure to sunlight.
Align long buildings and parking lots with landscape contours.
• Break down buildings into smaller units on a series of terraces to make use of
slopes.
with
Canopy Walks
Canopy walks or suspended walkways are a great way to learn about the ecosystem at
the treetops in relative safety. Forest canopies are believed to host 40% of plant
species and catch 25% of precipitation (Meins, 2010). Walking over canopy walks can
be thrilling as they are designed to sway slightly.
Canopy walks may be constructed from rope and wood; aluminum alloy, trussed
suspension walkways; and adjustable cables and braces that allow trees to grow
naturally.
Commercial canopy walks may also be located in an urban setting such as in
Singapore's man-made Cloud Forest. The longest canopy walk in Sedim River National
Park, Kulim Kedah, Malaysia is 950 meters.
Glass Viewing Platforms
In April 2016, the glass sightseeing platform nicknamed the "Flying Disk/UFO"
opened to the public. The platform, located on the highest peak of Shilin Gorge
(Shilinxia Scenic Area) in Pinggu, 100 kilometers east of Beijing, China, is
suspended 32.8 meters out from the cliff and is 11 meters longer than the Grand
Canyon Skywalk in the United States. The transparent platform is 400 meters high
from the bottom of the cliff. It is said to be the largest sightseeing platform in
the world. The structure weighs 320 tons and can carry a maximum load of 150 tons
or the weight of 2,000 people. The platform has a diameter of 26 meters and takes
up an area of 415 square meters. For safety, the platform was constructed with
titanium alloy, a material that is widely used in aeronautics. The entrance fee to
the Gorge via cable car is 78 renminbi for adults.
There is no extra charge for the glass sightseeing platform but one needs to buy a
pair of shoe covers for 10 RMB. It is open from 8:30 AM to 5:30 pM the whole year
round. It is not recommended for people suffering from acrophobia for obvious
reasons.

Zip Lines
A zip line consists of a pulley suspended on a cable that is mounted on a slope.
It is used as a means of access in places like a rainforest canopy but may be used
for thrill rides in resorts or theme parks. A user is able to traverse from the
higher point to a lower point by gravity, in sitting, standing, or Superman
position, either solo or with a partner secured to the cable by safety harnesses.
Some zip lines feature users traveling by bicycle over the cables. Some zip lines
require a mini parachute to be attached to slow them down. Zip Line Consulting says
that zip lines are inherently dangerous, so you need to consider the risks involved
in providing for this type of facility.
According to Zip Line Consulting, these are the various types of zip lines:
Center dismount zip lines hang with a considerable belly or drape in the cable.
The passenger launches and speeds down to the center then starts up the other side.
The passenger slows to a stop before reaching the end of the cable and slides back
down to the low point (not always the center) where they are dismounted using a
ladder or removable platform. Center dismount zips can be as long as 5,000 feet
without specialized equipment. The weight of the rider, trolley type, and wind
speed are not significant factors for center dismount zips.
Walk-up landing zip lines are used for most commercial canopy tours and zip line
tours where riders start from one end and land on a platform or ground near the
other end of the cable. The weight of the rider, wind speed, and type of trolley
used will affect the speed and the landing for each rider. The longer the cable,
the more unpredictable the landing speed. New braking systems have improved the
safety of such zip lines, allowing faster rides and more predictable landing
speeds.
Tower to tower zip lines are typically less than 800 feet and have multiple cables
going back and forth. Pre-engineered steel tower or wood pole structures can be
used for any venue. The towers are accessible by staircases.
Pole and steel mount zip lines allow complete control over length, landing speed,
heights, and configuration. They can be used with trees to create a tour through
wooded areas and built over canyons, cliffs and open range up to over 5,000 feet.
Tree zip lines totally depend on the layout of trees and clearance of zip
corridors.
Tree courses usually use walk-up landings, which require meticulous cable
placement, platform design, and cable drape ratios. Trees are also used for center
dismount designs. It is important to determine the health and longevity of the zip
line support trees.
In the Philippines, some of the famous places for zip lining are the following:
• Treetop Adventure Superman Zip Line in Subic - up to 100 meters above
the jungle floor and 130 meters in length; a part of an adventure package includes
crossing hanging bridges and motorized cable lines.
• La Mesa Eco Park, Quezon City - 110-meter long zip line
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ecotourism
Liñon Hill Nature Park Zip Line in Legazpi City, Albay - 160 meters high and 100
meters in length providing an excellent view of Mayon Volcano.
Rush Zip Line at Tierra Alta in Palinpinon, Valencia, Negros Oriental - 600 meters
long zip line, superman, tandem, sitting, and inverted.
Dana Adventure Park in Carmen, Bohol - Superman-style, 480 meters slide.
Dahilayan Adventure Park Zipzone, Bukidnon - Asia's longest dual zipline at 840
meters. One can "fly" like Superman from its launch point 1,446 meters above sea
level, reaching speeds of up to 90 kilometers per hour through lush greenery and
breathtaking views.
Outland Adventure's Xcelerator, Davao City - 730-meter zip line; the tallest and
fastest in the country; view of Davao City.
Camp SABROS, Digos City, Davao del Sur, across part of Mt. Apo - highest zip line
in the country with 820-meter height and 400-meter length.
Seven Falls at Lake Sebu, South Cotabato - initial stop at the first 740 meters,
continues for another 400 meters, passing by four waterfalls and through a vast
expanse of forest.
Composting Toilets
Visitors to an ecotourism site need to relieve themselves from time to time. If a
place is very seldom visited, people may just be left to find their own sweet
spots.
In some mountainous areas, such toilets could be just enclosures with gaps on the
floor. However, when visitor volume reaches a certain point, regular toilet
structures have to be provided. Composting toilets are ideal in remote islands or
farmlands that do not have sewerage systems. Composting toilets require little or
no water, and when properly made do not emit any foul odors at all. A composting
toilet system processes excrement, toilet paper, carbon additive, and even food
waste. It relies on aerobic bacteria to break down wastes to 10% to 30% of their
original volume: In composting, organic matter is transformed by bacteria and fungi
into humus-like end product. Similar to topsoil humus can be used as fertilizer.
Composting toilets are cost-effective, water-saving, and prevent water pollution
(US EPA, 1998). A composting toilet in East Timor once used by the author requires
users to put in sawdust or wood shavings, and lime after use. Toilet paper was
available.
Compost toilets require organic bulking agents to be added like grass clippings,
leaves, sawdust, wood shavings, or finely chopped straw. These materials provide
carbon for the bacteria and keep the pile porous for proper air distribution. The
end product must be removed periodically (e.g., every three months for a small
cottage system, or two years for large central system) (US EPA, 1999).
The disadvantages of compost toilets include the need for commitment for
maintenance; its potential as a health hazard and for producing malodors, limited
capacity for accepting peak loads, and visibility of excrement in some systems.

Shower Rooms
Shower facilities can be designed using minimum materials. At the Tua Koin
Ecovillage on Atauro Island in East Timor, the shower room is just an enclosure
without a roof so that one can see the sky while taking a bath. A banana plant
beside the shower pipe is used as a decorative element. If the water pressure is
low, an elevated storage tank can be constructed
Facilities for Animals
Structures can be built to enable the mobility of animals in their native habitats
for feeding and breeding patterns. These structures could be artificial nests,
apartments, airports, and feeders for migratory birds; tunnels for turtles; bridges
for crabs; raised roads or bridges for snakes and other land animals; crosswalks
for hedgehogs; swimming pools for elephants; and parking for dogs (brightside.me).
Philippine Guidelines for Ecotourism Facilities
The (Philippines) Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Administrative Order Number 2009-09 contains the specifications for signs,
facilities, structures, and buildings in protected areas.
Signs
A sign is defined by DEN as "any letter, word, numerical or pictorial presentation,
illustration, decoration, emblem, device, symbol or trademark, flag, banner or any
other figure of similar character that is attached to, painted on or in any manner
represented on a building or structure, used to announce, direct attention to, or
advertise, and is visible to the public." Signs are classified into:
1. Administrative sign - a sign inscribed with the information on the
protected area, its boundaries and facilities.
2. Directional sign - a sign inscribed with the symbols showing the
location and direction of the different facilities and important featured sites in
a protected area.
3. Interpretive sign - a sign in a written, visual, or interactive way
which relates a story or a message to improve the visitors' understanding and
appreciation of the features of a particular area.
4. Restrictive sign - a sign inscribed with symbols for limiting the
activities or access of visitors in a protected area or some places within it.
Specifications for Signs
The standards of design, construction, installation, and maintenance of signs are
specified to promote public safety, convenience, and good viewing. The signs must
be harmonious and observe uniform aesthetics.

Information board. A protected area information board should bear the name of the
protected area, the legal basis for its establishment (presidential proclamation
number), date of proclamation as a protected area, elevation, the towns and
provinces where the protected area is located, and the logo of the DENR. The name
of the protected area must be printed in white capital letters. The area,
elevation, municipalities, and province/s covered should be in yellow paint. The
name of the managing agency should also be in white font, with logo in white
silhouette. These should be printed in Arial font with a reading distance of at
least 30 meters.
The message on the information board must contain not more than 10 items of
information.
The shape of the information board must be rectangular (portrait layout) with a
dimension of 1.20 meters × 2.40 meters at the maximum using any durable material
like concrete, metal, wood, and PVC, among others.
The sign should be painted green with a yellow band measuring 12.50 cm
painted at the topmost portion of the panel or board.
The minimum vertical clearance should be 1.80 meters when the sign is hung
from a support.
Boundary marker. A boundary marker may be a monument, buoy, or marking such as a
tree or a big rock, which is installed or painted for protected area and buffer
zone boundaries.
A monument must have a minimum dimension of 15 cm x 15 cm x 60 cm. The materials to
be used should be Class A (1:2:4) concrete, longitudinally reinforced with steel 10
millimeters in diameter standard deformed steel bar and properly embedded on the
center. The boundary markers for protected areas should have the letters "PA" and
for buffer zones "BZ." The letters should be 5 cm-high in Arial font and engraved
on the top of the said monument. A 1 cm diameter "point" (0) at the center of the
top of the marker should be engraved. The markers should be installed vertically
and as accurately as possible where the imaginary corner points of the protected
area are located on the ground. Forty-five centimeter of the marker must be buried
and 15 cm must be exposed.
Buoys. If the corner points of a protected area are located on a body of water, red
buoys with a minimum diameter of 30.48 cm can be used. The letters "PA" or
"BZ" measuring 5 cm in height and written in Arial font must be engraved on a
seawater-resistant metal plate and firmly attached at the top. The buoys should be
properly chained and anchored while avoiding damage to underwater resources such as
corals, seagrass, and the like. The geographic coordinates of each corner marked by
buoy should be recorded.

Specifications for Facilities

The following facilities may be found in protected areas: information center,
entrance/exit gates, ticket booth, guard station, view deck, board walk, lodge,
water pump/catchment facility.
cottage, toilet, parking area, trail, camping facilities, materials recovery
facility, and

General Considerations
Facilities in a protected area must comply with relevant laws, such as PD 1096
(National Building Code of the Philippines); PD 1586 (The Philippine Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) System Law); BP 344 (An Act to Enhance the Mobility of
Disabled Persons by Requiring Certain Buildings, Institutions, Establishments, and
Public Utilities to Install Facilities and Other Devices); RA 7277 (Magna Carta for
Disabled Persons); RA 386 (New Civil Code of the Philippines); and other applicable
provisions of existing laws and local ordinances, including existing Memoranda of
Agreement (MO) if any. According to Philippine laws, ecotourism structures should
be designed to incur minimal cost of operation and maintenance. Structures must
blend harmoniously with the natural and cultural environment. The infrastructure
must minimize alteration of the natural contour of the landscape. Structures should
have suspended flooring, elevated by at least one meter from the ground for flat
areas. The flooring shall adjust to the slope. The architectural styles and facades
of the structures should blend with the surrounding natural landscape. The design
of the structure should harmonize with the area's natural and cultural features in
proportion, color, and texture. Easements or setbacks must be at least 40 meters
away from the highest water mark; 20 meters from the edge of the riverbank; or
three meters from the edge of any existing creek. Building height measured from the
Natural Ground Line (NGL) to the rooftop or highest part of the building is limited
to ten meters.
The DEN also prescribes the ideal locations and space requirements for vertical and
horizontal structures. They are summarized in the following table.

The information center shall be used as the Office of the Protected Area
Superintendent (PASu) and Staff. It should have ample space for (1) office for PASu
and staff, (2) reception area, (3) display/exhibit area, (4) audiovisual room
(optional),
(5) utility area (laundry, kitchen, toilet, and bath), and (6) sanitary system.
There should be provision of entrance/exit gates to control the vehicles and
pedestrians. Sally ports could also be provided for the gates. Security lighting
should be provided if electric power is available.
The ticket booth is for the issuance of tickets and if necessary, collection of
identification papers for incoming protected area visitors, as well as collection
of ticket stubs and return of identification papers to outgoing protected area
visitors and clients. The booth should be well illuminated and ventilated. Toilet
facilities should also be provided,
The guard station serves as an observation post for security guards for incoming
and outgoing protected area visitors. The location of the guard station should be
at a point where the guard can control the entry and exit of pedestrians and
vehicles. The guard station should be properly lighted.
Lodging facilities or cottages are structures that are rented out to guests and
visitors for overnight or extended stay within the protected area. The bedrooms
could be for single or double occupancy or even multiple occupancy or dormitory
type facilities. It should have provision for utility area either built-in for
cottage type or detached for dormitory type. They should be accessible via
motorized or animal-drawn vehicles, or even on foot. It should have access to water
and other basic utilities.
Access to electric supply is optional.
For a plain cottage, the living room should have a minimum area of 6 square meters.
There should be separate bedrooms for men and women with a minimum area of six
square meters per bedroom. A bath and toilet should have minimum area of 1.20
square meters. The dining area and kitchen should have a minimum area of 3 square
meters.
For dormitory type with 10 to 20 beds, the living room should have a minimum area
of 18 square meters. There should be separate bedrooms for men and women with a
space allocation of 2 square meters per bed. There should be a urinal, toilet
65

bowl, lavatory, and shower which could be separate from toilet bowl for every five
men; and a toilet bowl, lavatory, and shower which could be separate from toilet
bowl for every three women. The dining area should be 1.5 square meters per person.
Other rooms may be provided depending on actual requirements.
The toilets must have good water supply, illumination, and ventilation. A two-
chamber septic tank should be provided for lodging facilities that are not located
in coastal areas. Lodging facilities in coastal areas should have three-chamber
septic tanks.
There should be two toilet bowls and one lavatory for the women's room; and a
toilet bowl, lavatory, and urinal for the men's room. The toilet must be PWD-
friendly, with wall-mounted stainless steel handrails measuring 50.8 mm in
diameter. The number of toilet units should be in proportion to the number of
expected visitors.
A camping area should be provided where there are no lodging facilities.
Landscaping enhances the appearance of facilities and infrastructure as well as
softens the overall impact of development. Whenever possible, native perennial
evergreen trees and shrubs should be used in order to avoid introducing invasive
species as well as to minimize maintenance costs. A nursery should be built to
provide a sustainable source of landscaping plants. Gray water from showers and
sinks should be used for watering the plants.
Solid waste management should be practiced using a combination of solid waste
containers, Material Recovery Facility (MRF) for temporary storage of recyclable
materials, and compost pit for biodegradable wastes. Solid waste containers like
covered garbage receptacles should be placed where there is foot traffic. Garbage
must be segregated and placed in bins marked as "biodegradable" (capital letters in
green) and "non-biodegradable" (capital letters in black). Biodegradable garbage
must be regularly collected for composting and non-biodegradable for recycling.
An MRF should be installed if the amount of waste generated warrants building one.
It should have compartments for recyclable materials and it must be fenced and
roofed. Compost pit should be fenced and provided with cover. Transporting non-
biodegradable materials to a site outside the PA should be arranged with the
concerned local government unit. The MRF and the composting facilities should be
located far from water supply to prevent contamination and should not create an
eyesore.
An energy conservation system should be incorporated in the protected area's
infrastructure. The PA can adopt low energy consumption technologies for lighting
(e.g., compact fluorescent lamps, light bulbs with time switches) and alternative
energy sources (e.g., solar, biogas). Fossil fuel-powered generators should be used
only as backup. Passive ventilation and natural lighting (skylight) should be used
to minimize the need for air-conditioning and artificial lighting.
Water supply system should be available for general use and for drinking. Water can
be sourced from lakes, rivers, aquifer, or rain. Some sources are permanent while
others are intermittent.