Protected areas are said to be “the critical tool to conserve biodiversity in the face of the global crisis of species extinction and the loss of the world’s natural capacity to support all life and human existence. At the same time, the protected resources are often essential to assuring healthy communities.” (N. Lopoukhine: Protected Areas – for Life’s Sake)
They act as sanctuaries of species of flora and fauna and maintain the resiliency of habitats and the essential services that the various ecosystems within the area provide such as water, food, medicine, clothing, among others. Well-managed protected areas are even providing income to local communities because of responsible tourism.
We have, however, abused, overly exploited and destroyed our natural resources, even beyond nature’s carrying capacity. Our forests have dwindled, our oceans are overfished, which have driven those most dependent on a thriving environment on the abyss of poverty and despair.
We have conveniently forgotten that by protecting protected areas, we are protecting life itself.
Our country, as signatory to various international conventions on biodiversity and environment protection, established the national integrated protected area system (NIPAS) in 1992 through RA 7586, the NIPAS Act of 1992. The avowed public policy goal is “to secure for the Filipino people of present and future generations the perpetual existence of all native plants and animals through the establishment of a comprehensive system of integrated protected areas within the classification of national park as provided for in the Constitution.”
According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio, there are 240 protected areas in the country covering a total of 3.5 million hectares. He spoke before more than 200 participants from the government, civil society and private sector in the first Negros Island Region Protected Area Management Summit (‘Summit’) in Bacolod last week.
In May last year, through Executive Order 183 signed by then president Benigno S. Aquino III, the two Negros provinces were created as one region called the Negros Island Region. Negros Occidental was removed from Region VI and Negros Oriental from Region VII, and both are now known as belonging to Region 18.
While Negros Island retained a measly 3% from its original forest cover, its forests still host threatened species such as Rufous Headed Hornbill, critically endangered Negros Bleeding Heart Pigeon, Philippine Spotted Deer, and Philippine bare-backed Fruit Bat, and the endangered Black Shama.
There are six protected areas in the NIR which are landscapes, seascapes and combination of both features. These are the Apo Island Protected Landscape and Seascape, Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park, Mount Kanlaon Natural Park, Northern Negros Natural Park, Sagay Marine Reserve and Tañon Strait Protected Seascape which also covers local government units in the province of Cebu.
The primary avowed goal of the Summit was “to strengthen partnerships and sustain awareness of protected area managers and other stakeholders for a better collaborative engagement in the adoption of new strategies and innovations to improve the status of the Negros Island Protected areas.”
Representing the Governor of Negros Occidental Alfredo G. Maranon, Jr., the Provincial Environment Management Officer lawyer Wilmon Peñalosa welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of ensuring that protected areas are truly protected through genuine partnership among stakeholders. According to him, the mountain ranges that separate the two provinces should now be seen as facing each other and a unifying agent for both to act as one island region.
Judging from the robust discussions, the sharing of tools and technology to enhance management of the protected areas and the never-ending challenges and concrete recommendations for solutions emanating from the resource speakers and the participants, the summit was every inch a huge success. The innovative features of the three-day event such as the use of Facebook and social media, with the #NIRPAMS and the contest among the six protected areas on the best audio-visual presentations are worthy of replication in the future Protected Area Summit.
It was fitting that the new Undersecretary for Field Operations of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Art Valdez, joined and doubly energized the participants. He stressed the thrust of the DENR Secretary Gina Lopez for the active engagement of the civil society in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of the programs and policies of the agency.
He also made an important suggestion that in the next Summit, there be recognition for the best managed Protected Area, and outstanding Park Superintendent, and if I may add, outstanding partners as well.
Kudos to the dedicated, energetic and dynamic Dr. Al Orolfo, the first Regional Director of the DENR-NIR, for another of a series of trail-blazing initiatives and in making possible the highly productive and widely participated platform for various stakeholders of our Protected Areas to come together and feel united in this fight of a lifetime to conserve and protect our deeply threatened protected areas. We are grateful as well to DENR-NIR’s enthusiastic and determined team who made everything look effortless, like graceful ducks waddling in the calm pond.
Mabuhay!