Protecting biodiversity in the Philippines
Copyright © 2001 The Earth Times
August 14, 2001
By JAY NEWTON-SMALL
A new conservation to protect biodiversity on Samar Island in the Philippines was launched last week. The project will be jointly financed by the UN Development Program (UNDP) Global Environment Facility (WEF) and the Philippine government.
Samar Island is listed by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) as one of the top 200 endangered spaces in the world. Conservation efforts began there in the early 1990s, but despite these efforts indiscriminate exploitation of the island's land and wildlife continue by the local population.
"We aim to establish the Samar Island Natural Park," said George Guillermo, a forester and the project manager. "Strategically, we are working to get a presidential proclamation for the national park and to secure a legislative proclamation as well."
Kaingin, or slash and burn farming, is the prevalent source of agriculture on the island. Timber is a big industry there, and harvesting of rattan, a non-timber forest product, among poachers is popular. Samarese still hunt wildlife for sustenance.
"We need to be brave to protect our forests, hence we will work together for the success of this project," said Demetrio Ignacio, Jr., Under Secretary for Policy and Planning, Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources, at the launch of the eight-year endeavor last month at the Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park in Basey, Samar.
The island is a Darwinian jungle, with 360,000 hectares of rainforest; home to 2,400 species of flowering plants, including 406 native species. One-hundred and ninety-seven species of birds on the island have been sighted, 50 native to the Philippines.
Some of the birds resident to the island are endangered species, such as the Philippine Eagle, the Philippine Hawk Eagle, and the Philippine Cockatoo.
"This biodiversity conservation project in Samar island is a good opportunity for UNDP to help alleviate poverty in forest-edge communities and at the same time ease the pressures on and threats to natural habitats and resources that these same people depend on for their subsistence," said Ricarda Rieger, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative.
The project hopes to "empower local communities, improving livelihoods and promoting participation by diverse stakeholders." To facilitate these efforts the project is carrying out community consultations in 35 municipalities, biodiversity monitoring, social assessment and operational planning.
"Salamat! (Thank you!)", said Arturo Elevado, a farmer and chairman of Inumtan Multipurpose Cooperative, at the official project launch,. The cooperative has long hoped for a partnership among fellow Samareños (indigenous groups)in the local government and other civil society organizations, national agencies and donors, to protect the province's environment, he said. "We waited and it seems like our prayers have been answered."
"We will surely protect the natural resources of Samar Island. Here lies our future," said Cesar Tadeo, a forester and acting park superintendent.