By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz  Efforts to preserve and protect the country's legislated protected areas from environmental degradation, adverse effects of climate change, and other threats were the focal points of discussion in the first monthly Protected Area (PA) webinar series held Monday, June 22. Six protected areas formed part of the first batch of featured areas in a virtual discussion led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB) and the Office of Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, together with the Climate Change Commission (CCC). It has also marked the second anniversary of the passage of the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (ENIPAS) Act of 2018, which coincides with the celebration of the Philippine Environment Month. Legarda convened the virtual discussion, assisted by DENR-BMB Assistant Secretary Ricardo Calderon, Dr. Rex Cruz of the CCC National Panel of Technical Experts (NPTE), and DENR lawyer Ipat Luna. Featured were stories and insights from Regional Executive Directors (RED), and Protected Area Superintendents (PASU) from the first batch of six featured protected areas, namely Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary in Davao Oriental; Siargao Island Protected Landscape and Seascape in Surigao del Norte; Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park in Negros Oriental; Peñablanca Protected Landscape and Seascape in Cagayan; Mt. Isarog Natural Park in Camarines Sur; and Mts. Iglit-Baco Natural Park in Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro. Calderon emphasized that with the ENIPAS Act, there are now 107 legislated protected areas, covering around 7.76 million hectares, from just 13 areas before the enactment of the ENIPAS. "As you can see, in terms of land area, we have 15.7 percent of our land set aside for protected area and we have 1.4 percent of territorial waters set aside as protected area," he said. "It is in accordance with our Convention on Biological Diversity that our biodiversity and our protected areas must be in order. We should have 17 percent of our land area as protected area and 10 percent of our marine waters should be declared as protected area, to ensure the continuous supply of food, and at the same time, continuous management of our biodiversity," he added. DENR-Davao Executive Director Ruth Tawantawan, and City and Environment and Natural Resources Officer and PASU Martiniano Rotol highlighted how mossy-pygmy forests represent a complete set of an intact mountain ecosystem. They also showed "camera trapping" or surveillance cameras placed along the trails of Mt. Hamiguitan to document the movement of wild animals or human intruders. For Mts. Iglit-Baco Natural Park, Executive Director Ma. Lourdes Ferrer and PASU Roberto Duquil also showed the Tamaraw core zone habitat and how the indigenous peoples living within are contributing to the conservation of the protected area. DENR-Central Visayas Executive Director Paquito Melicor Jr., and Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer and PASU Nestor Canda highlighted the 427 flora and fauna species that are found in the Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park, which include critically endangered and vulnerable species of plants and animals. This makes the park the second most biodiverse area in the country next to Palawan. The park is also a popular venue for trekking and bird watching. DENR-Cagayan Valley Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan and PASU Tito Mangantulao shared accounts of how their law enforcement team maintains security to prevent illegal activities in the Peñablanca Protected Landscape and Seascape, which houses unique and endangered species of eagles. Meanwhile, DENR-Bicol Executive Diretor Antonio Abawag and PASU Vicencio Cabanayan Jr. shared how the Mt. Isarog Natural Park, nicknamed as “Vulcan de Agua,” provides an abundant water supply to its surrounding communities. They also discussed the challenges they faced in terms of forest protection because of kaingin, encroachment and hunting, and seeking approval for Special Use Agreement in Protected Areas. DENR-Caraga officer-in-charge Hadja Didaw Piang-Brahim and PASU Joseph Langanlangan said they have an existing Ecotourism Management Plan in all of the ecotourism sites within Siargao, including the Siargao Island Protected Landscape and Seascape. They are also collaborating with the concerned local government units to make sure that the conservation of biodiversity in the protected area is balanced with sustainable tourism and livelihood activities. Dr. Rex Cruz, as an expert on Environment and Ecology, gave insights on the impacts of climate change in protected areas. "Consequences of climate change related to biodiversity include species migration, pest and disease outbreaks, deforestation, forest and habitat degradation, and species extinction. There are also impacts of geohazards, like landslides and floods, in addition to the impacts of increasing temperature and variability of rainfall," he said. He suggested expanding the network of protected areas, which had earlier started through government funding with the aim of monitoring long-term climate impacts on ecosystems and watersheds in the country. Legarda also reiterated the importance of knowing the carrying capacity of the country’s 107 protected areas and ensuring the strict implementation of environmental laws, such as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. The PA Talk is a monthly webinar series that aims to feature the country’s 107 legislated protected areas.