QUEZON CITY, Dec. 12 (PIA) -- The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) has provided its inputs to the Philippine Senate’s recent inquiry on strengthening the protection and conservation of the country's forest cover and waterways to mitigate the effects of natural hazards.
The ACB, an intergovernmental body mandated by the 10 ASEAN Member States to facilitate joint programmes on biodiversity conservation, attended the virtual Senate hearing of the Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change on Thursday, Dec. 10, joining other officials from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) led by Secretary Roy Cimatu, and representatives from the local government units of Cagayan, Isabela, and Marikina, and from private sector, including the Masungi Georeserve in Marikina.
The Senate hearing, held jointly with the Committee on Public Works, sought to discuss various proposed legislations such as the Philippine Senate Resolution No. 581, which looks into “the alleged denuded state of forests and watersheds as well as the apparent heavy siltation on rivers and tributaries."
According to Senator Cynthia Villar, the resolution’s author and chair of the Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, the country’s forests and watersheds, specifically the Sierra Madre Mountain Range and the Marikina River Basin, is now unable to retain rainwater and prevent erosion that caused massive flooding and landslides during the recent strong typhoons. Quoting the ACB, she further stated that deforestation is a major problem, and that the “restoration and conservation of the Philippines’ existing forests from rainforests to mangrove forests should be at the core of the country’s disaster risk reduction plans.”
“Protected areas such as the Sierra Madre Mountain range not only serve as Luzon’s buffers from the harsh winds of typhoons that come from the Pacific Ocean, but its diverse ecosystems could also regulate the surge of large amounts of rainwater that cause flooding,” ACB Executive Director Theresa Mundita S. Lim said in her message delivered by Mary Kristerie A. Baleva, ACB external relations and policy specialist.
“These ecologically important areas are our sanctuaries in the face of disasters, the impacts of climate change, and even pandemics caused by zoonosis,” she said.
DENR Undersecretary Juan Miguel Cuna presented their assessment of the typhoon-affected areas, and the environmental actions and rehabilitation measures to be implemented, including reforestation activities through the National Greening Program (NGP) and the formation of the Build Back Better Task Force.
Committee members, emphasized further that programs must be sustainable, and encouraged the restoration of mangroves and propagation of locally-adapted trees and plants such as giant bamboos.
Senator Imee Marcos pointed out that bamboos, mangroves, and other wetland plants are effective flood control barriers and protection against tsunamis as proven in the experiences of the coastal areas of Leyte, as well as in Phuket, Thailand.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, added that intercropping and diversification practices can both address the need for hardwoods, bamboos and mangroves and to have better impacts on biodiversity.
Representatives from the local governments of Cagayan, Isabela and Marikina appealed to the national government to prioritize environmental conservation to reduce the climate impacts in their areas.
“A whole-of-society approach is necessary to keep our protected areas healthy and thriving,” Lim said.
“Integrated planning and implementation among national government agencies, LGUs, the Protected Area Management Boards, as well as taking into account biodiversity considerations in the Environment Impact Assessment process, development interventions, and national disaster risk reduction and management strategies are essential in the efforts for conservation and restoration of our essential forests,” she added.
“The ACB is ready to support the Philippines and all ASEAN Member States in promoting and mainstreaming biodiversity as part of their efforts to prevent calamities, and address and reduce their impacts,” Lim furthered. (PIA NCR)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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