Pag-amlig kang dunang manggad: An analysis of the protected area management practices in the Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park (NPPNP)

Abstract

There is growing evidence that despite the government's efforts to preserve and conserve the Philippines' forests through implementing the Protected Areas (PA) System, threats to natural resources continue to rise. There is also a continued decline in the number of endangered species. There is thus a disconnect between efforts in establishing PAs and the increasing biodiversity loss, prompting government implementers, scholars, and NGOs to rethink and reevaluate their efforts against these threats. Our study investigated the case of the Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park (NPPNP) to identify and analyze the preservation and conservation strategies implemented by institutional and non-institutional actors and assess their effectiveness in response to the emergence of human-induced threats. To achieve these objectives, the researchers utilized an adapted METT-4 questionnaire supplemented by key informant interviews (KIIs), focus group discussions (FGDs), and document analysis to analyze the overall effectiveness of PA management. Data from management institutions and other organizations was utilized to scrutinize the emergence of human- induced threats vis-a-vis conservation and preservation strategies. Our study revealed that preservation and conservation measures employed by institutional and non- institutional actors do not translate to a reduction of human-induced threats in NPPNP. The overall result further implies that the NPPNP is currently targeted for the exploitation of natural resources for commercialization purposes.