Bio-diversity

Project Descrition: The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP) is facing a series of significant threats to its watershed, further threatening the integrity and biodiversity of the park environmental resources and the quality of the visitor experience. These threats are being caused by activities both within the park boundaries and adjacent to the national park within the park s watershed area. Existing threats within and around the Park are often due to increasing population, most especially the new migrants. As their number increases, so does their demand for resources to provide for their basic needs. Unfortunately, the manner by which resources are utilized critically put the ecosystems and the resources in it under threat. Practices like illegal logging, illegal quarrying, slash and burn agriculture, conversion of forest to agricultural lands and road widening are causing serious damage to the environment, particularly in areas of Tagabenit, Cabayugan and Marufinas. Biodiversity Characteristics: The site is one of the five important bird areas of Palawan in which the province is identified as one of seven endemic bird areas. A total of 165 species of birds in which 15 bird species are endemic to Palawan. There are also some 30 mammal species that have been recorded in the park that can be protected by this project. The 10 hectares planting site along the river bank in the next few years is envisioned to become feeding area of wildlife as the project will make use of plant species producing food for the animals. General Objective: The proposed project seeks to strengthen community based environmental restoration and conservation in three (3) barangays, namely, Cabayugan, Tagabenit and Marufinas towards the protection of their watershed, ecosystems and biodiversity which are vital to the conservation of PPSRNP and development of their communities. Specific Objectives: 1) Strengthen community based environmental restoration and conservation in three (3) barangays, namely, Cabayugan, Tagabenit and Marufinas for the protection of watershed, river ecosystems and biodiversity within it which are vital to the conservation of PPSRNP and development of the communities. 2) Restore the target damaged sites in 3 barangays, which are economically important to the communities, and which are parts of the ecosystems that make up and support PPSRNP; 3) Equip the communities of Cabayugan, Tagabenit and Marufinas with knowledge and skills regarding environmental restoration and conservation; 4) Provide communities alternative conservation techniques and technologies to minimize damage and at the same time can also provide them additional source of livelihood. 5) Protect river and watershed ecosystems thru installation of bio-engineering techniques and planting endemic trees along river banks and initiate regular river clean. 6) Establish a sustainable community based restoration project thru capability building and direct conservation activities. Expeted Outputs/Indicators 1. Introduced cost-effective bioengineering techniques and the resulting restoration of damaged environment by the end of the project in the 3 rural barangays of Puerto Princesa, which are considered economically important to the communities, and which are part of the ecosystems that make up and support PPSRNP; A total of 70 hectares river bank area have been put under community managed restoration scheme. (50 hectares main river, 20 has. Tributaries). Within those 70 hectares, only 10 hectares shall be subject to direct planting of endemic trees producing food for wildlife. Implemented a cost-effective bioengineering in three communities using indigenous materials, such as; copra s sack, endemic trees (kakawate, narra, ipil and the likes), salvage trees, pebble and rocks. They are more aware on the importance of different ecosystems that support the PPSRNP. 2. Increased the level of community awareness on biodiversity issues /climate change and other current environmental issues which are affecting people, health and environment; At least 70-80% of community members attended restoration trainings. At least 70-80%of the community members participated in river clean up, tree planting and river restoration structures. 70-80% of the people from the three communities will have improved awareness on the importance of a healthy and balance environment. Community is expected to apply things learned by putting info materials in their respective barangays 3. 90 community members are trained on alternative techniques and technologies to maximize existing resources in areas of severe soil erosion and resource depletion and at the same time provide them additional source of livelihood; 90 community members are equipped with knowledge and skills on how to restore and protect their resource base. Number of restoration projects implemented in immediate and adjacent communities as a result of project replication or technology adaptation. 4. 12 community members are equipped with skills and knowledge to conduct environmental restoration trainings to other local communities and their barangays. Established a Core Group composed of 12 community members ready to conduct environmental restoration in their nearby barangays to carry-out massive educational campaign about the importance of having a healthy and balance ecosystems.

Philippines