Establishment and management of lake protected areas in the Philippines

Abstract

Republic Act No. 7586 or the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992 provides the overall policy framework for the establishment and management of protected areas in the Philippines. The Law sets the procedural guidelines for the establishment of protected areas while, at the same time, provides the mechanism for the management of these areas in the most consultative and participatory manner. Protected areas are meant to address the conservation and maintenance of the biological diversity of the Philippines in their natural habitats. Lakes are one of the important natural wetland types of the country that need to be sustainably-managed to conserve representative samples of the biodiversity of the Philippines. The National Biodiversity Conservation Priority Setting undertaken by the DENR, through the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB), in collaboration with the University of the Philippines - Center for Integrative and Development Studies and the Conservation International - Philippines in 2002, has identified 206 sites all over the country as priority for biological diversity conservation. Of these conservation priority areas, 170 are within the terrestrial and inland water ecosystems which are primarily considered candidate sites for establishment as part of the NIPAS given their importance to conservation of biological diversity. As of 30 October 2003, the System consists of 93 protected areas proclaimed by the President covering about 2.9 million hectares. Seven of these NIPAS sites have lakes as one of their natural features, managed as integral part of the protected areas. Foremost of these are the Bulusan Lake in Bulusan Volcano Natural Park in Sorsogon, Taal Lake in Taal Volcano Protected Landscape in Batangas, Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park in Negros Oriental, and Lake Duminagat in Mt. Malindang Natural Park in Misamis Occidental. The Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) was created for each of the above-mentioned protected areas, to give directions for management and operation following the provisions of the NIPAS Act. The Board is a multi-sectoral policy-making body for the protected area composed of representatives of the local government units, local and indigenous communities, and other government and non-government organizations. The DENR representative chairs the Board.