Mt. Kanlaon, Its Myths and Wildlife, Painting by Masaste

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(Note: This Management Plan was approved prior to the passage of RA 9154, declaring Mt. Kanlaon a Natural Park and authorizing PNOC-EDC to enter into 169 hectares of a so called "buffer zone" for the purpose for geothermal exploration and development. In this 2001 Management Plan, there is no room for PNOC-EDC's geothermal development. The plan is included in full in this website because it is closer to an ideal of how the plan should be. )

Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park

Management Plan: June 2001(Con't)

3.9       Major Management and Development Issues and Concerns

The integration of conservation and development issues pose as a major management challenge for MKNP. Pressure on economic development and population demand comes in conflict with the need to balance resource use and conservation priorities. As a protected area, MKNP has environmental assets that if sustainably used will provide larger benefits to the majority of the population. Just like any other PAs in the country, however, MKNP is not spared of management issues and concerns that need to be addressed by the management plan. These issues and concerns as summarized in Annex C, are discussed below.

Conservation Issues  

The paramount issue on the ecological integrity of MKNP is the decreasing size of habitat with a fragmented, degraded and disturbed lowland habitat and its forested areas confined only in rugged and steep slopes of the park. The diminishing quality of habitat further endangers the numerous flora and fauna especially the endemic species, many of which are already highly threatened of extinction. Along with the deterioration of its biodiversity values, is the threat to its watershed capacity with vast of the areas converted into other land uses, thereby affecting domestic, agricultural and industrial sources of water even in the downstream areas. The diminishing forest cover of MKNP would further aggravates the problem on soil fertility and erosion, as well as the problem on siltation and sedimentation of the different river systems. In particular, the degradation of the park would diminish the biological resources that have ecological, economic and cultural significance including the deterioration of its aesthetic features, and would further decline the quality of Negros environment in general. Thus, there is a need to pursue further studies and researches on the biological resources of MKNP and its ecology as a whole.

Socio-Economic, Political and Cultural Development Issues

The increasing number of park occupants and conflicting resource uses largely threaten the conservation of MKNP. Over the years, there were waves of in and out migration in the PA. This increasing population corresponds to an increase in socio-economic demands that invites further encroachment of forested areas for conversion into agricultural lands and continued extraction of biological resources. The intensive agricultural use of the park is aggravated by the lack of support system for sustainable form of livelihood.

The development and practice of other destructive livelihood negatively impact on the fragile and sensitive biodiversity that may lead to the extinction of species at the MKNP. The growing game fowl industry that is widespread within and immediately outside the PA boundaries may affect wildlife in the area through the spread of domesticated bacteria. The popular and intensive use of chemical based fertilizers and pesticides for agriculture also threatens the biodiversity of the PA.

Population growth is an issue and problem given the growing settlements in the park and its impact on the resources of MKNP. While this becomes a matter of balancing the needs of biodiversity concerns and placing the communities in the mainstream of conservation efforts, the growth in population also demands the implementation of development and social services programs and projects in the settlement sites. However, project planners and implementers have yet to harmonize development perspectives with PA management framework. Environmentally critical projects introduced by various government agencies have to be balanced with conservation goals. These include the construction of roads and other infrastructures in the park like irrigation systems, school buildings, electrical lines, and water impounding stations and tanks among others.

The implementation of environmentally- critical projects also pose hazards to the fragile state of the PA. The proposed geothermal development project of the PNOC is a classic example and touches on the legal infirmity of the presidential proclamation declaring MKNP as a protected area while allowing at the same time geothermal exploration and extraction within the PA. Other development frameworks on agriculture and tourism need to be harmonized in the context of PA management.

Land tenure of IPs and tenured migrants is one of the most pressing issues directly affecting the management of the PA. The issuance or the absence of land tenure documents or instruments among these occupants can cause serious problems because of conflicting claims on the land. While the IPs invoke their claim based on ancestral domain, the migrants demand security of tenure for the use of the same land. Moreover, there are private and titled properties within the boundaries of the PA as well as presence of absentee claimants.

Presently, there are already several POs directly involved in conservation efforts in the park. Still, there is a need to reach out considerable number of migrants who lack appreciation and understanding of the values of biodiversity. Organizing work has not reached the point where the critical mass of the organized communities are easily mobilized.

Economic development in some areas is perceived as unsustainable and lacks the integration of environmental protection and biodiversity conservation into the development framework. This also reflects a lack of understanding of the PA vis-à-vis the larger landscape and seascape of the island. Moreover, the national and local government units have to sustain their commitment in protecting MKNP in concrete terms. Changes in the leadership of the DENR and other government agencies and LGUs may affect the continuity of implementation of installed efforts and initiatives.

Management Issues  

The continuity of the membership of PAMB is directly affected with the change of political leaders of the different LGUs and reorganizations in the case of NGOs, POs and DENR. The lack of technical capability and knowledge of some of its members also hampers the PAMB operations, particularly in conservation management strategies and drawing out conservation-driven decisions.

Similarly, the structure of the Office of the PASu needs to be institutionalized to effectively carry out its functions and mandate as the secretariat to the PAMB and operating office of the DENR in the area. There is a need to support legislative and management measures to legitimize the operations of the PA office in relation to other DENR offices such as the CENRO and PENRO. Proper identification and delineation of authorities, functions, structures and regular staffing are needed to ensure proper management of the MKNP.

The management of the PA is also affected by the lack of technical and logistical support. There is not enough allocation for operational and technical activities. The present operations of the PAMB and the PASu Office solely rely on the CPPAP and the question now is how to sustain their operations following the project phase out. Enhancing the capability of PASu staff in resource management particularly in concepts integrating conservation and development is equally important to take into account.  Moreover, the operations of the host NGO is co-terminus with the project thus, raising the issue on the sustainability of its operations.

Networking and coordination with other government agencies is another area that requires more improvement in the management of the park. While there are efforts initiated to correct the gaps, there is still weak coordination between and with other government agencies in project development and implementation. The LGUs are also slow in the issuance of legislation needed to support PAMB policies in MKNP.

Disaster Management Issues

The threats posed by nature are equally important to consider. Volcanic eruptions may slowly or even immediately alter the landscape and derail efforts in environmental protection and conservation. The characteristics of MKNP merits further scrutiny and study in terms of tourism development because of its natural hazards. In addition, other hazards that include landslide, flooding and fires are among the concerns that need to be attended.

In addition, while the peace and order in MKNP has significantly improved in recent years, it is not guaranteed with the reported presence and sightings of several armed men in the park. There are also portions in the park, particularly in remote villages of Murcia that become refuge of lawless persons who are avoiding arrest from police authorities. Criminal cases cannot be avoided as well with the presence now of communities inside the park.

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