LUNA, Apayao – With its status as one of the country’s four United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) biosphere reserves, the province is taking a pivotal step in managing its ecological heritage.
Stakeholders gathered to finalize the Biosphere Reserve of the yApayaos (BRyA) Management Plan, a framework that will guide conservation, sustainable development, and local engagement in the province’s protected areas.
Bringing together experts from the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines (UNACOM), Philippine Eagle Foundation, Palawan and Albay biosphere reserves, Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Cordillera Administrative Region, local government units, and conservation partners, said meeting aimed to refine strategies that will define how Apayao protect its environment while allowing development that does not come at nature’s expense.
Board Member Kyle Mariah Chelsea Bulut-Cunan, speaking on behalf of the provincial leadership, stressed that conservation efforts must be shared across generations. “As we finalize the BRyA Management Plan, we recognize that conservation is a shared responsibility. It is about time for the youth to be actively involved in environmental protection and conservation.” she said.
Representatives from Palawan and Albay biosphere reserves shared lessons from decades of conservation work. Palawan, designated as a biosphere reserve in 1990, is home to 5% of the country’s endemic wildlife, including the Palawan pangolin, and follows strict conservation policies to balance ecological protection with sustainable livelihoods. On the other hand, Albay, designated in 2016, integrates conservation with volcanic, marine, and agricultural ecosystems, and demonstrates how a landscape approach can guide environmental management.
During discussions, Gay Alfred Blanco stressed that UNESCO requires a structured management plan to ensure that a biosphere reserve does not remain a symbolic designation. “Without a defined plan, there’s no accountability. Conservation becomes fragmented, funding is harder to secure, and we lose sight of why we are doing this in the first place,” he explained.
Further, the BRyA Management Plan Framework (2025-2027), presented by Engr. Henry Caluducan, lays out Apayao’s priority conservation areas, including the EKB Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagan-Maton Critical Habitat, and Mt. Lipsuk-Mt. Likud Critical Habitat. The province’s biodiversity profile was highlighted, featuring 206 tree species, 33 mammals, 83 birds, 16 reptiles, and 12 amphibians.
The plan aligns with UNESCO’s three core biosphere reserve functions: conservation, development, and logistical support. Conservation efforts will focus on strengthening protections for Apayao’s ecosystems and indigenous lands, while the development component ensures that economic activities are sustainable and do not harm the environment. Logistical support involves building research capacity, governance structures, and community engagement mechanisms.
UNACOM Deputy Executive Director Lindsay A. Barrientos emphasized the importance of structuring the management plan in order to make sure of its long-term accountability and effectiveness. She stressed that without a clear and well-executed plan, biosphere reserves risk becoming symbolic titles rather than functional models of conservation and sustainable development.
Finalizing the BRyA Management Plan is just one step. The real test lies in how well these policies will be executed. BRyA is a responsibility that demands strong governance, grassroots participation, and a long-term commitment to make sure that its natural resources and communities get along together. The challenge now is translating plans into action and making sure that conservation efforts do not remain confined to meeting room discussions but are felt on the ground. By Loremia Pareja
