AS the Philippine economy gradually reopens with the continuing decline in Covid-19 cases logged on a daily basis by health authorities, ecotourism in Protected Areas (PA) is slowly reclaiming its luster for pandemic-weary Filipinos in need of a much-deserved break from months of on-and-off community lockdowns.
Ecotourism in PAs, or areas set aside for conservation, offers people an opportunity to commune with nature, while avoiding crowded areas in the face of the continuing threat of new Covid-19 variants.
The good news is more PAs are expected to resume ecotourism operation soon, an official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said.
So far, 55 of the 93 PAs that offer ecotourism in various parts of the country have reopened. More of these ecotourism sites will soon start accepting visitors on the assumption that, hopefully, the current national trend in Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations maintains its present course amid the looming Omicron variant threat.
Meriden E. Maranan, chief of the National Parks Division of the DENR’s Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), said with the issuance of Executive Order 151 “Approving the Nationwide Implementation of the Alert Level System for Covid-19 Response” in November 2021, tourist attractions are already open in areas under Alert Levels 1 to 4.
As such, she said, more PAs opening to visitors is expected as long as concerned local government units (LGUs) where ecotourism activities will take place will not raise any objection.
Jobs provider
VIA e-mail, Maranan said ecotourism activities in PAs were severely affected due to the quarantine restrictions during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Prior to the pandemic, an average of 4,367 jobs were supported annually through ecotourism development in protected areas, which decreased drastically by 32 percent [2,948 jobs] during the pandemic,” she said.
Nevertheless, Maranan said, patrolling and protection activities of “Bantay Gubat” and “Bantay Dagat” volunteers were continuously conducted during the closure of the PAs to the public.
Tour guides, transportation and catering services providers were the sectors most affected by the closures of PAs, she said.
“With the reopening of the parks, we are optimistic that tour guides and other service providers that are relying on ecotourism in Protected Areas would soon resume operations. Further, partnership with communities is vital as we recover from the pandemic. At the DENR, we continuously build their capacity in managing our resources as well as in exploring other alternative livelihood activities,” Maranan said.
Adherence to protocols
HOWEVER, she pointed out that further health and safety protocols that may be issued, especially with the emergence of the Omicron variant, will be followed strictly in our PAs to avoid the spread of the virus in the country. The first two cases of the more transmissible Omicron variant in the Philippines were logged by the Department of Health on Thursday afternoon.
According to Maranan, from the total income generated by PAs and National Parks (NPs), 64 percent is derived from ecotourism activities. The reopening of ecotourism sites, she said, will help PAs and NPs to recover from financial losses and serve as additional sources of funds for their operations.
Aside from the income generated in the operation of ecotourism in PAs and NPs, Maranan said, the practice instills conservation education and awareness among the visitors and reinforces ecosystem services through a number of benefits while providing livelihood to communities.
“Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Protected Areas receive roughly 4.5 million visits annually, and generated approximately P225 million per year from entrance fees and use of facilities. During the pandemic, Protected Areas have received a total of 1.2 million visitors only and generated approximately P59.6 million,” she noted.
According to Maranan, the number of visitors and income generated has decreased drastically by 72 percent and 73 percent, respectively.
“With the reopening of Protected Areas and easing of travel restrictions, we are expecting that the number of visitors and income from ecotourism in Protected Areas will increase,” she said.
Maranan noted that while the nationwide Alert Level System has already been adopted, park managers or Protected Area superintendents are bound to adhere to local guidelines and ordinances issued by various LGUs, explaining why many PAs and NPs are still closed to visitors.
“Meantime, we take this as an opportunity to enhance the skills of our PA staff and the communities through various relevant training. Further, this is also a chance for our biodiversity to recover from the impacts caused by some activities in the area.
The DENR-BMB is currently strengthening its partnerships with the Department of Tourism, the Department of the Interior and Local Government and other development partners through the National Ecotourism Steering Committee and Ecotourism Technical Working Group.
Maranan said among the areas for collaboration with concerned national government agencies are the updating of the National Ecotourism Strategy and Action Plan, operationalization of the Reformulated National Tourism Development Plan, and adoption of guidelines on the operation of ecotourism under the new normal to be anchored on the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases’ guidelines and issuances of various relevant agencies.
“These plans will serve as guides for our park managers in the operation of Protected Areas under the new normal,” she said.
In the meantime, as to securing clearance from LGUs to resume operation, Maranan said that since each LGU has specific protocols and guidelines in terms of managing the pandemic, the Protected Area Management Board, where LGUs sit as members, is the most appropriate venue to discuss the necessary clearance for the resumption of PA operation and opening.
Image courtesy of Wirestock | Dreamstime.com
Read full article on BusinessMirror