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Mt. Kanlaon, Its Myths and Wildlife, Painting by Masaste
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Table of Contents:
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Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park Management Plan June, 2008 (official management board document with information on the profile of the protected area and the management plan of the 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
IV. MANAGEMENT PLAN . . . . A. Vision, Missions, Goals, and Objectives B. Strategies: 1. Management zoning; 2. Integrated protection, rehabilitation and monitoring; 3. Research and documentations; 4. Community-based resource management; 5.Establishment of non-destructive livelihood alternatives; 6.Information, education and communication; 7. Human resource development; 8. Sustainable resource generation & mobilization; 9. Institutionalization of PA administration & networking; 10. Disaster management 1. Biodiversity conservation and environmental restoration, preservation of landscape, unique habitats and species and cultural characteristics; 2. Economic and social programs; 3. Management structures, capacity, and participation; 4. Disaster Management; E. Management Standards and Guidelines
V.PROPOSED MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE AND INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT VII. BUDGET AND FINANCING PLAN VIII. MONITORING PLAN . . . . A. Monitoring System, B. Evaluation System IX. REFERENCES
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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)
3.3 Physical Features
The Philippines is subdivided into 15 biogeographic zones. The islands of Negros, Panay, Guimaras, Tablas and Romblon with other small islands in the region form part of the Western Visayas Biogeographic Zone (WVBZ). It is an important area for biodiversity conservation and Negros, with MKNP being part of it, has a significant contribution.
The WVBZ has an area of 2,649,736 hectares representing 9% of the total area of the biogeographic zones of the Philippines. It is identified as having a biodiversity-rich ecosystems comprising of closed canopy dipterocarp forest, mangrove vegetation, mossy forest, and coral reefs. MKNP accounts a significant portion of terrestrial ecosystems because of its remaining forest cover.
Of the 18 sites known as the centers of plant diversity of the Philippines identified by the Threatened Plants Unit at Kew, England, four can be found in the WVBZ. These areas are Sibuyan in Romblon, Mount Baloy in Panay and Mount Talines (Lake Balinsasayao) and MKNP in Negros. Birdlife International also included the Negros-Panay area as one of the nine Endemic Bird Areas (EBA) of the Philippines where two or more endemic restricted range of land birds is confined.
Within the WVBZ, there are several areas already proclaimed as components of the NIPAS. These are MKNP (24,557 has.); Sagay Protected Landscape/Seascape (23,300 has.); Apo Island Protected Landscape/Seascape (691.45 has.) and the Taklong Island Marine Reserve. Three of these sites are situated in Negros.
The cultural diversity in the WVBZ is of equal importance. The indigenous peoples existing in the area consist of the Atis, Carolanons, Magahats, Bukidnons and Sulodnons now scattered in different areas of Panay and Negros. Many of them are settled in portions of protected areas (PAs), as in the case of the Bukidnons in MKNP. Certificates of ancestral domains have been awarded to some tribes while others claim ancestral lands, even in areas covered by PAs.
1. Location
Mount Kanlaon is the most dominant landmark in Negros Island’s principal mountain chain that covers the municipalities of Murcia and La Castellana and the cities of Bago, La Carlota, San Cárlos and Canlaon. It is located in the northern portion of Negros Island and falls within the political jurisdiction of the provinces of Negros Occidental and Oriental in Regions VI and VII. It lies approximately between 10°20’ and 30’ N latitude and between 123°00’ and 123° 15’ east longitude.
MKNP covers an area of 24,557.60 hectares or 95.80 sq. miles representing 2% of the total land area of Negros Island. Negros Occidental accounts 92% of its land area and 8% for Negros Oriental.
2. Geology
MKNP is an active stratovolcano of the north-trending Negros volcanic belt. Other volcanic edifices composing the chain are Mounts Mandalagan and Silay in the northern part and Talinis (Cuernos de Negros) at the southernmost part of Negros. It is underlain by tropical volcanic materials composed of sheeted lava flows, lahar deposits, airfall tephra and apron pyroclastic materials. Lava deposits or solidified bodies of rock formed by the lateral surfical outpouring of molten lava from the vent of fissure are quite extensive (PHILVOCS 1987). Volcanic deposit at the base of the mountain is dominated by broad alluvial fan-shaped accumulation of volcanic debris (lahar).
3. Soil
The soil type of the park is generally classified as rough mountainous land. Soil in the northern portion is considered Guimbalaon loam.
4. Topography and Elevation
MKNP is a complex volcano and surrounded by several craters and volcanic peaks. The present cone of the volcano forms a bald and pointed peak that dominates the whole north central region of Negros Island with a highest peak of 2,435 meters asl. MKNP also features the Margaha Valley with an area of more or less 40 hectares and about 2,041 meters asl. The valley is deep and roughly circular surrounded by sheer rock walls, lying about 335 meters below the cone of the volcano. Water floods cover the area to a depth of 1 meter or more during the rainy months of July to November. The northern end of Margaha Valley consists of low hills covered with dwarf vegetation with vertical rock walls that surround it.
The slopes of the park varies from gently sloping to very steep. Steep to very steep slopes, however dominate the landscapes, but toward the plains of Northern Negros the slopes assume a gentle gradient .
5. Hydrology
The slopes of Mount Kanla-on are the headwater catchment of three (3) major river systems draining northwestern Negros, namely: Bago, Nahalin and Binalbagan. Approximately three-fourths of the park belongs to the Bago watershed while the southern slopes are parts of the Binalbagan and Nahalin river watersheds. In San Cárlos City, six (6) rivers have their water source of the park. These river systems provide water to about 158,500 hectares of land area in Negros Occidental. In the Oriental side, MKNP provides water for the Masulog and Enyawan rivers. It also supplies the river systems of Tokon-tokon, Linuthangan and Malaiba in Canlaon City.
6. Climate
The area is characterized by dry season during the middle of December to end of April and wet season the rest of the year. The rainy period is from June to September with October having the highest recorded rainfall and the months of February and March having the lowest recorded precipitation.
Temperatures remain constant with an annual average of 28°C. Temperatures may vary from a low of 16°C to a high of 37°C. The coldest months are January and February while the warmest months are April and May. The average humidity is 79% with April having the lowest relative humidity at 76% and December through January having the highest humidity at 81%. The prevailing wind direction is northeast with an average speed of 2 kph.
7. Hazards
There are several types of natural hazards in MKNP. These can be grouped into volcanic related hazards, landslides, floods and fire. Low tectonic and frequency quakes are common, specifically in areas of Canlaon City, La Castellana and La Carlota City . The most recent was the phreatic explosion on August 10, 1996, which resulted to the death of 3 trekkers at the summit.
Airfall tephra and ballistic projections may greatly harm Canlaon and La Castellana, and to some extent portions of Hinigaran, Isabela, La Carlota City, Murcia, Bago City and Moises Padilla. Fault lines follow a northeastern direction, affecting portions of San Cárlos City.
Landslide is also frequently experienced in many areas of the park. Recent landslides monitored happened in parts of Murcia where open areas dominate the lower portion of the park with denuded riverbanks. Excessive rains may cause floods and landslides especially in areas where sparse vegetation exists. These are likely to happen in agricultural areas because of the absence of trees along the slopes of the contours of agri-based activities.
Considered flood prone areas are those covered by the municipalities of Murcia, La Castellana and Bago because of the volume of water coming from the high slopes and open areas. Meanwhile, the long dry season greatly affects the present vegetation in the locality. The presence of mid-montane forest and grasslands make it susceptible to fires.