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Protecting The Central Panay Mountain Range: Haribon’s First Steps
By Ritchel Cahilig
Panay Island, Philippines – Haribon Foundation, in partnership with local government units and environmental agencies, is exploring steps to declare the Central Panay Mountain Range (CPMR) Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) as a Protected Area (PA). A series of meetings held from August 9 to 12, 2024, in Iloilo and Antique, brought together key stakeholders to discuss this proposal and develop an implementation roadmap. The Haribon Project AGOS team, currently working on a project at the Aklan River Watershed Forest Reserve (ARWFR), has been instrumental in organizing CPMR courtesy visits and exploratory meetings. Rainforest Trust, a US-based NGO, joined the recent trip to the Island to learn more about this critical landscape.
The declaration of the CPMR as a Protected Area is a crucial step in safeguarding the region’s vital ecosystem, which serves as a watershed, a habitat for various wildlife species, and a source of livelihood for thousands of people in Panay Island.
The CPMR is a vital ecological corridor in the Visayas and home to diverse flora and fauna, including several endemic species such as Rufous-headed hornbill, Visayan Spotted Deer, and Rafflesia. Its protection is crucial for maintaining biodiversity, regulating water resources, community livelihoods, and mitigating impacts of climate change.
Haribon Foundation, one of the leading conservation organizations in the Philippines, has been actively involved in conservation efforts in the region. Through meetings with the local offices of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR – Regional, PENROs, and CENROs), Local Government Units (LGUs – Provincial, Municipal, and Barangay), Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Offices (MENROs), and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), the foundation has been fostering support for the CPMR declaration.
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Key challenges identified during the meetings include balancing conservation with local development needs, addressing the concerns of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs), and securing cooperation from all involved local government units.
Despite these challenges, Haribon Foundation remains optimistic about the project’s potential, which is still in an exploratory stage. The organization plans to collaborate with indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs), implement capacity-building programs, and advocate for policy changes to ensure the long-term protection and conservation of the CPMR.
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