To protect biodiversity in mining areas and promote sustainable development and utilization of natural and mineral resources, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has recently conducted orientation on DENR Administrative Order No. 2022-04 or “Enhancing Biodiversity Conservation and Protection in Mining Operations.”

 

In the three-day Luzon cluster orientation on DAO 2022-04 hosted by the DENR Region 2, over 60 participants from DENR central office, staff and line bureaus, and regions in the Cordilleras, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON and MIMAROPA were oriented on the provisions of the new policy to minimize negative impacts of mining on biodiversity.

 

In her message, Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan of the DENR Cagayan Valley shared the experiences and best practices on mining rehabilitation with the engagement of the mining companies and stakeholders. “We will continue to uphold responsible mining, and that rehabilitation and enrichment of affected areas are always our priority,” she said.

 

Director Bambalan required mining companies in the region to identify reference ecosystems in mining sites where they can grow and restore native and endemic species that they can use in rehabilitating affected or mined areas.

 

She also emphasized that through the region's initiative, the partner mining companies are more into area development rather than mere seedlings replacement scheme because aside from providing livelihood opportunities to the partner Peoples Organizations, it also contributed to the increased areas developed under the National Greening Program.

 

The establishment of a three-hectare arboretum in Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya, and creation of regional environmental law enforcement committee to amplify the cross-sectoral approach in the enforcement of environmental laws were other initiatives to enhance forest development in the region.

 

“I would like to remind the participants that as DENR employees, we have a very critical role to play. We are obliged to strictly implement mining and other ENR laws, rules and regulations. This is our commitment to the environment, to the people, and to the generations to come,” the regional environment chief added.

 

Meanwhile, Assistant Secretary for Finance, Information Systems and Mining Concerns Nonita Caguioa emphasized the importance of collaboration with key stakeholders in order to successfully implement the said law.

 

“This rollout training aims to impart to the participants knowledge on responsible mining ensuring the protection of biodiversity and species habitat,” ASec. Caguioa stressed adding the provision of adequate measures to protect biodiversity as one of the objectives of the new policy.

 

The orientation was organized by the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) under the leadership of Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning and Foreign Assisted and Special Projects Marcial Amaro Jr. who is also the BMB Director in concurrent capacity.

 

It was co-organized by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, DENR-United Nations Development Program and Global Environmental Facility Biodiversity Corridor Project, and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Centre for Biodiversity-Biodiversity Conservation and Management of Protected Areas in ASEAN Project.#