With urbanization and over-tourism threatening Laguna’s Mount Makiling, local officials have intensified their efforts to preserve the ecology of Laguna’s most famous mountain.
According to the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB) Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems (MCME), it has continued to strengthen partnerships with government agencies, local government units, private institutions, and environmental groups to address the growing challenges in protecting the mountain.
Among its biggest challenges, MCME university extension specialist Leonardo Barua explained in a media interview, is the lack of staff to protect the 4,200 hectares of the Mount Makiling Forest Reserve.
Managed by the University of the Philippines Los Baños through the MCME, Mount Makiling has long been recognized for its ecological, educational, and scientific importance.
The forest reserve is frequently used for biodiversity research, environmental education, ecotourism activities, and forest conservation initiatives.
As part of its efforts, the center has been encouraging private institutions to align their corporate social responsibility initiatives with environmental protection efforts within Mt. Makiling.
Long-term plans
Instead of conducting short-term activities at different locations, companies are encouraged to adopt points along the mountain’s boundaries and participate in long-term tree-planting and forest-nurturing activities.
“Number one siguro dito yung pakikipag-partner namin sa mga private institutions instead na ang kanilang mga CSR activities ay kung saan-saan gagawin, instead na sila ay nag-a-adopt ng mga certain points ng mga boundaries ng Makiling na hindi niyo kailangang pag-exert-an ng certain efforts. Nagko-conduct kami dito ng tree planting and nurturing activity kung saan aabot ng years ang span ng partnership with them,” Barua said.
Barua also cited boundary protection as one of the center’s recent concerns, particularly in ensuring that nearby private properties do not overlap with the protected forest reserve.
To address this, MCME has been coordinating with the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to help maintain and verify the official boundaries of Mt. Makiling.
“For here we are partnering with national agencies like NAMRIA, DENR para siguraduhin na intact yung ating boundaries at, siyempre, kung tayo ay hihingi ng tulong sa mga volunteers, mga NGOS and advocates, definitely kailangan namin ng tulong para siguraduhin na intact yung ating boundaries,” Barua stated.
He likewise called on volunteers, non-government organizations, and environmental advocates to support conservation efforts and help protect the mountain’s natural resources.
LGU cooperation
Meanwhile, Barua highlighted the important role of local government units in protecting the areas surrounding Mount Makiling, particularly the designated buffer zones located outside the forest reserve’s boundaries.
He said that existing presidential proclamations identify surrounding areas as environmentally sensitive zones, where land-use activities should be carefully regulated.
“We are partnering with LGUs and DENR para siguraduhin na yung land use sa mismong labas lang ng boundary hindi siya mababago nang sobra,” Barua said.
(With report from PIA)
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