The Regional Development Council of Region 2 has approved the endorsement for proclamation as protected area (PA) of Northwestern Claveria Area Protected Landscape and Seascape (NorwesCA PLS) in Cagayan, and legislation of Fuyot Spring Natural Park (FSNP) and Dupax Watershed Forest Reserve in Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya, respectively.

 

The endorsement was affirmed after DENR Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 2 presented the Integrated Protected Area Plans of the 3 PAs during the full council and advisory committee meeting held yesterday chaired by Isabela Governor Rodito Albano III in City of Ilagan.

 

Based on the resource profiling and resource basic inventory in 2018, the 2,396.39-hectare proposed PA in Claveria houses near threatened, vulnerable, and endangered flora and fauna species that need immediate protection and conservation.

 

"The proclamation of the proposed NorwesCA PLS will prevent the degradation of terrestrial and marine areas, provide continuous source of livelihood to communities, and protect and conserve biodiversity in the area,” explained Director Bambalan.

 

The said area is home to the tree species Narek (Hopea cagayanensis) which is endemic to Cagayan province.

 

Aiming for inclusion to the list of legislated PAs under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act, the FSNP and DWFR have already passed the Protected Area Suitability Assessment and were endorsed for legislation by the Regional Committee on Sustainable Development in March 2023.

 

FSNP carries the famous Ilagan Sanctuary while DWFR, which will be renamed Dupax Del Sur Natural Park, serves as an abundant source of water supply to numerous barangays.

 

Upon approval by the RDC, the endorsement of the 3 PAs will be forwarded to the Biodiversity Management Bureau National NIPAS Review Committee.

 

The council meeting was also attended by officials from the different government agencies in the region.#