Framework for Philippine Plant Conservation Strategy and Action Plan 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION 21) in 1996. PA 21 adopts a framework that places people and nature at the center of development activities. PP lants are a vital part of the world’s biological diversity and an essential UNCED also proved to be a turning point resource for the planet. They offer the towards the conservation of the world’s most diverse uses for local households. biological resources as it was also during They are sources of firewood, herbal the UNCED that the nations of the world medicine, beverages, condiments, resins, adopted the Convention on Biological food, and light construction materials. Diversity (CBD). Ratification of the CBD Plants or plant parts such as roots, by the Philippine Government was on 08 rhizomes, leaves, bark and fruits are October 1993. The objectives of this collected, prepared and either served as Convention are the conservation of food or administered to treat certain biological diversity, the sustainable use of illnesses. Plants or plant parts are also its components, and the fair and equitable used as ornaments and are basic in sharing of benefits derived from the landscaping purposes. Economically utilization of genetic resources. Part of the important ornamental plants, like orchids commitments of the Philippine and ferns provide alternative sources of Government to the CBD is the perpetual income to the local people. Ecologically, existence and conservation of plant plants provide oxygen that we breathe, diversity. hold water to prevent flooding, release water to prevent drought and serve as As an urgent response and as a sanctuaries for most of the faunal species, manifestation of its commitment to among others. implement the provisions of the CBD, the Philippines through the Department of Human pressure on plant resources has Environment and Natural Resources led to the depletion of these resources. In (DENR) developed the National recognition of the growing severity of Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan threats to biological diversity, including (NBSAP) in 1997. The NBSAP presented plants, and the international nature of the status of the country’s biological actions required to address the threats, as diversity and the strategies and actions on well as the need to operationalize the the problems, issues and gaps identified on principles of sustainable development in all their conservation, sustainable use, and countries around the globe, the Nations of equitable sharing of benefits. the world gathered to collectively map out a plan to address the twin goals of With the emergence of new information, environmental preservation and economic approaches and analyses from various development. This historic event, the conservation efforts and initiatives, the United Nations Conference for DENR-Protected Areas and Wildlife Environment and Development (UNCED) Bureau (PAWB), the Conservation or Earth Summit in June 1992, produced a International (CI), and the University of the blueprint for a global agenda known as Philippines – Center for Integrative and Agenda 21. In response to UNCED’s Development Studies (UP-CIDS), in global call for nations to establish national collaboration with more than 300 mechanisms and to formulate and individuals from more than 100 local and implement their own agenda of actions for international institutions, developed the sustainable development, the Philippines Philippine Biodiversity Conservation came up with the Philippine Agenda (PA Priorities Framework for Philippine Plant Conservation Strategy and Action Plan 2 (PBCP) in 2002. The PBCP, which is an the CBD, particularly Article 7, on update of the NBSAP, can provide the identification and monitoring, through basis for development programs on increasing the fundamental biological data biodiversity conservation. essential to underpin the conservation, sustainable use and equitable sharing of the In September 2002, a global review of the benefits from the utilization of biological implementation of Agenda 21 was held in diversity. The GTI thus, aims to address Johannesburg, South Africa through the the problems of insufficient knowledge of World Summit for Sustainable all components of biological diversity Development (WSSD) where countries (including their classification, description, reiterated their commitment to work value of function) and lack of taxonomic toward addressing biodiversity loss. capacity, to overcome what has been Among the commitments and actions termed taxonomic impediments in the agreed during the WSSD is the reduction implementation of the CBD. in the current biodiversity loss by 2010 by: (i) effectively promoting the conservation While plant conservation has found a place and sustainable use of biodiversity, in the global arena, efforts at the national promoting support initiatives for hot spot level appear to be more focused on the areas and other areas essential for conservation of wild fauna. There is no biodiversity, and promoting the structured project or program on plant development of national and regional resources conservation that is being ecological networks and corridors; (ii) implemented to date. Although there are strengthening national, regional and several individuals and institutions international efforts to control invasive undertaking certain activities/measures to alien species, which are one of the main conserve the Philippine flora, these, causes of biodiversity loss, and however, are fragmented, not properly encouraging the development of effective coordinated with key stakeholders, and work program on invasive alien species at not well disseminated. For these reasons all levels; and, (iii) promoting the and in pursuit of the Philippine implementation of the program of work of Government’s commitment to the CBD, the Global Taxonomy Initiative (GTI). the DENR through PAWB proposed the development of a national framework on Plant conservation was given global plant conservation. This proposal met the emphasis during the CBD – 6th Conference approval of known plant experts in the of the Parties (CoP) when the CoP country during a meeting held on 28 adopted the Global Strategy for Plant August 2002. Conservation (GSPC) (Decision VI/9). The ultimate aim of this global strategy is On 20 January 2003, DENR Secretary to halt the current and continuing loss of Elisea G. Gozun issued Special Order No. plant diversity. The CBD-CoP 6 invited 2003-32 formally creating the Philippine Parties and Governments to support the Plant Conservation Committee (Annex A). GSPC, develop national targets, and as Chaired by the PAWB Director and appropriate, incorporate these targets into composed of plant experts in the country, relevant plans, programs and initiatives, the Committee is tasked primarily to including national biodiversity strategy and develop the Philippine Plant action plans. During the same CoP, the Conservation Strategy and Action Parties also adopted the GTI (Decision Plan. VI/8). This global initiative seeks to provide the key information required for Framework for Philippine Plant Conservation Strategy and Action Plan 3 2.0 PLANT DIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION STATUS be an assemblage of ophiolite terranes, island-arc, ocean-basin, and continental 2.1 Phytogeography fragments of different origins and ages. This complex geological history, The Philippines is part of a distinct plant archipelagic nature, climatic conditions, and geographical region known as Malesia topographic features of the Philippines (Figure 1). Together with Malay Peninsula, contribute to its present plant diversity Sumatra, Borneo and Java, it is part of the pattern. sub-floristic province called West Malesia (van Steenis, 1950; Jacobs, 1974). However, 2.2 Diversity East Malesian (Sulawesi, Moluccas, and New Guinea) floristic elements are well- Reports on the estimated number of represented in the Philippines, indicating that species for the Philippine flora vary the archipelago might have been the stepping depending on the revisions done for stones (corridor) through which floristic various plant groups. An estimate credits elements from both sub-provinces are some 12000 species of plants to the exchanged (Tan & Rojo 1989). The Philippines, 8000 of which are phanerogams Philippine flora shares uniquely with Sulawesi (Madulid 1985). The total vascular flora, in several plant species reflecting the the absence of a complete and importance of island arcs as dispersal routes comprehensive revision, is estimated to be for plants (Merrill 1926; Balgooy 1987; at 9000 (Ashton 1997). Fernando 1990). Mainland Asiatic elements The Philippine flora is composed of at least 14000 species, representing five percent of the world’s flora (DENR-PAWB, CI, & UP- CIDS 2002; Table 1). There are about 8000+ species of flowering plants or angiosperms, 33 species of gymnosperms, 1100 species of pteridophytes (Barcelona 2002), 1271 species of bryophytes, more than 3555+ species of fungi and molds, about 1355+ species of algae (DENR-UNEP 1997; Villareal & Fernando 1999), and 790 Figure 1. Map of the plant geographical region species of lichens (Gruezo 1979). The of Malesia that includes the Philippines (after Johns 1995). Table 1. Estimated number of species of plants (including algae and fungi) currently known from the Philippines (data from Gruezo are present in the Philippine flora which are 1979; DENR-UNEP1997; Villareal & Fernando often associated vegetation found in medium 2000; Barcelona 2002). to high elevation mountains mostly confined Plant Group