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

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Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park

Management Plan: June 2001

3.0       PROFILE OF THE PROTECTED AREA

3.1       Historical Context and Rationale for PA Establishment

Mount Kanla-on, then spelled with a “C,” was first proclaimed as a national park by virtue of Proclamation 721 on August 8, 1934. The park covers a total land area of 24,557.60 hectares.

1.          Early Settlements

As early as the pre-Spanish period, people have inhabited Mount Kanla-on. The Negritos or Atis have roamed the mountain particularly in the northern slopes to hunt. In the 1840s, the first wave of settlers called the  “Montescos” or “Bukidnons” (Visayan term for “mountain people”), who were the non-subjugated Indios, occupied the slopes of the park to avoid paying tribute to the Spanish government. The Bukidnons were also known as Babaylanes being followers of Babaylans or native priests. The Babaylanes, under the leadership of the famed Papa Isio, grew in population as it evolved into a millenarian movement for the independence of the island from the Spanish and later American rule.

Following the collapse of the Babaylanes under the American regime, a non-Christian reservation outside the proposed boundary of the park at San Cárlos City was established where the Bukidnons and the Atis were relocated sometime in 1932. This gave way to the proclamation of Mount Kanla-on as a national park.

The Atis, given their nomadic character, often sold their landholdings to lowlanders and leave the area. The Bukidnons would do the same and moved further into the park, clearing new areas for cultivation. This attracted a new group of lowlanders to settle in the footslopes of the park. During World War II, at the height of the Japanese occupation, MKNP also served as shelter and protection to American and Filipino soldiers. Since then a steady influx of migrants settled in the area.

2.         Pressures from Resource Extraction and Population

The BFD allowed logging activities under certain conditions in MKNP specifically in the municipality of La Castellana. This opened the park to land less migrants with large tracks of logged over areas converted into agricultural use. Areas of the park with gentle rolling slopes were also cleared particularly in Canlaon and San Cárlos cities and these became productive agricultural areas because the soils are fertile and free flowing water resources are available. The presence of settlers in the park intensified the economic activities within the area and with little regulation, soon reached alarming proportions. These include sedentary agriculture, traditional slash and burn agriculture and wildlife resource extraction such as hunting, orchid gathering, charcoal making, timber poaching and butterfly catching, among others.

The growth of settlements consequently resulted in the formation of communities that became political units within MKNP. Presently, there are 15 barangays that enjoy territorial jurisdictions over the park with 4 having permanent barangay centers inside and the rest located at 1 kilometer or less from its boundaries.

3.         Protection and Rehabilitation Efforts

Initiatives were made to protect and rehabilitate the degraded condition of the park in the early 80’s to the 90’s. These include the CIRP, RRDP and IRP designed to reforest the park and provide livelihood opportunities to the occupants. Several contract reforestation projects followed in partnership with private and NGO/PO contractors. However, most of these did not succeed due to underlying socio-economic and political problems. Efforts to relocate park occupants through law enforcement also failed.

There were attempts too, to prepare the development plan of MKNP, but were not implemented for lack of government support and political will. Conditions were aggravated by low environmental consciousness among the public and local officials. The mounting insurgency conflict compounded the problems on park management with several areas of MKNP becoming strongholds of the anti-government rebel forces of the New People’s Army (NPA).   

4.         Mount Kanla-on as a Protected Area

While MKNP is facing enormous issues, the fact remains that it is an area of ecological importance.  Several studies have affirmed its high value of biodiversity, particularly on species endemism and richness. It is also one of the few remaining areas in Negros where forest cover has been left intact and serves as an important watershed. The natural park is an area where the remnants of culture and history of Negros can be traced. It is home to some species of flora and fauna not found elsewhere in the world and where natural landscape is at its best.

These values and character of MKNP amidst pressing issues and concerns merited its designation as a protected area under the category of a natural park and was so proclaimed under the NIPAS Law through Presidential Proclamation No. 1005 on May 8, 1997.

3.2              Regional and Local Development Context

The development thrusts of the Philippine government that are articulated in the medium term development plans (MTDP) of the national and local government units (LGUs) have a strong impact on natural resource management. It is important that these plans are reconciled and coordinated particularly in the case of MKNP because of its geo-political configuration, which include four (4) cities and two (2) municipalities in two (2) provinces within two (2) regions.

The development scenarios of Negros Occidental and Oriental including the involved municipalities and cities recognize the various problems of environmental degradation affecting the island. These plans note the interdependence between environmental quality and economic productivity under the production and protection strategy adopted for both marine and upland development. They reflect the growing concern for protection, rehabilitation, and conservation through strategies that are sustainable and participatory such as organic farming for agriculture, formation of local environment councils, and community-based resource management.

The environment framework in the MTDPs include total protection of the remaining forest cover, existing flora and fauna, reserves and sanctuaries, and acknowledges the need for massive IEC on environment, provision of livelihood support in connection with environmental programs, research and strict enforcement of laws.  Programs on solid waste and water resources management are also being pushed for strengthening.

The provincial MTPDPs put high priorities on poverty alleviation and environmental protection alongside their preferred strategies on agriculture, fishery, trade and industry developments. These thrusts, while focused on food sufficiency, quality basic services, agro-industrialization, infrastructure development and tourism, have integrated environmental considerations in the formulation of various sectoral programs and projects.

During the past five-year period, special bodies were formed for policy formulation and management of environmentally critical areas, including the PAMB of the MKNP, Sagay Marine Reserve and Apo Reefs Sanctuary in Negros Occidental and Oriental, respectively. Enforcement groups were also organized complementary to the policy-making and management bodies.

Tourism development is one of the development potentials of Negros Island, but zeroes in on festivals and events and tours to scenic spots and there is a danger that the commercialism of the industry may provide negative impacts to environmental critical sites like MKNP. The priority on food production and agricultural productivity using technologies based on intensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides may further degrade the fragile lowland ecosystems and biodiversity in general.

Conversions of agricultural lands into residential and industrial zones can also lead to more forest clearing and upland migrations. Similarly, the profitability of game fowl or fighting cocks breeding may lead to expansion of existing farms in the park. However, the articulation of environment concerns and integration of these into the development framework and goals of the provincial development plans, is a positive and major step in the work toward environmental protection and biodiversity conservation.

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