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Leading ladies: Women shaping environmental conservation

These three women are working to conserve Philippine biodiversity

Philippines , Sibalom , Antique , Philippine , Benguet , Balinsasayao , Masbate , Mindoro , Zambales , Lola-mary , Godfrey-jakosalem-philbio , Barangay-cabladan

Where have all the 'tutubi' gone? | Jonathan L. Mayuga

Have you seen a tutubi (dragonfly) lately? Dragonflies were once all over the place—even in cities. Schoolchildren would then spend time catching them during school breaks. "Tutubi" (Dragonflies) But they are becoming scarce now, and you would be lucky to see one around. Dragonflies and damselflies belong to Order Odonata of…

Belitung , Jawa-tengah , Indonesia , Balinsasayao , Masbate , Philippines , Bulacan , Camarines-norte , Manila , Makiling , Batangas , Filipinos

Dispatch From the Netherworld: Exploring the Largest Cave System in the Philippines

Dispatch From the Netherworld: Exploring the Largest Cave System in the Philippines
asiangeo.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from asiangeo.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.

Sohoton , Samar , Philippines , Boracay , Aklan , Italy , Palawan , Dapitan , Diliman , Bulacan , Linao , Negros-occidental

Reflections on Balinsasayao Twin Lakes

• GREGG YAN The Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park lies in the Talinis Mountain Range, some 15 kilometers west of Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental. The

Valencia , Carabobo , Venezuela , Lake-balinsasayao , Negros-oriental , Philippines , Amlan , Okoy , Cebu , Davao-oriental , Dumaguete , Hinotongan

UNDP-BIOFIN picks NegOr Twin Lakes for YoPA campaign

PROTECTED AREA. Tourists take a boat ride across Lake Balinsasayao in Negros Oriental in this undated photo. The United Nations Development Program-Biodiversity Finance Project has chosen the Balinsasayao Twin Lakes as one of six protected areas in the Philippines for the Year of the Protected Areas campaign this 2023. (Photo courtesy of UNDP-BIOFIN/Angelique Ogena) DUMAGUETE CITY -The United Nations Development Programme-Biodiversity Finance Project (UNDP-BIOFIN) has chosen the Twin Lakes of Balinsasayao and Danao in Negros Oriental province as among its six featured areas in the Philippines for the Year of the Protected Areas (YoPA) campaign. Gregg Yan, UNDP-BIOFIN consultant, in an interview with the Philippine News Agency on Tuesday, said the YoPA campaign aims to highlight the critical role of protected areas for people and nature. "The Balinsasayao Twin Lakes and the five other featured areas were chosen for this YoPA campaign because they are not as widely promoted as the other protected areas in the country," Yan said. There are 247 protected areas in the Philippines, he said. The Twin Lakes lies in the municipalities of Valencia, Sibulan and San Jose with a rich biodiversity and serve as habitat for rare flora and fauna species, such as the endangered Negros spotted deer and the almaciga (Agathis philippinensis) tree, among many others. It provides water to about half-a-million people in the surrounding areas, Yan said. In 2000, the Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park, spanning 8,016.05 hectares, was declared a protected area by the government and is governed by a Protected Area Management Board (PAMB). The UNDP-BIOFIN team visited the Twin Lakes last Jan. 13 in line with the celebration of World Wetlands Day on Feb. 2, but were unfortunate to get caught in stormy weather, Yan said. Nevertheless, they managed to visit the almost zero visibility Lake Balinsasayao, and also viewed the lush vegetation and surroundings from the view deck. Tourists can enjoy kayaking, boating, trekking, and hiking at the twin lakes and its vicinity. Quoting Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Viernov Grefalde, Yan said that the twin lakes "serve as a vital watershed for the province of Negros Oriental." The twin lakes of Balinsasayao and Danao serve as headwaters for five major river systems including the Amlan, Ayuquitan, Hinotongan, Okoy and Cauitan Rivers. "These natural water reservoirs collect rainwater, supplying half-a-million people with potable water all year." Nearly 60 percent of the Philippines' land area forms 142 critical watersheds. Watersheds work best when provided with healthy forests, as the trees help absorb rainwater. The country's watersheds however are facing numerous threats, including illegal logging, charcoal-making and destructive kaingin or slash-and-burn farming, the UNDP consultant said. "We've fortunately managed to minimize these activities by combining effective enforcement and field patrols with vigorous communication and public awareness campaign," Grefalde was quoted as saying. "For centuries, the Balinsasayao Twin Lakes have protected both upland and lowland communities from the worst effects of storms, floods, and droughts by stabilizing the local climate and water distribution. We at the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) have been doing our best to protect the park, so our people can continue reaping its natural services," he added. Launched in May 2022, YoPA is being spearheaded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), UNDP-BIOFIN, Department of Tourism (DOT), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and various local governments. The campaign's six featured protected areas include Masbate's Bongsanglay Natural Park, Occidental Mindoro's Apo Reef Natural Park, Samar Island Natural Park, Davao Oriental's Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, Camiguin's Mt. Timpoong Hibok-Hibok Natural Monument, and the Balinsasayao Twin Lakes. Yan called on residents, local government officials, and especially tourists, to help protect and preserve the Balinsasayao Twin Lakes because of its important role in providing food, water, and other necessities to humans and animals alike. The team was served a fern salad from fresh "pako" (Diplazium esculentum), a variety commonly found at the Twin Lakes. He noted that strict policies and regulations should be strongly enforced to prevent destructive practices of kaingin (slash-and-burn farming) and poaching of threatened or endangered wildlife species. BIOFIN Global Manager Onno van den Heuvel, according to Yan, said that "these reserves also produce the basic elements for life -- clean water, clean air and in the case of the Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park, clean energy through its active geothermal vents." The geothermal power plants of the Energy Development Corporation in Valencia town are situated near the Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park. "Our planet's protected areas aren't just great places to visit. They all serve key ecological functions -- from providing habitats to endangered wildlife to generating the water which keeps our faucets flowing," the BIOFIN global manager said. (PNA) }

Philippines , Philippine , Benguet , Sibulan , Davao-del-sur , Cauitan , Negros-oriental , Valencia , Carabobo , Venezuela , Ayuquitan , Lake-balinsasayao

PH unveils year of protected areas, vows protection of natl parks

JOINT DECLARATION. Department of Environment and Natural Resources Acting Secretary Jim Sampulna (2nd from left), Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat (4th from left) and Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano (2nd from right) sign a joint declaration in celebration of the Year of the Protected Areas on Monday (May 23, 2022). They are joined on stage by Senator-elect Loren Legarda-Leviste (3rd from left), United Nations Development Program Philippines Resident Representative Dr. Selva Ramachandran (extreme left) and Climate Change Commission Secretary Robert Borje. (Photo by DOT) MANILA - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Tourism (DOT), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) have signed a joint declaration to support the celebration of the Year of the Protected Areas or the YoPA Campaign, which promotes Philippine national parks. DENR Acting Secretary Jim Sampulna, DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, and DILG Secretary Eduardo Ano led the signing ceremony last Monday at the launch of the YoPA Campaign marking the 90th anniversary of establishing national parks in the country. The campaign launch is also part of the wider celebration for the 2022 International Day of Biological Diversity (IDBD). The joint declaration states that the DENR, through its Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) and the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) of the United Nations Development Programme Philippines, will lead the campaign implementation with DOT and DILG as partners. These agencies will work to promote protected areas (PAs) under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) and coordinate with other agencies at the national and local levels to ensure effective conservation and sustainable management for national parks nationwide. Endangered biodiversity According to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Philippines is one of the world's 18 mega-biodiverse countries, containing two-thirds of the Earth's biodiversity and between 70 and 80 percent of the world's plant and animal species. The Philippines ranks fifth in the number of plant species and maintains 5 percent of the world's flora. Over half of the country's 53,000 described species can be found nowhere else in the world. Sadly, the Philippines is also a biodiversity critical hotspot with at least 700 species being in danger of becoming extinct. Around 93 percent of the Philippines' original forest cover has been lost since the 1990s, with 53 percent of its remaining coral reefs in poor condition. Conserving PAs Currently, there are 246 PAs under the NIPAS, 112 of which have been legislated, 13 have been proclaimed by the President, and 121 remain as initial components of the System. The NIPAS was established by virtue of Republic Act 7586 or the NIPAS Act of 1992 as amended by RA 11038 or the Expanded NIPAS (ENIPAS) Act of 2018. The NIPAS Act, as amended, strengthens the protection of natural, biological and physical diversities of the environment needed for the conservation of biodiversity and the integrity of ecosystems, culture and indigenous practices by recognizing conservation areas and the management regimes being implemented by local government units (LGUs), local communities, and indigenous peoples (IPs). It also ensures regular budget allocation for the conservation and sustainable management of each PA. NIPAS is the classification and administration of all designated PAs to maintain essential ecological processes to preserve genetic diversity, to ensure the sustainable use of resources found therein, and to maintain their natural conditions to the greatest extent possible. The year 2022 is an opportune time for the YoPA Campaign to commence as it coincides with the 90th anniversary of PA establishment in the country. On February 1, 1932, RA 3915 was passed into law, which is An Act Providing for the Establishment of National Parks, Declaring Such Parks as Game Refuges, and for other Purposes. Following the passing of this law, Mount Arayat became the first national park in the Philippines established on June 27, 1933. Institutionalization of such efforts is important to ensure continued financing and conservation for the country's national parks. Part of the campaign's sustainability strategy is to push for the approval of a proposed presidential proclamation to declare 2022 as the National Year of the Protected Areas and June of each year as Month of the PAs. This proclamation will empower DENR through the Biodiversity Management Bureau as the lead agency, with DOT and DILG as partners. This will also encourage other agencies and organizations to take part in efforts to conserve and protect PAs. The proposed presidential proclamation is currently awaiting the signature of the President. Kabahagi A prequel event on May 20, 2022 was held by the DENR-BMB dubbed as Kabahagi: An IDBD 2022 Capture Quest, the DENR-BMB's first ever one-day simultaneous shoot photo contest featuring the DENR Regional, Field and Protected Area Management Offices staff as participants. Each regional team showcased their chosen protected area in their respective regions as well as their photographic talent and ingenuity. Canon Philippines, Gerry Roxas Foundation along with USAID-Sustainable Interventions for Biodiversity, Oceans and Landscapes (SIBOL) project and UNDP- Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) and Biodiversity Corridor (BD Cor) projects take pride as DENR-BMB's partners for its first-ever Kabahagi: IDBD 2022 Capture Quest photo contest which also takes inspiration from Canon's PhotoMarathon contest. Protected areas campaign With the theme Protected Areas for a Protected Future, the campaign aims to launch a massive information campaign on the urgent need to conserve PAs, while also encouraging people to visit these breathtaking ecotourism destinations. The rollout of the YoPA campaign hopes to generate additional revenues from tourist visits to ensure the continuity of conservation programs within PAs. This objective stays true to the 2022 IDBD theme of building a shared future for all life. This year's campaign kicks off by featuring six PAs in different regions: Bongsanglay Natural Park in Masbate, Apo Reef Natural Park in Occidental Mindoro, Samar Island Natural Park in the provinces of Samar, Eastern Samar and Northern Samar, Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park in Negros Oriental, Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary in Davao Oriental, and Mts. Timpoong Hibok-Hibok Natural Monument in Camiguin. Aside from educating people on the importance of conserving biodiversity and managing PAs, the campaign highlights the critical need to increase the number of visits and to allow travelers to contribute to conservation efforts. The revenues earned by the PAs will be used for programs and activities such as habitat protection and monitoring, wildlife protection and enforcement, resources assessment and monitoring, ecotourism development, conservation interventions, and communication, education and public awareness, among others. (PR) }

Sibol , Zambales , Philippines , Manila , Yopa , Pangasinan , Davao-oriental , Mount-arayat , Pampanga , Balinsasayao , Masbate , Canon-photomarathon

PH's protected areas seen as ecotourism assets: DENR

PROTECTED AREAS. Acting Environmental Secretary Jim Sampulna (left) leads a joint declaration with Tourism Secretary Bernadette-Romulo Puyat (center) and Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano to ensure the conservation of "protected areas" in the country on Monday (May 23, 2022). They made the declaration in celebration of the year for protected areas. (Screengrab) MANILA - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) underscored on Monday the urgency to conserve and promote the country's protected areas, as these are considered ecotourism assets. Protected area refers to "identified portions of land and water set aside by reason of their unique physical and biological significance" which should be conserved from "human exploitation", according to the DENR. In this year's International Day for Biological Diversity Facebook livestream, the department made a joint declaration with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to ensure an intensified protection of the said areas. DENR acting Secretary Jim Sampulna noted that the economic value of ecosystem services in the Philippines is at US$46 million or around PHP2.3 billion, to which the protected areas have a significant contribution. Sampulna added that these areas are sources of clean water, food, livelihood for indigenous groups, and an actual home for critically endangered animals, among others. "We are happy to report that we have now 246 legislated protected areas that are receiving regular government budgets to sustain their conservation program and operations," he said. Tourism Secretary Bernadette-Romulo Puyat, meanwhile, mentioned six out of more than a hundred protected areas they will be highlighting for the campaign. "In support of the year of protected areas initiative being launched today, the DOT's SOS campaign highlights protected areas in the country, through the production of various multimedia content focusing on six locations, namely, Bongsanglay natural park, Balinsasayao Twin lakes natural park in Negros Oriental, Apo reef natural park, and Mt. Hamiguitan, which are both in Davao, Summer island natural park in Eastern Samar, and Mt. Timpoong Hibok-hibok natural monument in Camiguin," she said. Although some areas may seem yet unfamiliar to other tourists, the DOT said responsible and sustainable tourism should be highly encouraged to assure these great destinations will still be enjoyed by generations to come. DILG Secretary Eduardo Ano also expressed his optimism that visitors and tourists will now be able to appreciate the value of this natural wealth. "By calling visitors and tourists from all corners of the archipelago and the world to view and experience our protected areas, we anticipate that many will finally learn to love and value our national parks and natural wealth as important sources of livelihood and ecosystem services such as water, erosion control, and natural task management," he said. Ano said each local government unit (LGU) has an important role to prevent unlawful actions in these protected areas in their jurisdictions. "Our LGUs (Local government units) are doubly crucial both in reviving the health of national parks and preventing illegal loggers, poachers, and developers from encroaching these ecological havens," he said. (PNA) }

Davao , Davao-city , Philippines , Manila , Camiguin , Negros-oriental , Balinsasayao , Masbate , Timpoong-hibok , Bernadette-romulo-puyat , Jim-sampulna , Department-of-the

How to communicate biodiversity? | Jonathan L. Mayuga

How do you communicate biodiversity for the target audience to grasp the importance of saving it? At the forefront of the campaign to protect and conserve the country’s rich biodiversity, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB) uses different strokes to communicate it. Through the years, the…

Camiguin-island , Cagayan , Philippines , Philippine , Benguet , Davao-oriental , Balinsasayao , Masbate , Filipinos , Antoinette-taus , Datu-tungkom-saikol , Biodiversity-management-bureau

DENR reopens 55 PAs to visitors, local tourists

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB) has revealed that 55 of the 93 Protected Areas (PAs) that promote ecotourism are now open to local visitors as the government eases Covid-19 pandemic curbs. Records further showed that as of November 25, 38 of the PAs remain closed…

Olango-island , Cebu , Philippines , Matutum , South-cotabato , Allah-valley , Apo-island , Negros-oriental , Jose-rizal , Laguna , Panay , Ilocos-sur

Army commander warns presence of CPP-NPA-link Anakbayan in NegOr

Army commander warns presence of CPP-NPA-link Anakbayan in NegOr
philippinetimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from philippinetimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.

Philippine , Benguet , Philippines , Bacong , Aurora , Siaton , Negros-oriental , Guihulngan , La-libertad , Zamboanga-del-norte , Balinsasayao , Masbate