Mangatarem Experience: Expansion of PA Thru Critical Habitat Establishment

The Mangatarem Experience: Expansion of PA thru Critical Habitat Establishment The Mangatarem Critical Such a conservation area is very Habitat (CH) in important not only to the municipality but to Mangatarem, Pangasinan the whole of Pangasinan because it is the was declared by the largest remaining forest in the province. The Municipal Local Mangatarem CH has an approved management plan and the management Government Unit (MLGU) structure is already in place. The MLGU has as a Wildlife CH through opted to establish this conservation area based Sangguniang Bayan on the mandate of R.A. 9147 or the Wildlife Resolution No. 49-2013 on Resources Conservation and Protection Act. August 28, 2013. The conservation area declared as a CH was originally identified under the Forest Land It has an area of 5,063.47 has., Use Plan (FLUP) of Mangatarem approved by almost thrice as large an expansion the Sangguniang Bayan in 2010. of the existing protected area in the municipality, the Manleluag Directly managing the CH is the Critical Springs Protected Landscape Habitat Management Board created under the (MSPL), which is only 1,935.17 has. FLUP Steering Committee, which was The current total conservation area mandated through the Co-Management of Mangatarem is 6,998.64 has., Agreement signed between the Mangatarem which is half of the total forestlands LGU and the Department of Environment and of the municipality. Natural Resources (DENR). The Mangatarem CH lies in the northeastern Conservation Objectives part of the Zambales mountain range, which is a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA). The Zambales The move of Mangatarem mountain range is among the few remaining LGU and DENR to declare the tropical rainforests in the Philippines that serves Mangatarem CH has been borne as a barrier against environmental disasters, out of the need to protect the particularly typhoons. This rainforest harbors remaining forest cover from critical watersheds for the provinces of further destruction brought about Pangasinan, Zambales, and Tarlac. Being a KBA, by human activities from the Zambales mountain range is the habitat of surrounding communities. some endemic, unique, and threatened species of plants and animals like the scale-feathered The forests and forestlands of malkoha (Phaenicophaeus cumingi), rufous hornbill Mangatarem have been degraded (Buceros hydrocorax), rufous paradise flycatcher with logging, land conversion, (Terpsiphone cinnamomea), whiskered pitta (Pitta mining, kaingin, tree cutting for kochi), Philippine frogmouth (Batrachostomus charcoal and fuelwood septimus), cloud rat (Phloeomys sp.), yellow-faced production, and gathering of non- horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus virgo), and common timber products for domestic tree frog (Polypedates leucomystax). consumption and trading. Commercial logging since the The Mangatarem CH is adjacent to the 1930s has converted vast tracts of existing forest protected area within the forestlands into grasslands. It municipality, the MSPL. The entire forests and may have stopped in the late 70s forestlands of Mangatarem, which covers an area but tree cutting continued for local of 13,863.61 hectares out of the total land area of use and intermittent trading. 31,011 hectares of the municipality or 44.7%, is DENR has launched reforestation the largest remaining forest in the province of programs since the 80s and has Pangasinan and in the whole Zambales issued tenurial instruments to Mountains KBA. The CH covers 5,063.47 has., several entities and individuals, thrice as large as MSPL which is 1,935.17 has. The all for the purpose of improving total area now protected for conservation vegetation and forest cover. comprises half of the entire forestlands of However, very minimal Mangatarem. The forest cover of MSPL is in fact improvement was derived from much less dense than the newly declared CH. this, outweighed by the extractive activities of forest-dependent Directly dependent on the forest resources communities that further of Mangatarem for their livelihood are residents degraded the forestlands. from seven barangays surrounding the Mangatarem CH, namely Cacaoiten, Cabaluyan As degradation continued, 2nd, Lawak Langka, Malabobo, Catarataraan, water resources for crop irrigation Calomboyan Sur, and Pacalat, having a total and domestic use diminished population of 6,758 (Municipal Planning and while flooding became common Development Council Data 2013). Utilization of as rivers easily overflowed even forest resources, however, is not limited to them with moderate rains. Soil erosion but to other communities around the entire forest from the uplands silted the rivers area, which comprise a total of 13 barangays, as and creeks. Landslide-prone well as businesses and consumers who patronize areas in Cacaoiten became more or even finance forest extractive occupations. evident and hazardous to nearby Mangatarem forest serves as a watershed that settlements. Grasslands became provides irrigation water for vast agricultural wider without productive use, not lands in the municipality and other towns within even for conventional agriculture. the province of Pangasinan and the adjacent One impact of forest degradation, towns of Tarlac. The upland communities also however, was continuously derive water from springs and rivers for their overlooked – its impact on domestic use. biodiversity. The fact that many of these species are globally threatened justifies the need for declaring the Mangatarem CH and for managing and conserving Mangatarem forest since its function as a habitat is as equally important as its watershed function. Although considerable conservation measures were done and still exist in the area, threats to the wildlife are still evident. Pressures such as logging, kaingin, and charcoal making cause rapid deterioration of the various habitats present in the forest. Hunting or collection of wildlife for food and pet trade poses a direct effect on species, thus causing their population to dwindle. Reforestation in Mangatarem instituted in the past decades may have improved forest vegetation a bit, but it has not Batrachostomus provided protection to the remaining septimus wildlife because the trees that were planted (Philippine frogmouth) were exotic species, most of which were not compatible with the endemic flora and fauna. Results of a biophysical assessment in June 2012 showed that To address this threat to biodiversity Mangatarem forest holds significant and revive, or at least arrest, the diminishing population of flora and fauna. A total ecosystem services of Mangatarem forests, of 43 tree species was recorded, 14 of the MLGU and DENR, in partnership with which are globally threatened with 5 Haribon Foundation, formulated the FLUP that are endemic, namely tanguile of the municipality that was finally adopted (Shorea polysperma), kamagong by the Sangguniang Bayan in 2010. Through (Diospyros philippinensis), dagang the FLUP, a Co-Management Agreement was (Anisoptera aurea), palosapis (Anisoptera immediately forged between the LGU and thurifera) and white lauan (Shorea the DENR to jointly manage open access and contorta). A total of 61 bird species unclassified forests and forestlands. The Co- belonging to 29 families was recorded, Management Agreement provided for the with 3 species listed as vulnerable formation of a Steering Committee [Philippine duck (Anas luzonica), composed of multi-sectoral stakeholders flame-breasted fruit dove (Ptilonopus whose primary responsibility is to ensure marchei), and Philippine eagle-owl the implementation of the FLUP. Among (Bubo philippensis)], while two are near- the functions of the Steering Committee is threatened [Philippine scops-owl “to set aside conservation areas and develop (Otus megalotis) and Northern rufous appropriate management plans over hornbill or kalaw (Buceros hydrocorax)]. portions of Mangatarem forest that are The latest biophysical survey in known to harbor unique habitats and October 2013 recorded 47 species of threatened flora and fauna as well as over terrestrial vertebrates, 36 species of areas that deserve conservation, consistent birds, and 46 species of trees. Faunal with national policies, rules, and endemicity was high at 60% for the regulations.” The Steering Committee, bird species, with 21 of the 36 found therefore, was able to decide to push for the only in the Philippines. Three declaration of the FLUP-identified forest endemic bat species were also conservation area of 5,743 hectares, which is recorded. Fifteen of the 46 tree species part of the 9,754.61-hectare open access are categorized as globally threatened. forestlands. FLUP Steering Comm meeting Processes Undertaken in The conservation area Establishing LCA Good Practices indicated under the FLUP was the subject of the Steering The LGU of Mangatarem is the lead actor in Committee’s decision making on establishing and managing the Mangatarem what management option to Critical Habitat. Having no Municipal adopt. This area was previously Environment and Natural Resources Office proposed by the MSPL Protected (MENRO), the Municipal Planning and Area Management Board to serve Development Office, in close coordination with the as an expansion of the protected Sangguniang Bayan Committee on Environment, area. However, under the served as the coordinating office for all National Integrated Protected environment-related activities of the municipality. Areas System, the process will The system of coordination was institutionalized take long, thus, to immediately with the creation of the

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