4 Cebu species declared as critically endangered

CEBU, Philippines - The Protected Area, Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management  Services-7 has identified three plants species and one bird species in Cebu as critically endangered.

These four are Cebu Kalingag or Cinnamomum Cebuense, the Dendrobium orchid, the Paphiopedilum argus plant and the Cebu flowerpecker or Dicaeum quadricolor.

In line with this, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 of which PWWCZMS belongs to as a division, has earmarked around P50 million to actively and collaboratively work for effective Protected Areas  management and conservation to reduce biodiversity loss.

Of the amount, the PA development and management gets the biggest chunk of P30.052 million or 61 percent; management of coastal and marine resources and areas with P12.914 million or equivalent to 26.2 percent; and protection and conservation of wildlife has a budget of P6.3 million or 12.8 percent.

According to DENR-7 regional executive director Isabelo Montejo the biodiversity conservation of Region 7’s protection areas shall remain as one of the agency’s priorities this year.

In a press statement, Montejo said that protection and preservation of the region’s floral and faunal species and their habitats is one of their major concerns.

DENR-7 oversees around 27 protected areas in Central Visayas, as Montejo emphasized the importance of the logging ban and the National Greening Program to improve forest conditions and forest-related biodiversity with the protected areas.

Protected area refers to identified portions of land and water set aside by reason of their unique physical and biological significance, and managed to enhance biological significance, biological diversity and to protect them against destructive human exploitation. (FREEMAN)