Environmental Sustainability

119 MVNP as a special location has to abide by the rules and regulations of a protected area. The rules includes creating a business plan for ecotourism activities to be done. A clear mission statement and objectives is indicated in the plan. However, the plans for the ecotourism business is geared towards the environmental aspect and the management of the MVNP and there is less emphasis on the community development. The management of the area is clear and there is a written MOU on the task of DENR and the local LGU.

Though MVNP has a clear business management plan/ecotourism plan which was crafted in 2015 delays in the implementation of activities is experienced. One reason for the delays is the changes in the PENRO and other officials in the DENR overseeing MVNP and the frequency of natural disasters in the area. Natural hazards are frequent in MVNP and though there is no contingency plan for the business, the NDRRMC of Sto. Domingo provides vulnerability maps and postings of volcanic activities is posted in MVNP which aids in the increase in resilience of the people in Sto. Domingo in general.

120 Environmental Quality Maintenance

MVNP is in the temporary list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a World Heritage Centre. MVNP has been nominated by UNESCO Philippines during March 20, 2015. There are several categories in nomination of a world heritage centre and MVNP has been nominated under the natural category. Being under the category means that the MVNP is a site which has natural features having outstanding value either or both in aesthetic or scientific point of view. MVNP is also nominated in two of the eight selected criteria for the natural category. The first criteria where MVNP has been nominated is its characteristics of being an area with exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. The second criteria where MVNP is nominated is its nature of being a haven to important and significant habitats.

Being in the list of UNESCO meant that MVNP must have environmental quality maintenance. The ecotourism management plan of 2015 mentions a role of the PASU to monitor customer impacts to MVNP. Table 13 outlines the tools widely used for resource monitoring that are supposed to be used by the PASU to assess visitor impact in the ecotourism destinations. The tools cover terrestrial, coastal, and marine ecosystems. The data that is supposed to be collected should be compared against the number and activities of visitors in MVNP for a certain time.

Table 13. Resource Monitoring Tools

RESOURCE/S TOOL/S

Terrestrial Resources

• Flora and fauna

• Trail

Trail Resource Assessment and Monitoring (TRAM)

Inland waters (rivers &

lakes)

Water quality test which may be requested from EMB or concerned academic institutions Coastal and Marine Resources

Seagrass, corals, other flora and fauna

Transect Swim Method, Point Intercept Method

Mangrove Mangrove Habitat Assessment

Swimming Area Water quality test which may be requested from EMB or concerned academic institution Both terrestrial, and coastal and marine resources

• Flora and fauna Photo Documentation Method

121

• Trail

• Ecotourism Site

[Source: MVNP Ecotourism Management Plan 2015]

There are prescribed resource monitoring tools which has been part of the ecotourism management plan of 2015, however, there is no proof that the monitoring has been done as there were no reports found. Apart from the monitoring tools, there are conservation strategies which are included in the ecotourism management plan of 2015. The plan includes the establishment of a nursery for endemic plant species, development of environmental conservation campaigns such as video, brochures, signage, and the development of an official MVNP website. Furthermore, the plan includes the formulation and enforcement of environmental laws and local ordinances, the establishment of a wildlife conservation and rescue center, and establishment of botanic gardens.

Despite the need to conserve the protected area, the status of MVNP as a world heritage center and the prescription of conservation and monitoring initiatives mentioned in the 2015 Ecotourism Management Plan, MVNP is maintained through minimal cleaning and facility maintenance. Moreover, there is a small conflict of interest in between the LGU and DENR in terms of MVNP maintenance. The LGU wants to clean the MVNP specially the entrance area to attract more visitors. However, as per the regulation of the DENR, since the area is considered as protected, it shouldn’t be modified as much. When a typhoon hits MVNP and some trees and branches fall, it is natural for the LGU to clean the area and keep it attractive, however, DENR wants to maintain the scene from after the typhoon till it decays. In the end, what happens it that the LGU staff asks permission from DENR to remove the debris. When the request is approved, it is the only time when the LGU staff can remove the debris.

There is no mention of the inclusion of environmental cost in the pricing mechanism. In viewing the post of activities and pricing in MVNP there are no mention of environmental cost

122 furthermore, conservation costs. Nevertheless, MVNP as a protected area receives IPAF which is essentially from the national fund to conserve and protect the environment.

Resource Efficiency in Production and Consumption Systems

MVNP has a rich diversity of flora and fauna which should be utilized properly. The place houses 156 floral species belonging to 36 families and 83 species of trees. Among this species is the Hopea philippinensis (dipterocarp) and the Nepenthes ventricosa (pitcher plant). MVNP also houses 104 species of land vertebrates. Among the animal species housed by MVNP is the Philippine Brown Deer, Philippine Warty Pig, and Giant Golden-Crowned Flying Fox which are considered vulnerable species. There are also animal species which can be found in MVNP like the Luzon Bleeding Heart, the Philippine Eagle-Owl and the Philippine Cockatoo which all belong to the red list of IUCN (endangered species). These animal species are housed by the MVNP and serves as their natural habitat. The development and the existence of MVNPs ecotourism business lessens the animal poachers and orchid poachers in the area according to the DENR officers.

MVNP is a protected area conducting ecotourism business. MVNP has a core area which is protected through the Presidential Proclamation No. 413. A buffer zone of 500-meter radius from MVNPs boundaries is also existing in virtue of the Regional Development Council of 2012. The area from the boundaries only permit activities which are parallel with the conservation objectives of the MVNP. Furthermore, the entirety of MVNP is regulated by Republic Act No. 7586. Despite the declarations and the proclamations, there is however, no clear map showing the land use and zoning of the MVNP.

The soil in MVNP is dominantly sandy associated with rocks and boulders, however some portion are loam and fertile and is suited for agriculture and portions of MVNP is tilled by the farmers. The farmers get their income from crops which they plant and harvest in MVNP. Though

123 there is no exact record of the number of people doing agriculture in MVNP. The farmers tilling the land are locals who have been farming in the MVNP for a long time, however, there is no record on how many are they and what area of the MVNP are they planting at. This situation can be related to the unclear land management and zoning of the MVNP. In the ecotourism management plan of 2015 there are mention of the different zones in MVNP yet there is no map which shows nor accounts which states the zones in MVNP.