Background
Mt. Kanla-on is the highest peak in Negros Island and is situated southeast of Bacolod City. There are several volcanic craters and peaks in the Kanlaon mountain range, the highest rising to a height of 2,435 m. These high relief mountains form part of the Mt. Kanlaon National Park, one of the priority protected areas in the country. The forests within the park are estimated to cover about 11,475 or 46.7% of its total areas (Source: Haribon). Most of the forest is montane, including stretches of mossy forest from about 1,700 m to the bare peaks of the active volcanoes or low shrubby vegetation and grassland of the inactive peaks. There are some areas of lowland forests at Guintubdan and Mambucal. The forest along the Valley of the Guintubdan trail starts at 1,050 m, and is the continuous up to the peak of the Volcano.
Because of its priority protected area status, the management and protection of the Park is placed under the ambit of a Protected Area Management Board.
Situation
Policies and Regulations Governing Use
Mt. Kanlaon National Park was declared under Proclamation No. 721 on August 8, 1934, and revised by Proclamation No. 1105 on May 6, 1997. The Park is part of the network of GEF-CPPAP sites in the country.
The formation of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) ushered in the participation of local government units and peoples’ organizations in park management. Its creation draws legal basis form the NIPAS Law where the need for an effective administration of protected area through the participation and cooperation of national local agencies, private groups and communities is recognized.
The PAMB was able to exercise its legal prerogatives in closing the park to backpackers and climbers for two years starting in 1999, after noting the damages on the park environment.
Watershed Services
The park serves as the primary watershed for one fifth of the land area of Negros Occidental, where about 160,000 hectares of valuable agricultural land where sugar and rice are the main products. The rich volcanic soils render much of fertile conditions which can support low (energy) subsidy for agricultural production, especially in San Carlos, Canlaon and La Castellana. The park’s soils support highly productive vegetable plots which create encouraging conditions for inhabitants to continue to clear forests for more farmlands.
The park carry important recreational, educational, scientific and historical values The spectacular natural features of the park is a major ecotourism asset which has drawn camping and climbing enthusiasts.
Underlying Issues
The national park status of Mt. Kanlaon has not stopped the spread of human settlements, which are densest on its lower slopes. Recent accounts place about 3,000 households spread around the park. Recent observations indicate that the forests on the eastern slopes have retreated to elevations 1200-1300 m and on the western slopes to around 1000 m in most areas
Resource extractive activities continue to result to forest clearings. Illegal cutting of tress for charcoal production and swiddens has claimed portions of the lower altitude forests. Illegal collection and trafficking of plants of ornamental value, butterflies and beetles, including parrots take place.
The geothermal energy potential of Kanlaon ahs attracted the attention of the PNOC-EDC, which has considered a geothermal energy development project to meet the power supply requirements of the Visayan grid. Local NGOs and communities have expressed strong opposition, who perceive this as a major threat.
Watershed Network Activities
The PAMB has provided much of the institutional networking role for the MKNP. The activities revolved around technical working group, execom and en banc sessions. The most recent PAMB decisions include the PEMO’s extension of the reforestation MOA with the MKNP. The FFI conduct of biodiversity study, and the PNOC-EDC biodiversity study and mitigating measures at the MKNP buffer zone.
Over the past 3 years The MKNP’s enforcement and prosecution actions netted 52 violators. Out of these, 22 cases were filed and 15 were finally convicted for various environmental offenses. An innovative MKNP administered court order for a convicted violator, resulted to 5,000 seedlings raised as part of the penalty imposed.
The network likewise provides the venue for the preparation and presentation of the Guinubdan Ecotourism Development Plan and MOA to the Technical Working Group with representatives particularly from the tourism officers from the province of Negros, La Carlota and Bago City.
The MKNP continues to mobilize multisectoral involvement in reforestation, tapping on the academe, NGOs , LGUs and the Philippine Army . It has engaged the PNOC-EDC in collaborative reforestation activities , which has already covered 70 hectares.
Challenges
Expectations over the passage of a specific law for the MKNP, should not detract Park conservators, particularly the PAMB, from rendering decisions that would compromise the important biodiversity assets of Mt. Kanlaon Park. This is fundamental to the Park’s existence. The strictest and most transparent screening, management and monitoring regimes has to be applied where intrusive development projects are proposed within the Park’s buffer zone.
For conservationists, the remaining montane forest which hosts the most threatened and restriced-range species of the Panay Endemic Bird Area, has to be given close quarter protection. The continuing loss of the lower altitude forests has steadily diminished the area’s conservation values. This biome provide the habitat for the Negros Bleeding heart, white-throated Jungle-flycatcher , Flame-temple Barber and Visayan Flower pecker.
Population growth over the next several years will exert more pressure over the Park’s remaining forest. A comprehensive Population-Environment-Development framework has to be agreed by the Park’s stakeholders as a definitive guide for the PAMB and the local governments, particularly who are most connected with the Park’s human population. ( from the WATERSHED MAGAZINE published by Kahublagan sa Panimalay Foundation, Inc.)
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| MOUNT KANLAON, NEGROS ISLAND PHILIPPINES |
Because of its priority protected area status, the management and protection of the Park is placed under the ambit of a Protected Area Management Board.
Situation
Policies and Regulations Governing Use
Mt. Kanlaon National Park was declared under Proclamation No. 721 on August 8, 1934, and revised by Proclamation No. 1105 on May 6, 1997. The Park is part of the network of GEF-CPPAP sites in the country.
The formation of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) ushered in the participation of local government units and peoples’ organizations in park management. Its creation draws legal basis form the NIPAS Law where the need for an effective administration of protected area through the participation and cooperation of national local agencies, private groups and communities is recognized.
The PAMB was able to exercise its legal prerogatives in closing the park to backpackers and climbers for two years starting in 1999, after noting the damages on the park environment.
Watershed Services
The park serves as the primary watershed for one fifth of the land area of Negros Occidental, where about 160,000 hectares of valuable agricultural land where sugar and rice are the main products. The rich volcanic soils render much of fertile conditions which can support low (energy) subsidy for agricultural production, especially in San Carlos, Canlaon and La Castellana. The park’s soils support highly productive vegetable plots which create encouraging conditions for inhabitants to continue to clear forests for more farmlands.
The park carry important recreational, educational, scientific and historical values The spectacular natural features of the park is a major ecotourism asset which has drawn camping and climbing enthusiasts.
Underlying Issues
The national park status of Mt. Kanlaon has not stopped the spread of human settlements, which are densest on its lower slopes. Recent accounts place about 3,000 households spread around the park. Recent observations indicate that the forests on the eastern slopes have retreated to elevations 1200-1300 m and on the western slopes to around 1000 m in most areas
Resource extractive activities continue to result to forest clearings. Illegal cutting of tress for charcoal production and swiddens has claimed portions of the lower altitude forests. Illegal collection and trafficking of plants of ornamental value, butterflies and beetles, including parrots take place.
The geothermal energy potential of Kanlaon ahs attracted the attention of the PNOC-EDC, which has considered a geothermal energy development project to meet the power supply requirements of the Visayan grid. Local NGOs and communities have expressed strong opposition, who perceive this as a major threat.
Watershed Network Activities
The PAMB has provided much of the institutional networking role for the MKNP. The activities revolved around technical working group, execom and en banc sessions. The most recent PAMB decisions include the PEMO’s extension of the reforestation MOA with the MKNP. The FFI conduct of biodiversity study, and the PNOC-EDC biodiversity study and mitigating measures at the MKNP buffer zone.
Over the past 3 years The MKNP’s enforcement and prosecution actions netted 52 violators. Out of these, 22 cases were filed and 15 were finally convicted for various environmental offenses. An innovative MKNP administered court order for a convicted violator, resulted to 5,000 seedlings raised as part of the penalty imposed.
The network likewise provides the venue for the preparation and presentation of the Guinubdan Ecotourism Development Plan and MOA to the Technical Working Group with representatives particularly from the tourism officers from the province of Negros, La Carlota and Bago City.
The MKNP continues to mobilize multisectoral involvement in reforestation, tapping on the academe, NGOs , LGUs and the Philippine Army . It has engaged the PNOC-EDC in collaborative reforestation activities , which has already covered 70 hectares.
Challenges
Expectations over the passage of a specific law for the MKNP, should not detract Park conservators, particularly the PAMB, from rendering decisions that would compromise the important biodiversity assets of Mt. Kanlaon Park. This is fundamental to the Park’s existence. The strictest and most transparent screening, management and monitoring regimes has to be applied where intrusive development projects are proposed within the Park’s buffer zone.
For conservationists, the remaining montane forest which hosts the most threatened and restriced-range species of the Panay Endemic Bird Area, has to be given close quarter protection. The continuing loss of the lower altitude forests has steadily diminished the area’s conservation values. This biome provide the habitat for the Negros Bleeding heart, white-throated Jungle-flycatcher , Flame-temple Barber and Visayan Flower pecker.
Population growth over the next several years will exert more pressure over the Park’s remaining forest. A comprehensive Population-Environment-Development framework has to be agreed by the Park’s stakeholders as a definitive guide for the PAMB and the local governments, particularly who are most connected with the Park’s human population. ( from the WATERSHED MAGAZINE published by Kahublagan sa Panimalay Foundation, Inc.)
