The United State-supported Protect Wildlife Project in the Philippines has help strengthened the enforcement capability of Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP) by formulating enforcement protocols and enforcement plans, and reinforced linkages with other law enforcement agencies.
The Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC), a non-government organization has conducted workshop on Wednesday with PPSRNP protected area management office (PAMO), barangays within the protected area, national government agencies including law enforcement agencies, representatives from the City Government, and stakeholder in an effort to support law enforcement strategies within the national park.
PPSRNP protected area superintendent Elizabeth Maclang said that the workshop will help them concretize their enforcement strategies within the PPSRNP which is also considered as World’s Heritage Site.
“Napakahalaga ang pagbubuo ng enforcement protocol sa PA (protected area) at World Heritage Site. May pangangailangan talaga kami para hindi masira, hindi mawawala ang integridad ng (PPSRNP) national park. May guide tayo ngayon para ma-concretize sya,” she said.
PPSRNP encompasses one of the world’s most impressive cave systems, featuring spectacular limestone karst landscapes, intact old-growth forests and distinctive wildlife. One of its distinguishing features is an underground river that emerges directly into the sea, and its lower portion is subject to tidal influences. The area that contains globally significant habitat for biodiversity conservation containing a full ‘mountain-to-sea’ ecosystem.
Atty. Grezilda “Gerthie” Mayo-Anda, executive director of ELAC said that the activity is a component of the Protect Wildlife Project.
Protect Wildlife is a multi-pronged program that works to conserve biodiversity, protect wildlife, and sustain ecosystem services in ways that also improve the local population’s livelihoods and long-term well-being in the Philippines. One of the project’s goal is to place identified biologically significant areas in the country, especially in Palawan and Zamboanga, under improved natural resource management.
The foreign-funded project is about to end by October 2020, but has to extend until December 2020.
Atty. Anda said that aside from the formulation of enforcement protocol for PPSRNP and Cleopatra’s Needle Critical Habitat (CNCH) in Puerto Princesa City, they will also hold enforcement training for Mount Mantalingahan Protected Landscape (MMPL), Malampaya Sound Protected Landscape and Seascapes (MSPLS), El Nido Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area (ENTMRPA), and Rasa Island Wildlife Sanctuary as part of the Protect Wildlife Project.
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