Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainability of Initao- Libertad Protected Landscape and Seascape in Misamis Oriental, Philippines

Abstract

Biodiversity is significantly contributed to food, shelter, medicine, water for domestic and commercial use, fuel/firewood, livelihood from by-products and ecotourism. Indeed, areas rich in biodiversity are proclaimed as protected area under NIPAS Act of 1992 (RA 7586).This study was conducted in Initao Libertad Protected Landscape and Seascape, a protected area under NIPAS (National Integrated Protected Area System – RA 7586) which was proclaimed on September 16, 2002 by virtue of Presidential Proclamation no. 260, located in Tubigan, Initao, Misamis Oriental covering an area of 1,425 hectares. Based on the record of the DENR, a Resources Basic Inventory (RBI) and management effectiveness have not been undertaken in the park while the BMS has not been completed and updated, hence this study. The study used the Biodiversity Monitoring System as adopted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Part of the study used the policy as provided in Memorandum Order No. 10 series of 1991 to document the analysis and synthesis of relevant information on the ecological, geological, physical, social economic and historic environment of the protected area and its vicinity or the RBI. General findings of the study provided a research-based data on flora and fauna thriving in the park which are economically important, endemic, rare and endangered species which are urgently addressed for realistic conservation and management and for planning purposes and sustainability.  Keywords: Protected landscape and seascape, Biodiversity richness and endemicity governance effectiveness Â