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Mt. Kanlaon, Its Myths and Wildlife, Painting by Masaste
Save Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park
PNOC-EDC, the world's biggest geothermal development corporation is set to cut at least 4,000 trees and construct roads and wells for the extraction of geothermal steam within one of the few remaining primary forests of the Philippines. A law has been passed excluding 169 hectares of this forest from strict protection, reclassifying the area as a buffer zone. A "buffer" in name only, the 169 hectares sliced out of the strict protection zone of the natural park, is 95% primary forest with rich biodiversity and endemicity. The Coalition to Save Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park, led by the Diocese of Bacolod and Green Alert Negros is a a movement of NGOs, POs, private individuals, representatives of the academe, and others who are exerting every effort to block PNOC-EDC.
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About Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park:
II. INTRODUCTION III. PROFILE OF THE PROTECTED AREA. A. Historical Context and Rationale for Protected Area Establishment B. Regional and Local Development Context C. Physical Features: Location, Geology, Soils, Topography, Hydrology, Climate, Hazards D. Biological Features: Habitats and ecosystem; E. Social, Economic and Cultural Profile: 1. Population, demographics, and migration patterns; 2. Indigenous groups’ cultural profile; 3. Land use, ownership and tenure; 4. Resource use practices; 5. Poverty levels; 6. Social indicators; G. Current and Proposed Programs and Projects in MKNP H. Current PA Management Structure and Capabilities for Management I. Major Management and Development Issues and Concerns
(from the MKNP Management Plan, June 2001. Links to the contents of the complete plan are found on each webpage.)
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Mount Kanla-on in Negros
Island was proclaimed a protected
area under the category of a Natural Park through Presidential Proclamation No.
1005 on May 8, 1997 and RA 9154, The Mt. Kanlaon
Natural Park Act of 2001.
Unfortunately, RA 9154 sliced off from the park's
24,557.6 hectares,
169 hectares that was reclassified as a "buffer zone" for geothermal exploration
and development by the Philippine National Oil Corporation - Energy Development
Corporation. Had these 169 hectares been cogonal land or farmland on the margins
of the park, the reclassification might have been justifiable. But even studies
commissioned by the PNOC-EDC show that 95% of the 169 hectares is old growth
primary mixed lowland forest.
MKNP
is part of the Western Visayas Biogeographic Zone (WVBZ) and is an
important area for biodiversity conservation. The WVBZ represents 9% of the
total area of the 15 biogeographic zones of the Philippines.
MKNP is one of two natural parks in the greater-Negros-Panay faunal region
where variety of endemic and endangered species can still be found. It has a
high biodiversity value particularly on endemism and species richness and serves
as an important life support system as a watershed for a large portion of Negros
Island. It is home to some species of plants and animals not found elsewhere in
the world and where natural landscape is at its best. (from the MKNP Management
Plan)
Authorized by R.A. 9154, PNOC-EDC is now set to construct roads and geothermal wells inside the contested 169 hectare. The Coalition to Save Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park, the Diocese of Bacolod, Green Alert-Negros, and other NGOs, POs, etc. stand firm in their opposition to the intrusion into the natural park, which by definition of law, is a relatively large area not materially altered by human activity, where extractive resource uses are not allowed, and maintained to protect outstanding natural and scenic areas of national or international significance for scientific, educational, and recreational use." (Article I. Section 3(f)), Republic Act 9154)
CONTENTS:
Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park Management Plan (includes information on Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park)
POSITION PAPERS:
Coalition's Position Paper on RA 9154 & the Intrusion of the PNOC-EDC Geothermal Project into Mount Kanlaon Natural Park.
Green Alert's Position Paper: Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park Act of 2001: A Tragedy of the Commons (A Call to All Filipinos to Protect the Remaining Forest)
No Law to Allow the Sale, Rape, and Murder of Mother Earth. A feminist view of the PNOC-EDC geothermal development of our natural park. by Andrea L. Si for Development Through Active Women Networking Foundation, Inc.
GREEN ALERT RESPONSE ON ILLEGAL STRUCTURES IN DON SALVADOR BENEDICTO AND THE REST OF NORTHERN NEGROS FOREST PARK May 28, 2008
GREEN ALERT RESPONSE ON ILLEGAL STRUCTURES IN DON SALVADOR BENEDICTO AND THE REST OF NORTHERN NEGROS FOREST PARK May 28, 2008
Send a statement of support,
comments, materials that could help in the struggle to preserve Mt. Kanlaon
Natural Park.
webmaster's e-mail: [email protected]
yahoogroup: groups.yahoo.com/group/SAVEMTKANLAON
Other websites: http://travelpod.com/member/savekanlaon