Post by admin on Nov 21, 2014 7:24:45 GMT 8
LGUs urged to keep PH ‘megadiverse’
Monch Mikko E. Misagal
November 5, 2014
The Philippines belongs to only 17 countries classified by Conservation International as “megadiverse,” a distinction that local government units (LGUs) carry a pivotal role to maintain.
This was a fact pointed out by speakers during the National Conference on Local Conservation Areas held recently at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria in Pasig City.
“Even as we are rich in biodiversity, around 25 percent of the country’s population are still below the poverty line,” Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR – BMB) Director Dr. Theresa Mundita Lim said at a plenary session.
To help increase their incomes and alleviate poverty, Lim said, LGUs can tap ecotourism projects in their respective jurisdictions.
Republic Act No. 10629 states that 75 percent of revenues from a protected area must be channeled to the latter’s local board, and the remaining 25 percent, to the national treasury.
In a separate talk, Department of Tourism (DOT) Office of Tourism Development Planning Director Rolando Cañizal said that biodiversity conservation is an important asset of tourism.
“If you look at it from a different perspective, tourism is very contributory to sustainable development,” he said.
Cañizal added that ecotourism can develop more products, generate livelihood, and enhance institutional capacity.
“When we talk about conservation at the local government [level], we’re also talking about developing your area for tourism,” he said.
The DOT, in cooperation with the DENR and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, has come up with a local tourism planning guidebook anchored on environmental aspects.
“We have collaborated [with the DENR] in the development of ecotourism, particularly in looking into the biodiversity project, and expanding it into the New Conservation Areas in the Philippines project,” Cañizal said.
Among the DOT-initiated community-based projects he cited are: the Banaue Trek, in Banaue, Ifugao; Pamilacan Island Marine Life Tour (Bohol); and Sapang Bato Nature Trek (Angeles City, Pampanga).
Another key initiative that LGUs can undertake is establishing local conservation areas (LCAs) in their respective jurisdictions through ordinances, according to Lim.
“LCAs may include areas of high-biological diversity, areas vulnerable to climate change, geologically hazardous areas, and other locally significant areas,” she said.
Source: www.mb.com.ph/lgus-urged-to-keep-ph-megadiverse/
Monch Mikko E. Misagal
November 5, 2014
The Philippines belongs to only 17 countries classified by Conservation International as “megadiverse,” a distinction that local government units (LGUs) carry a pivotal role to maintain.
This was a fact pointed out by speakers during the National Conference on Local Conservation Areas held recently at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria in Pasig City.
“Even as we are rich in biodiversity, around 25 percent of the country’s population are still below the poverty line,” Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR – BMB) Director Dr. Theresa Mundita Lim said at a plenary session.
To help increase their incomes and alleviate poverty, Lim said, LGUs can tap ecotourism projects in their respective jurisdictions.
Republic Act No. 10629 states that 75 percent of revenues from a protected area must be channeled to the latter’s local board, and the remaining 25 percent, to the national treasury.
In a separate talk, Department of Tourism (DOT) Office of Tourism Development Planning Director Rolando Cañizal said that biodiversity conservation is an important asset of tourism.
“If you look at it from a different perspective, tourism is very contributory to sustainable development,” he said.
Cañizal added that ecotourism can develop more products, generate livelihood, and enhance institutional capacity.
“When we talk about conservation at the local government [level], we’re also talking about developing your area for tourism,” he said.
The DOT, in cooperation with the DENR and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, has come up with a local tourism planning guidebook anchored on environmental aspects.
“We have collaborated [with the DENR] in the development of ecotourism, particularly in looking into the biodiversity project, and expanding it into the New Conservation Areas in the Philippines project,” Cañizal said.
Among the DOT-initiated community-based projects he cited are: the Banaue Trek, in Banaue, Ifugao; Pamilacan Island Marine Life Tour (Bohol); and Sapang Bato Nature Trek (Angeles City, Pampanga).
Another key initiative that LGUs can undertake is establishing local conservation areas (LCAs) in their respective jurisdictions through ordinances, according to Lim.
“LCAs may include areas of high-biological diversity, areas vulnerable to climate change, geologically hazardous areas, and other locally significant areas,” she said.
Source: www.mb.com.ph/lgus-urged-to-keep-ph-megadiverse/