the challenges for the palawan biosphere reserve in dealing with climate change

Forum on Climate Change for the Province of PalawanThe Legend Hotel, Puerto Princesa City19 June 2009

The Challenges for the Palawan Biosphere Reserve in Dealing with Climate Change

Romeo B. DoradoOIC-Executive Director

Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff

Forum on Climate Change for the Province of PalawanThe Legend Hotel, Puerto Princesa City19 June 2009

The Challenges for the Palawan Biosphere Reserve in Dealing with Climate Change

Romeo B. DoradoOIC-Executive Director

Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff

SEP/ECAN Policy and its relation to Climate Change

The Forest and other ecosystems of Palawan and their significance to Climate Change

Contributions of Palawan entities (LGUs, NGOs, NGAs, Communities, etc.) to Climate Change mitigation and adaptation

SEP/ECAN Policy and its relation to Climate Change

The Forest and other ecosystems of Palawan and their significance to Climate Change

Contributions of Palawan entities (LGUs, NGOs, NGAs, Communities, etc.) to Climate Change mitigation and adaptation

> The road to sustainable development as envisioned for Palawan is contained in the Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP), passed into law in 1992.

> The SEP Law calls for the zoning of Environmentally Critical Areas Network (ECAN), a comprehensive strategy encompassing the whole province and guiding its conservation and developmental undertakings.

> The road to sustainable development as envisioned for Palawan is contained in the Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP), passed into law in 1992.

> The SEP Law calls for the zoning of Environmentally Critical Areas Network (ECAN), a comprehensive strategy encompassing the whole province and guiding its conservation and developmental undertakings.

Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) for Palawan

Strategic Environmental Plan (SEP) for Palawan

Total Log BanTotal Log Ban

Environmentally Critical Areas Network: The Main Strategy

Environmentally Critical Areas Network: The Main Strategy

Graded system of protection and development control over the whole province

Multiple Use Zone

Controlled Use Area

Coastal Core Zone

Transition/Buffer Area

Sustainable/General Use Area

Multiple use Zone

ECAN ZonesECAN ZonesTerrestrial Core Zone

Restricted Use Area

Buffer Zone

Traditional Use Area

SEPSEP--ECAN as ECAN as Regulatory Tool Regulatory Tool for Resource for Resource Use In PalawanUse In Palawan

Core Zone-425,223 (29.1%)

Restricted Use-140,214 (09.1%)

Controlled Use-224,907 (15.4%)

Traditional Use-134,050 (9.02%)

Multiple Use- 516,102 (35.4%)

Source: PCSD ECAN-GIS

pictures showing hazard-prone areas such as landslide and flooding, also areas teeming with wildlifeECAN & Climate ChangeECAN & Climate Change

ECAN Regulation and ControlPhysical Constraint Imposed by ECAN

ECAN Regulation and ControlPhysical Constraint Imposed by ECAN

Biological Constraint Imposed by ECANBiological Constraint Imposed by ECAN

FOREST BENEFITS

Local climate regulationWater RegulationWater SupplyErosion/

Sedimentation ControlSoil formationNutrient cyclingGenetic resourcesRecreation/cultural uses

FOREST BENEFITS

Local climate regulationWater RegulationWater SupplyErosion/

Sedimentation ControlSoil formationNutrient cyclingGenetic resourcesRecreation/cultural uses

FOREST LOSS DISINCENTIVES

Risk to human healthAccelerated climate changeIncreased watershed

disruptionWater pollutionLoss of water qualityLoss of biodiversity

FOREST LOSS DISINCENTIVES

Risk to human healthAccelerated climate changeIncreased watershed

disruptionWater pollutionLoss of water qualityLoss of biodiversity

Economic Development Constraintsand Opportunities

Economic Development Constraintsand Opportunities

Forest Ecosystem of PalawanForest Ecosystem of Palawan

San Vicente 75%Puerto Princesa City 72%Rizal 58%Aborlan 57%

Forest Cover, 2005: 46% (666,338 hectares)

Carbon stock sequestration within Palawan’s forest is calculated at 206 Million metric tons

Carbon stock sequestration within Palawan’s forest is calculated at 206 Million metric tons

SLIDE 10: Biodiversity; New Species Are Still Being Discovered

Upper PitcherUpper Pitcher Intermediate PitcherIntermediate Pitcher

Nepenthes attenboroughiiNepenthes attenboroughii

BiodiversityBiodiversity

SLIDE 11: Weather Patterns

The Fujiwara effect in Palawan (from internet)The Fujiwara effect in Palawan (from internet)

Weather PatternsWeather Patterns

SLIDE 12: Beach Ecosystem Beach EcosystemBeach Ecosystem

SLIDE 13: Mangrove EcosystemMangrove EcosystemMangrove Ecosystem

Fishpond DemolitionFishpond Demolition

Palawan Mangrove Forest – 42% (58,400 ha.)(Highest in the Philippines)Palawan Mangrove Forest – 42% (58,400 ha.)(Highest in the Philippines)

THE CORAL REEFS PALAWAN

5/2003 3/2005

Reef Condition Categories

As percent of the total reef area

Area (km2) MSY Grouper (T/km2/year)

Excellent (76-100% coral over)

2.89% 23.637 1.8Good (75-51% coral cover)

10.48% 85.597 0.87Fair (26-50% coral cover)

27.4% 223.808 0.27Poor (1-25% coral cover)

59.22% 483.705 0.02Good - Excellent Reef Condition = 13.37%

Poor - Fair Reef condition = 86.63%as of 2005

Coral Reef EcosystemCoral Reef Ecosystem

Human HealthHuman Health

SLIDE 16: Key Economic Industries Key Economic IndustriesKey Economic Industries

Coastal Tourism,Fisheries

Coastal Tourism,Fisheries

Agriculture, PlantationsAgriculture, Plantations

Mining IndustryMining Industry

November 2008 – Moratorium on the endorsement of small scale mining was passed by the Palawan Local Government Board in the whole province

November 2008 – Moratorium on the endorsement of small scale mining was passed by the Palawan Local Government Board in the whole province

Institutional ContributionsInstitutional Contributions

Saving the biosphere,Sustaining the future of Palawan

SLIDE 21: Protected Areas (Mantalingahan, TubbatahaProtected Areas - MantalingahanProtected Areas - Mantalingahan

Mt. MantalingahanProtected Landscape

126,348 hectares

Mt. MantalingahanProtected Landscape

126,348 hectares

Adopted ECAN map Hectares %

Core zone 96,366 76.3

Restricted use area 2,550 2.0

Controlled use area 15,380 12.2

Traditional use area 7,360 5.8

Multiple use zone 4,691 3.7

TOTAL 126,348 100.0

SLIDE 21: Protected Areas (Mantalingahan, TubbatahaProtected Areas – Tubbataha ReefsProtected Areas – Tubbataha Reefs

Other Protected AreasOther Protected Areas

Other Protected AreasOther Protected Areas

CALAUITCALAUIT

CORONCORONEL NIDOEL NIDO

MALAMPAYASOUND

MALAMPAYASOUND

PUERTO PRINCESASUBTERRANEAN RIVERPUERTO PRINCESASUBTERRANEAN RIVER

VICTORIA-ANEPAHANMOUNTAIN RANGEVICTORIA-ANEPAHANMOUNTAIN RANGE

IRAWAN WATERSHEDRESERVEIRAWAN WATERSHEDRESERVE

RASA ISLANDWILDLIFE SANCTUARYRASA ISLANDWILDLIFE SANCTUARY

URSULA ISLAND URSULA ISLAND

Palawan Council for Sustainable Development

Palawan Council for Sustainable Development

http://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/kids/index.html

Institutional ContributionsInstitutional Contributions

Mitigation

http://tiki.oneworld.net/global_warming/climate3.html

FOREST PROTECTION ANDREFORESTATION

ORGANIC AGRICULTURE EFFICIENT AND ENVIRONMENTALLYFRIENDLY TECHNOLOGIES

SCIENCE AND RESEARCHSPIRITUALITY ANDPHILOSOPHY

Adaptation

http://epa.gov/climatechange/kids/history.htmlhttp://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/kids/globalwarming.html

MANGROVE PROTECTION ANDREHABILITATION

MARINE PROTECTED AREAESTABLISHMENT ANDCRM

RECOMMENDATIONSRECOMMENDATIONS

v Local IPCC in Palawanv cooperation among institutionv resource pooling

v Creation of carbon sinksv Population stabilization Vs.

Biodiversity conservationv Value added benefits =

Increase in human welfare

v Local IPCC in Palawanv cooperation among institutionv resource pooling

v Creation of carbon sinksv Population stabilization Vs.

Biodiversity conservationv Value added benefits =

Increase in human welfare