Following the inscription of Mt. Hamiguitan in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, numerous efforts continue to pour in safeguarding one of the last wildlife sanctuaries of the country. “Landscape Scanning and Establishment of Research-Based Infra-tech Platform for Enhanced Management of MHRWS”, a study project led by Dr. Bernadette J. Nanual, Research and Development Director, is an attempt to preserve and develop the protected area through further research of Mt. Hamiguitan’s biodiversity and educating the public about the protection of the area. The project is expected to run for three years.

The project has three components: the first component seeks to document and examine variations in spatio-temporal MHRWS wildlife biodiversity; the second component aims to examine the effectiveness of biodiversity accounting materials and other research-based outputs as platform for MHRWS public information and education; the third and last component seeks to establish a portal containing MHRWS research outputs for public information and education.

On April 24, 2017, Special Order 27 s.2017 was released, officially recognizing the study project. Immediately after the issuance of the special order, the team led by Mr. Giovanne G. Tampos, leader of the first component of the study took off to conduct their first fieldwork. Included in the team are Ms. Amy Ponce, Mr. Mark Kevin Camposo and several BS Biology students who worked their thesis under the project. Initial data of the study was also presented in the In-House Review on August 8-9, 2017.

To secure a Gratuitous Permit from DENR, Dr. Nanual presented the project concept to the members of PAMB-MHRWS during the regular En Banc Meeting on September 28, 2017 to seek approval of the conduct of the project. Fortunately, the members favored the request, issuing Resolution No. 2017-22. The resolution is a prerequisite for the issuance of the permit.

In the first three months of 2018, the second batch of fieldwork commenced. Some BS Biology students undertaking their thesis aligned their thesis topics according to the parameters of the project, thus assisting the team in the conduct of the study project.

As the project enters its second year, everyone involved is full of hope and anticipation. One could only root for the attainment of its goal, which is ultimately the betterment of our very own World Heritage Site.  By Kyla Marie Zshyrmynn D. Calvez