Some rare happy environmental news today – in the middle of the constant doom and gloom about our environment and climate change and how we are giddily massacring what remains of our natural environs in pursuit of taller and taller condos, the province of Apayao has become a biosphere reserve.
Basically, what this means is that Apayao has been recognized not only for its biodiversity – among other things, it is home to the rare Philippine eagle – but also for its practices that have contributed to this biodiversity staying intact.
In the official announcement, the United Nations – this is an international designation, not a local one, which ups the prestige and the responsibility – cites the Isneg practice of “lapat” (from what I understand as a non-Isneg, it is essentially the declaration of portions of natural area untouchable and unexploitable in the time it takes to replenish) as part of the reason for the designation as a biosphere reserve. This is because biosphere reserves are not merely biodiverse areas, but also areas where learning can take place. Essentially, the UN has told us that hey, your brothers in the mountains are doing well, you and I could learn a thing or two from them.
This also puts Apayao’s wilderness at the forefront as a conservation effort and site. As a biosphere reserve, it is now essentially a protected area as well. Of course, the local Isnegs have been protecting it from day one as well, but more protection is always more better.
Essentially, they have unlocked the conservation civic and now the appeal of the province has increased proportionate to the pristine-ness of their natural surroundings. Breathtaking.
I would like to juxtapose this with the current situation here in Baguio City, where we live. We have trees still, awa ng diyos, but it continues to decline. We plant trees, though the planting simply cannot outpace the rate that we are either cutting them down or utilizing where they used to be for more concrete. The only jungle we have is the urban jungle.
Near where I live, there have been uprootings and more construction. While I have yet to personally witness it, following the grapevines would indicate that trees are falling in the city elsewhere on a regular basis.
Naturally, there is not concrete evidence in my possession for these tree fellings, but the mere fact that they cannot be immediately dismissed sort of proves the point.
We are, at best, sustaining our existing tree cover. It isn’t growing, and if it is, not by much. And it is in set places.
What we ought to do is take this biosphere reserve declaration as it is intended – as a learning opportunity. Take from our Isneg brethren what works, and adapt it to our own needs.
Baguio is largely a tourist-reliant city. Tourism relies on appeal, and trust me, the wisdom of Civ, and of our fellows – the appeal of Baguio rises exponentially if we commit to conservation and growth of our natural environs.
