Local Government Units should adopt the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP) 2015-2028.
This was the message of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-CAR during its biodiversity caravan conducted in Abra, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mt. Province on May 16-19.
The PBSAP 2015-2028 is the Philippines’ roadmap to conserve its biodiversity resources. Specifically, it envisions that “By 2028, biodiversity is restored and rehabilitated, valued, effectively managed and secured, maintaining ecosystem services to sustain healthy, resilient Filipino communities and delivering benefits to all”.
The PBSAP recognizes the need for an ecosystem approach in biodiversity management where appropriate activities are adapted and implemented with due consideration of the national, regional and local conditions. This is because it recognizes that the diversity of humans also plays a vital component of many ecosystems. It considered scientific, local, and indigenous knowledge, systems and practices.
The action plan puts emphasis on agrobiodiversity, urban biodiversity, access and benefit-sharing, invasive alien species, and protected areas as themes for the action plan to focus on.
By discussing the provisions of the PBSAP, the DENR-CAR hopes the participating officials from local governments could better plan and integrate programs and projects in their local development plans to contribute in biodiversity conservation and protected area management. These should be adopted through local ordinances in their respective areas of jurisdiction.
The caravan was attended by Planning and Development Officers, Environment and Natural Resources Officers, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers, and Agricultural Officers from the Provincial Local Government Units of the participating provinces.
