(A Painstaking Approach Over Threats and Adversities) II. THE AREA 1. Site Profile Geo- Location: •Mount Tapulao is located in the northeastern part of , about 25-30 kilometers from the town proper. It is bounded in the north by the municipality of , Zambales, in the south by the municipality of Iba, Zambales in the west by the municipality of , province of . •The central portion of the Zambales Mountain Range Visible from the National Highway going to and from the Municipality of Masinloc •Area: 11,184 hectares •Elevation ranges from 900 to 2, 037 meters above mean sea level, the highest peak in

The PineForest View from the National Road III. CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES (Decision on the Establishment of LCA ) -  To protect and conserve the area  To restore the denuded area  To strengthen the partnership among all stakeholders  To increase level of awareness of all stakeholders on protection and conservation management Unregulated climb

PROVINCIAL AND MUNICIPAL POLICIES ESTABLISHING MOUNT TAPULAO AS PROTECTED AREA, ECOTOURISM AND MINING FREE ZONE

• Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution No. 2008-27 – a resolution earnestly requesting President Glori a Macapagal Arroyo thru Secretary or thru the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), to declare a moratorium on the issuance of mining permits.

• Resoulution No. 015-2006 – Requesting the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) thru the Regional Executive Director, Regidor de Leon to formally grant the LGU Palauig an authority and/or legal instrument to jointly protect, maintain and develop with the said department, Mount Tapulao as a tourist destination.

• SB Resolution No. 019-2006 – expressing , manifesting and interposing strong objection to whatever favorable action that any government, agency or office may grant relative to any proposed mining activities of C-Square Mining and Realty Development Incorporated, or any mining concessionaire, firm or company, and other related entities. • SB Resolution No. 046-2008 – declaring the whole area of Mt Tapulao particularly the 17, 809.97 hectares as “Mining Free Zone”.

• Resolution 04-2011 – A resolution on the imposition of policies for Mt Tapulao Climbers.

• SB Resolution 36-2012 – approving Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) and the Municipality of Palauig, Zambales.

• Regional Development Council Resolution 03-20-2008 Endorsing the proclamation of Mt Tapulao covering an area of 17,809 has as a protected area pursuant to RA 7586 otherwise known as NIPAS Act of 1992

• The Protected Area Sustainability Assessment or PASA conducted in Mt Tapulao, a joint project of DENR and HARIBON Foundation New CAPP MOA Signing IV. Processes Undertaken in Establishing LCA Good Practice

Mount Tapulao Biodiversity Assessment BIODIVERSITY RESULT 1. Flora a. Adequately stock of mossy and pine forest above 1900 m.asl n and below this elevation is thick Dipterocarp Forest b. Other vegetation types are Old Growth Forest (2,900 ha). Second Growth Forest (892 ha), and Cogonal/Grassland (90 ha) 2. Fauna – total of 85 faunal species which composed of: a. 26 birds species b. 28 mammals species c. 8 herpetofauna species d. 4 freshwater species e. 19 intervertebrate species FLORA FLORA FAUNA FAUNA Out of the 66 vertebrate species, 22 species (33%) are endemic to the with 9 species restricted to Luzon Faunal Region. Some of this includes the newly discovered Rhynchomys tapulao, 2 Apomys species, Flame Breasted Fruit Dove and Luzon Bleeding Heart. Four (4) of those species are in threatened category or facing extinction. New CAPP (Community Mapping) Situational Analysis DOT Ecotourism Strategic Planning DOT-TIEZA Ocular/Assessment Initiatives done by the LGU prior to New CAPP Community Empowerment Indigenous People – Sitio Dampay Mount Tapulao Regulations Officers (Mountain Guides) (Basic Mountaineering Course conducted by Metropolitan Mountaineering Society)

Mount Tapulao Regulations Officers V. Sustainability Mechanisms

VI. Lessons Learned

A. Success Factors • Firm stand of the Municipality of Palauig to ban mining activities Visual interpretation of the proposed bird watching and glamorous camping (glamping) Ecotourism development that would promote conservation and protection of the area B. Challenges and Issues Mount Tapulao- Palauig Side

Mt. Tapulao- Palauig side Challenges and Issues

Charcoal making Kaingin Hunting of wildlife Timber poaching Charcoal production Fuelwood gathering Gathering of non-timber forests products Existing forest tenurial Instruments Confiscated wood from illegal loggers Mining

VII. Recommendations for Upscaling LCA’s

 Strong local policy Strong municipal ordinances Stable law enforcement that can withstand political change  Technical assistance thru trainings and seminars  Financial assistance  Proclamation of Mount Tapulao as a Local Conserved Area

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The Trail

The Summit