Filipinos Urged to Protect Ecotourism Environment
10/26/99
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Title: Filipinos Urged to Protect Ecotourism Environment
Source: October 26, 1999
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: Xinhua
MANILA (Oct. 26) XINHUA - With the alarming rate of environmental
destruction, the Philippine House Tourism Committee on Tuesday called
on local Filipinos to help protect ecotourism environment.
Rosenda Ann Ocampo, chairman of the committee, said that indigenous
natives can be tapped to protect what remains of the nation's natural
forests, Philippine News Agency said.
Ocampo noted that only 119,000 hectares of the country's mangrove
forest remain, and of the 43 rivers being monitored by the
government, about half are polluted, 40 of which are now biologically
dead.
She pointed out that about 25 hectares of the country's forest cover
are being denuded every hour.
"The best way we could check these destruction is to recruit the
people themselves who have been the guardians of our environment,"
she said.
Ocampo urged for consolidation of concerned policies to protect
indigenous people who are actively joining in the ecotourism
protection.
The policies should help lay down a tourism framework based on a
balanced economic growth and environmental protection as well, she
added.
"The wealth of our resources could be optimally utilized if they are
protected, but the primacy of the environment and the culture of our
people must be preserve," she stressed.