BEEFING UP PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT

BEEFING UP PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Cagayan Valley with the assistance of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) has strengthened its ecological tourism site development programs to conserve biodiversity within the Quirino Protected Landscape (QPL).

DENR Regional Executive Director and PAMB chairperson Gwendolyn C. Bambalan approved Committee Resolution No. 17 s. 2021 endorsing to the board the Trail Resources Assessment and Monitoring (TRAM) Report for the management of ecotourism sites within the Diffun Eco-Park covering barangays Baguio Village and Don Mariano Perez.

The resolution provides importance to the TRAM report as it aims to establish a resource-based inventory and assessment and determine the present community resources that needs to be conserved, protected, developed and enhanced for ecotourism project.

It is an essential element in the enhancement, management, conservation and protection of the biodiversity and the natural beauty of the ecotourism sites within the eco-park.

The report also serves as baseline data relevant to the management of the said park which is found rich in diverse flora and fauna.

In the PAMB Executive Committee Meeting held recently, PENR Officer Mariam Frances Malana who presided over the meeting, said the result of the TRAM is one of the requirements in the proposed development and management of the Bagnes Nature Park and Campsite in Baguio Village.

“This proposed development within the Diffun Eco-Park should coincide with the guidelines under DENR Administrative Order No. 2009-09 or the Standard Design and Specification of Signs, Buildings, Facilities and other infrastructure that may be installed and/or constructed within Protected Areas,” she emphasized.

She also added the need to ratify the Community Resources Management Framework (CRMF) of Baguio Village Integrated Cultural Association to conform to the policies on how the community will manage and be benefitted from the forest resources on a sustainable basis.

Conservation and Development Division Chief Enrique Pasion cited the potential of the park to become one of the famous tourist attractions in Diffun town.  He committed to extend assistance in the updating and enhancement of the ecotourism management plan of the park.  

The PAMB Meeting also highlighted the discussion on the implementation status of National Greening Program, milestones of Forest Management Project, road construction project by the Department of Public Works and Highways, health and safety/protocols on ecotourism sites, and cave management plan of Dia-Dian Cave.

PAMB members composed of concerned DENR officials and representatives from national government agencies, non-government organizations and people’s organizations in the province attended the meeting.#

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