The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Bicol through the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Camarines Norte, conducted a three-day technical training on the Carrying Capacity Determination for the Mananap Canyoneering Activity within the Abasig Matogdon Mananap Natural Biotic Area (AMMNBA) on March 17 to 19, 2026.
Implemented by the Protected Area Management Office (PAMO) in collaboration with the DENR Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB-UBRDEC) and the Local Government Unit (LGU) San Vicente, the activity aimed to strengthen the technical capacity of stakeholders in assessing sustainable visitor limits for ecotourism activities.
The training gathered twenty-five (25) participants from DENR, LGU San Vicente, the Provincial Tourism Office and the Protected Area Management Board. It included lectures, fieldwork, and data analysis on biodiversity, socio-economic and environmental factors affecting carrying capacity.
PENRO Camarines Norte under the leadership of PENR Officer For. Nestor Franz A. Fortuno emphasized the importance of science-based management in protected areas.
As part of the activity, participants conducted a tree-growing activity in celebration of the International Day of Forests, planting thirty-five (35) seedlings including Narra, Rambutan, Libas and Manila Palm symbolizing their commitment to conservation and sustainable resource management.
The DENR Bicol headed by Regional Executive Director (RED) Francisco E. Milla Jr. reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that ecotourism development in protected areas like AMMNBA remains environmentally sustainable, socially responsible and beneficial to local communities.###
(With report and photo documentation from PENRO Camarines Norte)
Source: DENR Bicol