Environment and Natural Resources

Watershed Management, Rehabilitation and Protection

 

   This sub-sector sustained the rehabilitation of degraded natural forests, mangroves and watersheds and enforced environmental laws and standards. It addressed the decreasing natural resource productivity that arose as a result of natural calamities and climate change. Programs and projects for rehabilitation were implemented towards the restoration of the typhoon-damaged natural resources.

 

   The implementation of the Green Philippines Program continued through the "Tree for Life Project". The program aimed at the massive reforestation of degraded protected areas, coastal and marine, agro-forestry and urban parks in the region.  The tree planting activities were launched in August until November 2007 at Lidong Sto. Domingo Albay, Prieto Diaz Sorsogon, Bula Camarines Sur, and Bibirao Daet Camarines Norte. A total of 39,096 volunteer co-operators participated. Some 3,293,484 forest trees, fruit trees and bakauan were planted on 2,003.39 hectares of land. Compared to the previous year’s accomplishments, an 81 percent increase in seedlings and 40 percent increase in the area planted were posted in 2007.

 

   Damaged trees along the 289.41-kilometer roadside of the Philippine National Highway were replaced with 15,326 new seedlings. Trees planted in 2006 along a 470.73-kilometer stretch had a 40 percent survival rate and these were duly maintained.

 

   Under the contract reforestation scheme, 900 hectares new plantations were established in the six provinces of the region. These were distributed as follows:  Albay (250 hectares); Camarines Norte (150 hectares); Camarines Sur(250 hectares); Catanduanes (100 hectares); Masbate (50 hectares); and Sorsogon (100 hectares). There was a 71 percent increase in performance over the 2006 contract reforestation program.

 

   On the maintenance and protection of 976 hectares of forest tree plantations in the region, a total of 6,027 hectares of production forest were assessed to determine their best land use.  The areas were within the Forest Land Grazing Management Agreement (FLGMA) and other special land use sites. To determine the limits of permanent forest boundary lines, a total of 453 kilometers of forest boundary lines were delineated in the provinces of Albay and Camarines Sur.

 

   On the implementation of the NIPAS Act of 1992, a total of 16 Protected Area Management Boards (PAMBs) were institutionalized. Their coverage spanned 60,879 hectares of forest lands consisting of national parks, natural biotic areas, wildlife sanctuaries, protected landscapes and seascapes under the NIPAS. There were six Integrated Protected Area Fund (IPAF) institutionalized which generated a total of PhP79,580 in CY 2007.

 

   Six protected areas were monitored for their biodiversity species population namely: Bulusan Volcano Natural Park; Mt. Isarog Natural Park; Bicol Natural Park; Libmanan Cave Natural Park; Caramoan National Park; and Mayon Volcano Natural Park. A total of 164 trade establishments with certificates of wildlife registration conducted their monitoring activities pursuant to Republic Act 9147 known as the Conservation and Protection of Wildlife Resources and their Habitats.

 

   The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)5 implemented the Watershed Management and Development (WMD) component of the Bicol River Basin Watershed Management Project (BRBWMP). Its initial activities focused on the Libmanan-Pulantuna watershed characterization and development and vulnerability assessment of the Yabo-Naga watershed.

 

   Under the Coastal Resources Management Program, the province of Masbate launched the Integrated Coastal Resource Management Project (ICRMP), a six-month undertaking funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The project aimed at reducing poverty of fisherfolks in 15 municipalities of the province. Participatory coastal resource assessments were also conducted in other municipalities and provinces namely: Sto. Domingo, Tiwi, Malilipot, Ligao City, Rapu-Rapu in the province of Albay and in Castilla and Pilar in the province of Sorsogon.

 

   Occupants of foreshore areas were issued with 150 lease contracts or provisional permits. Foreshore areas are parcels of land adjoining seas and oceans alternately covered by the flow of the tide that are leased to occupants. Six coastal municipalities of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur were inventoried for their respective foreshore areas.

 

   Under the Rehabilitation and Ecological Restoration programs, six rehabilitation protocols were developed for rehabilitation technologies namely: (1) Growth and Development of Rhizophora in Mangrove Swamps of Tabaco Bay; (2)Study on the Growth and Survival of Anahaw as Affected by Fertilizer and Cultural Treatments; (3)Production of Poles and Piles under Coconut Plantations; (4)Site Compatibility Assessment of Indigenous Species in Mt. Isarog Natural Park (MINP); (5)Riverbank Stabilization using Bio-engineering of Talisay River for Environmental and Economic Sustainability (Trees); and (6)Processing of Mine Tailings and Waste Water Disposal. Research and technology development performance this year slightly decreased in relation to the accomplishment in 2006. The sub-sector focused most of its activities on the conduct of vulnerability assessment of the Yabo-Naga watershed development.

 

   Cadastral and public survey of lands of the public domain was conducted in support of the land titling component of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). Land titles for agricultural, residential, industrial and commercial lands were issued and distributed to beneficiaries. A total of 4,990 free patents for 6,389.8 hectares of A&D lands under the CARP project were processed and transmitted to the Register of Deeds. Another 5,096 hectares of public land were bidded for surveys. Draft proclamations for the issuance of Special Patents for 21 school sites were likewise prepared for endorsement.

Table.  3.1 Natural Resources Accomplishment, CY 2006-2007

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