Government acts to protect national parks

The Philippines has one of the oldest park systems. It started on Feb. 1, 1932 with the passage of the Act for the Establishment of National Parks. Unfortunately, its implementation was hampered by a host of problems like the vagueness of the law itself, authorized commercial logging, rampant illegal logging, and insufficient knowledge on conservation principles. Various initiatives were also advanced to rationalize national parks management but they were hardly felt.

In 1992, a landmark legislation was issued giving protected areas, which include the national parks, the essential and adequate attention. Republic Act No. 7586 or the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) "recognized the importance of the integrated protected areas system as a powerful mechanism for the conservation of the country’s biodiversity." The Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of the DENR, is mandated to implement this law.

According to the State of the Art Review on Managing ASEAN Forests for Biological Diversity, the country has currently 68 terrestrial areas that have been designated as national parks. Fifty-nine of these areas are under the control of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the rest by the local government.

Five parks are included among the 10 protected areas selected for initial implementation of the NIPAS Law and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). They are Mt. Apo in Davao — the highest peak in the Philippines and home of the Philippine eagle; Mt. Kitanglad in Bukidnon which is also a habitat of the Philippine eagle; Subic-Bataan which up to now is inhabited by the Aetas; Mt. Canlaon in Negros Oriental; and Northern Sierra Madre. "The Philippine Biodiversity." An Assessment and Action Plan" provides a wealth of information on their biological diversity — the types, numbers and other specifics of species found therein including the endemic, rare and endangered ones.

National Parks consist of land with beautiful landscape, important history, and rare plant or animal species, preserved in its natural state for the benefit of public education and enjoyment, and declared as such by law.

They are valuable for several reasons: they recycle carbon dioxide to make oxygen, they support the growth of the plants to hold moisture and soil to limit floods, they allow the the decomposion of organic matter to form soils, and afford predatory-prey relationship to minimize pest population.

National Parks protect biological diversity. They are home to diverse species of flora and fauna and microorganisms. Various unique and fascinating plants and animals usually thrive in these places. They serve as learning laboratories for the people to appreciate the value of environment and be imbued with a sense of responsibility to care for, protect and enhance environmental quality.

They are centers of recreation and tourism. Getting close to nature is a wonderful way to relax, unwind, and recreate our spiritual and psychological well being. They also protect historical and spiritual memories of our cultural heritage.

Like other areas with rich biodiversity, national parks are prone to threats from human activities like illegal logging, over-exploitation and encroachment. Development projects like infrastructure, road networks, irrigation and energy projects as well as forest fires and pest and diseases are considered pressures in these areas.

Protection of national parks from adverse human activities and harmonizing development needs of the country vis-à-vis their protection and conservation therefore, are the challenges that face the implementation of NIPAs law.