BUTUAN CITY -- To ensure the effective management of the protected areas (PAs) and monitoring of the status of these areas in the region, DENR Caraga Regional Executive Director (RED) Nonito M. Tamayo hosted the first PA conference for CY 2021 held at Balanghai Hotel and Convention Center, Butuan City, today, May 12, 2021.

During the conference, the Protected Area Superintendents (PASus) of the protected areas within the region presented the updated profiles of the PAs under their supervision and the status of their compliance to the timeline under the Republic Act 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992. They also brought out some issues affecting the accomplishment of their targets.

“I urge the PENROs and CENROs, especially the PASus, to give priority to these deliverables and activities required under the ENIPAS Act and its IRR to realize our targets and have these areas be legitimated by way of legislation. The areas have potential impacts in terms of our forest estates, same of course for the other equally important benefits that our communities can derive from these areas,” RED Tamayo said as he gave his marching orders after the presentations of the PASus.

He also emphasized the importance of protecting the PAs.  “Biodiversity is very important that is why we are putting a lot of premium when it comes to protection of PAs”, Tamayo said.

The PA Conference also served as venue to share experiences, strategies, and best practices in PA management among the PAs in the region.

Caraga region has sixteen (16) PAs, of which three (3) are legislated, one (1) proclaimed, and twelve (12) initial components covering a total area of 575,304.32 hectares. The PAs have greatly contributed to the biological diversity and richness of natural resources within the region and are under the protection of RA 11038.

Present during the activity were Asst. Regional Director for Technical Services Atty. Claudio A. Nistal, Jr., Protected Area Superintendents (PASus), concerned PENROs and CENROs, and the members of the Regional Protected Area Technical Working Group. Personnel from the Protected Area, Biodiversity and Ecotourism Section of the Conservation and Development Division served as the secretariat of the conference.

Proper health protocols were observed during the activity.##

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Parent Category: News & Events
Category: Press Releases
Published: 14 May 2021