Bio-diversity

For the past ten (10) years, a dramatic decline of the water supply in the province of Siquijor has been observed. Respective Local Government Units (LGUs) had been drilling wells all over their areas to find good supply of water. Some of the wells that they depended have reduced its water supply level and many have run dry. Moderate to severe soil erosion can also be observed in many areas of the island. This has also affected the marine and fishery resources that have been destroyed by siltation. It can also be noted that the minimal intervention of replanting in the identified watershed areas by the DENR and the concern LGUs was less successful. The absence of a clear and deliberate effort to organize and educate the communities surrounding these environmentally significant areas and the lack of a relevant and doable resources management plan has aggravated the situation. While irresponsible utilization of the upland farming areas has affected the decline not only of water supply but also the yield of the farmers. The severe soil erosion that is starting to destroy the marine and fishery resources has also deprived the marginal fisherfolks for good catch thereby decreasing their daily income. This is not to mention the destructive fishing practices employed by some fisherfolks in the interest of increasing their fish catch. General Objective: To facilitate the protection and rehabilitation of the coastal and upland resources of the island as well as enhancing the living conditions of the communities. Specific Objectives: 1. Enhance the vegetative cover of the watershed and mangrove areas of the island with an estimated area of 50 hectares mainly to be located in the upland areas of Balolang, Bintangan, Canlasog and Helen, Larena; Canghaling, San Juan; and the Larena Siquijor mangrove corridor. 2. Establish two upland nurseries of indigenous species of trees and two mangrove nurseries 3. Sustain the conservation and protection efforts of the established five (5) environmentally significant marine protected areas (MPAs)/fish marine sanctuaries in Sandugan, Cangmalalag/Taculing and Nonoc of Larena and Caticugan, Banban/Luyang of Siquijor with a total area of 53.15 hectares 4: Enhance the level of capability and environmental awareness of at least 30 % of the targeted upland communities 5: Enhance the level of environmental awareness of at least 60% of the targeted coastal communities 6: formulate a simple, understandable and doable resource management plans for each of the target sites that will be incorporated in the municipal development plans of the concern local government units. 7: Establish the community s management rights or resource use rights affecting the established protected areas. 8: Facilitate the provision of livelihood project of the concern partner communities 9: Monitor the progress of the project and evaluate its performance Expected Outcomes: a. Rehabilitate and replanted selected denuded mangrove and upland areas of the island with an estimated area of 56 hectares; b. Two (2) upland nurseries (Canghaling and Bintangan) and 2 coastal nurseries (Cangmalalag and Caticugan) are established and are used in the propagation of seedlings c. Sustained the conservation and protection efforts of the existing Protected Areas (coastal and upland). d. Enhanced level of environmental awareness of 30% of the targeted upland communities e. Enhanced level of environmental awareness of 60% of the targeted upland communities f. Simple, understandable and doable resource management plans for each of the target sites have been formulated and adopted by the local sanggunian and incorporated in their annual investment plan. g. Community s management rights or resource use rights affecting the established protected areas now established. Planned Actions and Activities: 1. Restoration, rehabilitation of target biodiversity areas 2. Protection of habitats, damaged sites 3.Building capacities of constituents 4. Advocacy, IEC

Philippines