The Conservation Story of Biri-Larosa Protected Landscape/Seascape: Lessons Learned and Future Directions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54536/ajec.v4i2.4780Keywords:
Biological Degradation, Conservation Programs, Ecological Integrity, Ecological Services, Protected AreaAbstract
Biri-LAROSA Protected Landscape and Seascape (BLPLS), a marine protected area in Northern Samar, suffers from biological degradation despite its legal protection for biodiversity. This study uses a qualitative descriptive design to analyze the conservation measures in BLPLS. It aims to identify lessons learned for an informed future direction of conservation strategies. The conservation programs implemented in BLPLS succeeded in rehabilitating and enhancing its major ecosystems primarily because of strong legal bases. It gradually educates the people about their social responsibility as stewards of nature. On the other hand, implementation struggles from inability to fully implement it. As a result, although illegal activities declined, it is still prevalent. Nevertheless, the implementation of the conservation programs brought ecological, economic, social, and cultural benefits. The ecological benefits of the conservation program are manifest and latent. It has also generated economic benefits, namely ecotourism offshoot and conservation programs derivatives. In terms of social benefits, it provided a fountain of learning, social change, diversion, and community attachment. Among the cultural benefits are the preservation of customs and historic preservation. The researcher recommended that interagency efforts be placed to impose more stringent and harmonized implementation of conservation policies and institutional reform and capacitate implementers and communities. The creation of reward systems, context-based environmental education, institutionalization of program impact assessment and evaluation studies, and data-based decision-making for program development plans can also help.
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