Sustaining Living

Systems
Module 8
Biodiversity
Conservation
Preserving Philippine Biodiversity: Our Global
Commitments

• The Philippines is committed to actively manage and preserve the nation's

biodiversity.
• We are a signatory to key international agreements, notably the 1992 UN
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
• CBD: A pioneering global initiative for addressing biological diversity challenges.
• Core CBD objectives: conserve biodiversity, sustainably use its components, and
ensure fair benefits from genetic resource utilization (Muralikrishna and
Manickam, 2017).
Protected Areas
• Globally, biodiversity conservation has been done through the establishment of protected
areas.
• IUCN defines protected areas as “a clearly defined geographical space, recognized, dedicated
and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of
nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values”
• Beyond biodiversity conservation, protected areas play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy
environment for both people and nature.
• According to IUCN, these areas are essential for biodiversity, integral to indigenous peoples' and
local communities' cultures and livelihoods and contribute to clean air and water.
• Protected areas benefit millions through tourism, offering protection against climate change,
and serving as a shield against natural disasters (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN, 2016).
Global Progress and Aichi Targets in Protected
Area Expansion
2011 Overview: Over 150,000 protected sites globally, covering 24
million square kilometers—equivalent to more than 15% of the Earth's
total land surface (IUCN and UNEP-WCMC, 2012).
2016 Status: Global coverage at 14.8% for terrestrial and inland water
areas, 5.1% for oceans, and 12.7% for coastal and marine areas (IUCN
2016).
Aichi Target 11: The conservation goal for 2020 is set at achieving at
least 17% for terrestrial areas and 10% for coastal and marine areas, as
outlined in the Conservation of Biological Diversity's Aichi Target 11.
Philippine Protected Areas:
Evolution and Legal
Foundations
• Republic Act 7586, the "National Integrated
Protected Areas Systems (NIPAS) Act," signed
on June 1, 1992, serves as the national
framework for establishing protected areas in
the Philippines.
• The journey began in 1932 with "Act No.
3915: An Act Providing for the Establishment
of National Parks," marking the earliest
legislation for national park creation.
• Mount Arayat holds the distinction of being
the first national park established under Act
No. 3915.
NIPAS Act: Defining and Diversifying Protected
Areas
• Definition: According to the NIPAS Act, protected areas are designated
portions of land and water recognized for their unique physical and biological
significance. They are managed to enrich biological diversity and shielded from
harmful human exploitation (Section 4, par. 2).
• Specific Categories: The NIPAS Act categorizes protected areas into distinct
types, including strict nature reserve, natural park, natural monument, wildlife
sanctuary, protected landscapes and seascapes, resource reserve, and natural
biotic areas (Read more on Reading 8.2).
• Flexibility: Section 3 of the Act allows for the establishment of additional
categories of protected areas, demonstrating adaptability to evolving
conservation needs.
Enhancing protected areas in the Philippines
• The Philippines had 559 protected areas composed of 45,762 square kilometers of protected
areas (15.32% of total land area) and 21,269 square kilometers (1.16% of total marine area) as
of 2016 (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN, 2016)
• The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is the central authority
managing protected areas nationwide.
• Active Management is required for ensuring the effectiveness of protected area:
• Robust enforcement mechanisms should be in place to deter activities that could jeopardize the
integrity of protected areas.
• Compensation to local communities, in certain cases, encourages cooperation and aligns land
use with conservation goals, enhancing overall management effectiveness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CJc8zj3q9M
Strategic actions in protected area management
1.Boundary Management
2.Capacity Building
3.Resource Allocation
4.Educational Initiatives
5.Ecosystem Service Focus: reforestation to promote biodiversity,
watershed protection for sustainable water resources, carbon
sequestration for climate impact mitigation, and species monitoring
and protection.
6.Visitor Managementt
7.Trail MaintenanceManagement
Financial Challenges in Protected Area
Management
• Government allocations, private donations, and
international grants constitute the primary funding
channels, providing about 80% of total funds for
protected area management in the Philippines.
• Despite these sources, there's a significant estimated
funding gap of around 70%, as reported by DENR-
PAWB in 2012.
Community Engagement and Sustainable
Protected Areas
• Local communities play a pivotal role as primary stakeholders in
protected areas, influencing their sustainability.
• Community support is critical for the long-term viability of protected
areas and their conservation objectives.
• Lack of community support or conflicts with area managers may stem
from scenarios like limited biodiversity awareness, exclusion from
decision-making processes, and perceptions of inequitable benefit
distribution.
• Community dissatisfaction may arise if the establishment of protected
areas is viewed as negatively impacting their resource utilization or
livelihoods (Gomez, 2015).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RPDsi7mkSE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-u8xi7KFHY4
Other approaches
to resource
management
Essentials of natural
resource management

• Definition: Natural resource management

involves the sustainable utilization of key
resources like land, water, air, minerals,
forests, fisheries, and wildlife
(Muralikrishna and Manickam, 2017).
• These resources collectively contribute to
essential ecosystem services vital for
human life.
• Proper management and effective
conservation of natural resources are
imperative to ensure sustainability and
continued provision of ecosystem
services.
Balancing Conservation and
Human Realities in Biodiversity
Management
• Primary Approach: Worldwide, the establishment of protected areas
stands as the predominant method for biodiversity conservation.
• Restrictive Nature: Protected areas, as outlined by Persha et al. (2010),
involve restrictions on human use and access within designated zones.
• Cornerstone Role: Despite challenges, protected areas are likely to remain
a cornerstone in global biodiversity conservation efforts.
• Human-Inhabited Zones: Many areas rich in biodiversity also have human
inhabitants or are near human settlements, prompting the need for
alternative resource management approaches.
• Balancing Act: The coexistence of abundant natural resources and human
populations necessitates strategies that balance conservation goals with
the socio-economic needs of communities, acknowledging the direct or
indirect benefits derived from living systems (Manhães et al., 2018).
 1. Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs)
• KBA Definition: Globally recognized sites for significant biodiversity
contribution, identified using standardized criteria.
• Over 15,000 KBAs identified worldwide (Langhammer, Butchart, and Brooks,
2018).
• Initiation of the definition of KBAs in the Philippines is a collaborative effort
involving Conservation International Philippines (CIP), Haribon Foundation, and
Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of DENR
• Majority of Philippine KBAs are on land, with some covering both land and sea.
Philippine KBAs vary in protection levels, as indicated in Figure 1.
• Philippine KBAs represent habitats for 855 species, including 396 globally
threatened, 398 restricted-range species, and 61 congregatory bird species
(Ambal et al., 2012).
• KBAs serve as strategic guides for the expansion of protected area networks by
governments and civil society.
• They contribute to a growing acknowledgment and investment in site
conservation efforts by local and indigenous communities (Langhammer,
Butchart, and Brooks, 2018).
2. Community based natural
resource management
• among the oldest approaches to conserving living
systems.
• Typically practiced in rural areas, this approach
involves a community managing resources within
their defined area using communal facilities.
• Objectives: CBNRM, according to the US Agency for
International Development, promotes conservation
through sustainable resource use, enables
communities to generate income for rural
development, and fosters democracy and good
governance in local institutions.
3. Integrated
natural
resources
approaches
a holistic approach to
managing natural resources
that considers the complex
interconnections between
ecosystems, human
societies, and economic
activities.