Contributing To Biodiversity Conservation

By Author: Karla Gae Pascua
Total Articles: 9
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The conservation of biological diversity, or biodiversity, is important in both economic and ethical terms. There is no shortage of examples of wild animals and plants being put to service for the benefit and economic development of mankind: new drugs, new fibers, new foods, and new genetic capabilities. Beyond this, however, is a non-material valuation of biodiversity, often less expounded, but in many ways more powerful. While in the economic sense, biodiversity represents unimaginable wealth, in the ethical sense it is simply priceless.

Disturbingly, biodiversity is fast declining with an extinction rate of over 150 species a day. (United Nations Environment Program, 1990). Ecosystems such as forests, wetlands and grasslands are being altered and destroyed, upsetting the delicate balance of nature.

Scrutinizing Mindoro
In the Philippines, one area where resources are fast becoming depleted is Mindoro. There is no doubt that Mindoro is one of the world's most important centers of endemism; there are at least 10 species of mammals, 20 species and subspecies of birds, 49 species and subspecies ...
... of butterflies, an undefined number of reptiles, amphibians and fishes, and over 70 species of flowering plants.

Unfortunately, Mindoro had no local institutional capability to develop or sustain a structured biodiversity conservation program. It didn't take long before Mindoro was recognized by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the World Conservation Monitoring Center (WCMC), Birdlife International (BLI), Fauna & Flora International (FFI), Conservation International (CI) and most other major international conservation agencies, as one of the world's ten highest priority areas for conservation concern.

Conservation and development
To help reverse the destruction of its ecosystem and address Mindoro's deficiency in resources, Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX), Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), and Fauna and Flora International (FFI) together with the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) undertook a biodiversity conservation study for Mindoro.

What was learned during the study brought forward the need for an organization capable of operating a world-class regeneration and breeding center for threatened species. In July 2003, an organization that will integrate biodiversity conservation, environmental education, advocacy and community development into a master plan, was finally incorporated in the form of the Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation and Development Foundation, Inc. (MBCDFI).

MBCDFI has a mission focused on enhancing and enabling the conservation of Mindoro's unique and threatened environment, biodiversity and natural resources into perpetuity, through the establishment of an integrated biodiversity conservation program. Ideally, the umbrella program to be implemented by MBCDFI should be comprised of two integral components: 1) development of an integrated biodiversity conservation program and 2) development of the Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Center (MBCC).

While the MBCC is primarily to serve as the administrative and operational headquarters for the Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Program (MBCP), the first component is much more complex. For one, it is broken down into nine sub-programs, each a challenge in its own. These are:

1. Applied Research Program (including resource inventory and assessment). Includes complete detailed faunal/floral surveys of mainland Mindoro and its satellite islets; establish and maintain a biodiversity database (fauna and flora); and conduct Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping of the island's remaining natural resources and existing or proposed protected areas.

2. Protected Areas Development Program. Involves protection of the most critical and representative habitats/sites including: Lubang Island, Puerto Galera, Mt. Halcon, Sablayan, Malpalon, Bongabong, Mt. Hitdig, Mt. Calavite, Ilin island, among others.

3. Habitat Restoration Program. Formulate agreements for development of assisted natural regeneration and mixed native species reforestation projects, both within and outside the existing protected areas network (including privately owned land). The development of native species' tree nurseries, threatened plant and animal species' recovery programs (both leading to reintroduction programs) and personnel training programs are also part of this process.

4. Threatened Species' Recovery Program. Develop and implement recovery strategies for selected, most threatened fauna and flora. Related activities will include: promoting awareness and enhancing protection activities; field research; development of world-class conservation, breeding and research facilities; habitat restoration and reintroduction.

5. Conservation Education Program. Organize teachers' training courses; publish key references, teaching briefs and other education materials on biodiversity conservation; conduct biodiversity conservation workshops for decision-makers and other key stakeholders, media, etc., and develop other relevant facilities, including mobile education unit for local community awareness and other outreach activities.

6. Personnel Training Program. Offer unparalleled opportunities for training protected area managers, foresters, wildlife biologists, community workers, educators, etc. in any and all of the above program areas/topics; thus also providing additional skills and livelihood opportunities in rural communities, especially those in biologically sensitive areas.

7. Community Development Program. Promote positive community relations, particularly amongst the indigenous groups and other rural constituents in biologically sensitive areas. Introduce alternative livelihood opportunities and small enterprise developments in buffer zones or other less critical sites, wherever possible using existing sustainable indigenous knowledge, systems and practices. This program will also be implemented in close collaboration with other relevant agencies/institutions, both local and international.

8. Sustainable Development Program. Implement all aspects of a financial sustainability plan, comprising a suite of financial management, income-generating and institutional partnership schemes.

9. Advocacy Program. Awareness building programs on environmental conservation and protection shall be promoted in partnership with private, government and non-government groups. Lobbying groups shall be organized to pursue specific objectives with concerned stakeholders.

These programs aim to see to the long-term conservation of Mindoro's native and endemic wildlife and their natural habitats for the benefit of future generations. It will take years of resilience and dedication, as well as a genuine desire to protect the island's bountiful resources.
About the Author: Karla Gae L. Pascua is a senior copywriter at Agatep Associates, Inc., one of Philippine's leading public relations agencies. Pascua has been writing professionally for over a decade, seven years of which were under the stewardship of the industry's acknowledged father of public relations, former UST professor, and journalism textbook author, Charlie Agatep. Source: www.isnare.com