Lower Magat forest reserve steering committee meets to improve watershed management

In a bid to improve watershed management in Region 2, the Lower Magat Forest Reserve (LMFR) Steering Commitee recently held its 1st quarter meeting in Diadi, Nueva Vizcaya.

 

In the meeting, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 2 committed to assist the provincial local government unit (PLGU) of Nueva Vizcaya in the renewal of the 25-year LMFR co-management agreement considering that the PLGU has effectively managed the area, particularly the 400 hectares covered by the Lower Magat Ecotourism (LMET) Park.

 

The said Memorandum of Agreement was signed by the former DENR Secretary and Nueva Vizcaya Governor in 1997.

“To facilitate submission of the requirements for renewal, we recommend for the conduct of joint DENR-PLGU performance evaluation in preparation for the submission of the complete staff work to include the 25-year project accomplishment report,” said Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan of the DENR Cagayan Valley.

 

She encouraged the Environmental Management Bureau to facilitate the processing of application for the forest reserve's environmental compliance certificate.

 

As part of the discussion during the meeting, the committee also agreed to formalize a Memorandum of Agreement for the establishment of Wildlife Rescue Center within the park.

 

Recent inventory conducted by the PLGU showed that more or less 50 wildlife species to include 39 individuals were recorded thriving within the ecotourism site such as Philippine serpent eagle, green rat snake, and peacock.

 

Aside from ensuring sustainable wildlife habitat and biodiversity conservation, the PLGU-LMET park will soon cater medical needs of rescued faunal species for their immediate recovery before they will be released to the wild.

 

"Wildlife are important in maintaining the ecological balance of nature. We need them to sustain life," said Director Bambalan.

The said facility to cater wildlife monitoring activities in the southern part of the region will strengthen biodiversity action against the presence of endangered and threatened wildlife species and even their extinction.

 

The committe members from the different government and non-government institutions also discussed the review of all titles issued within the forest reserve to ensure the productivity of land uses.

 

The DENR explained only those survey plans located in alienable and disposable lands will be processed and approved for titling.

 

Meanwhile, Nueva Vizcaya Governor and steering committee chairperson Carlos Padilla directed to revisit the issued multi-sectoral Joint Administrative Order on the issuance of Certificate of Land Ownership Award as one of the agenda in the next council meeting, to update policies and specific roles of the members pertaining the issuance of the said land ownership certificate.#