Biodiversity in The Cordillera

Biodiversity in the Cordillera
The Cordillera Region spans 18,293 square kilometers of land area and hosts 13 river
basins and watersheds that support the entire region as well as the adjacent regions. Its popularity
as a biodiversity hotspot in Luzon and the Philippines garnered it the title Watershed Cradle of
the Philippines (Navarro and Saldo, 2000). The National Economic and Development Authority
(2010) listed 25 watersheds and forests in the Cordillera which comprises over 1.5 million
hectares of land. As such, it became one of the leading resource pools of wood-based industries
in Luzon. According to their Regional Development Plan, the Cordillera provides an abundant
supply of domestic and economic products including food and medicine, essential for daily
subsistence and sustenance of upland rural communities (National Economic Development
Authority, 2010). Also, it is also a veritable tourist destination through its scenic landscape and
has been host to ecotourism programs among several local municipalities. Through its
downstream rivers that stretch from the Mount Data headwater in Mountain Province, the region
provides electricity to low-lying regions through hydropower plants, which gives up to 659
megawatts of electricity to neighboring regions, and livelihood through irrigation systems.
Consequently, due to the economic viability of the region in terms of forest and
watershed resources, it became a hotspot for industries that disrupt the natural ecosystem and
affect the biodiversity in the region. Alvarez (2015) lists mining, illegal logging, swidden
farming as the three most prominent forms of disruption to the ecological balance in the region.
He also stated that planting and re-planting efforts in the region does not necessarily translate to
the regeneration of the Cordilleran ecosystem due to the persistence of illegal activities and
unsustainable practices. To date, less than half of the total land area of forest lands in the
Cordillera remain, which created an ecological crisis in terms of the concentration of biodiversity
areas in the region. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (1998) reported that
in 1998, the Cordillera only has 24,831 hectares of high biodiversity areas out of the total
621,627 hectares. Alvarez (2015) inferred that the transformation of forest lands into farmlands
through the encroachment of local communities in the forested areas due to lack of income and
opportunities brought the destruction of over 22, 383 hectares of forest lands in only 15 years
(National Economic Development Authority, 2010) and denudation of watersheds namely, Busol,
Togon, and Tuba. Furthermore, Alvarez interjects that large-scale mining in the area contribute to
the degraded watersheds, silted rivers, and overall decline in resource viability and ecotourism
potential (National Economic Development Authority, 2010) of the region.
The escalating concern for the biodiversity situation of the Cordillera is due to the stark
decline in biodiversity and denudation of watersheds every year. Primarily, these disruptions in
the natural equilibrium are anthropogenic in nature, and public awareness on biodiversity
concerns is considered as one of the many ways to counter this trend. In this effort, Bengwayan
(2010) expressed that biodiversity is a dynamic concept that emphasizes the interrelatedness of
several biospheres namely, diversity of species, genetic diversity, and ecological diversity, to
constitute the biological make-up of an ecosystem. He argues that anthropogenic interventions in
the natural state of the environment through agricultural and industrial transformation affect the
several biospheres which lead to the aggregate reduction in biodiversity. Few of the remaining
biodiversity hotspots in the Cordillera listed under the Key Biodiversity Areas category are the
Apayao Lowland Forest, Balbalasang-Balbalan National Park, and the Mt. Pulag National Park
(Conservation International Philippines, n.d). The latter, Mount Pulag National Park, which hosts
over 76 species of birds and 30 endemic species, face settlement encroachment concerns despite
the enactment of RA 7586 that includes the park under the National Integrated Protected Areas
System (Castro, n.d).
The development of programs that foster sustainable development is paramount to the
protection and maintenance of natural resources and biodiversity in the region. Alvarez (2000)
urges the development of national programs that will guide local government units and
organizations towards adopting sustainable development goals and practices that will benefit the
people of the region without depleting its resources. Meanwhile, Magcale-Macandog (2010)
emphasizes the role of indigenous knowledge and information systems in creating sustainable
development practices and resource management system that will enable indigenous people and
communities to take a greater role in the planning and development of sustainable practices.
Through socially-inclusive government programs and policies, sustainable development
programs will imbibe historical and cultural knowledge as foundation in search for the most
effective local resource conservation and management techniques.

References:
Alvarez, H. (2015). Wounded Cordillera: Towering Bastion Against Climate Change. Benguet
State University. La Trinidad, Benguet.
Bengwayan, M. (2010). A Biodiversity Conservation Strategy for the Cordillera Region,
Philippines. Retrieved from https://michaelbengwayan.wordpress.com/2010/11/17/a-
biodiversity-conservation-strategy-for-the-cordillera-region-philippines/ on June 17,
2017.
Castro, N. (n.d). A Peek into Cordilleran History, Culture, and Society: In Search of Self-
determination. Retrieved from
http://www.academia.edu/14397146/A_Peek_into_Cordilleran_History_Culture_and_Soc
iety_In_Search_of_Self-determination on June 17, 2017.
Conservation International Philippines. (n.d). Priority Sites for Conservation in the Philippines:
Key Biodiversity Areas. Quezon City, Philippines.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources. (1998). The First Philippine National Report
to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Philippines
Magcale-Macandog, D. (2010). "Conserving Indigenous Knowledge: Conserving Indigenous
Knowledge: Information System towards Food Information System towards Food
Security and Sustainable NRM in the Security and Sustainable NRM in the Cordilleras".
SEARCA Agriculture and Development Seminar Series. University of the Philippines
Los Banos. Laguna, Philippines.

National Economic and Development Authority. (2010). REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
2011-2016 Cordillera Administrative Region. Philippines.
Navarro, B., Saldo, G. (2000). "Environmental Accounting in The Philippines: The Cordillera
Administrative Region (CAR) Experience". Session 12 Sub-National Environmental
Accounting: Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines. Philippines
Villanueva, C. (2013). "Preserving Cordillera culture and history through the University of the
Philippines Baguio Cordillera Studies Collection Library and UP Baguio
Cordillera/Northern Luzon Historical Archives ". IFLA WLIC 2013. Singapore.

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subsistence and sustenance of upland rural communities (National Economic Development

megawatts of electricity to neighboring regions, and livelihood through irrigation systems.

potential (National Economic Development Authority, 2010) of the region.

constitute the biological make-up of an ecosystem. He argues that anthropogenic interventions in

System (Castro, n.d).

The development of programs that foster sustainable development is paramount to the

Through socially-inclusive government programs and policies, sustainable development

effective local resource conservation and management techniques.

State University. La Trinidad, Benguet.

Bengwayan, M. (2010). A Biodiversity Conservation Strategy for the Cordillera Region,

Philippines. Retrieved from https://michaelbengwayan.wordpress.com/2010/11/17/a-

biodiversity-conservation-strategy-for-the-cordillera-region-philippines/ on June 17,

determination. Retrieved from

iety_In_Search_of_Self-determination on June 17, 2017.

Key Biodiversity Areas. Quezon City, Philippines.

to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Philippines

Magcale-Macandog, D. (2010). "Conserving Indigenous Knowledge: Conserving Indigenous

Knowledge: Information System towards Food Information System towards Food

SEARCA Agriculture and Development Seminar Series. University of the Philippines

Los Banos. Laguna, Philippines.

2011-2016 Cordillera Administrative Region. Philippines.

Administrative Region (CAR) Experience". Session 12 Sub-National Environmental

Accounting: Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines. Philippines

Philippines Baguio Cordillera Studies Collection Library and UP Baguio

Cordillera/Northern Luzon Historical Archives ". IFLA WLIC 2013. Singapore.

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