Report on the Management Effectiveness and Capacity of Protected Areas in the Philippines: A collaborative effort in showing the state of Protected Areas in the Philippines

Implemented by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources through its Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB), the Protected Area Management Enhancement (PAME) in the Philippines Project aimed to improve the management effectiveness in 60 existing protected areas (PAs) in the Philippines. The program is in partnership with the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. Apart from ensuring that existing PAs are effectively managed, the program also targeted to and establish 100 new protected areas in Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs).

The project began in October 2012 and ended in December 2017. This is the only conservation project worldwide focused on strengthening such a large number of PA sites within a short amount of time. Specifically, PAME aimed to:

1) Improve management and technical capacities of DENR, protected area staff and key partners

2) Support the improvement of protected area management in at least 60 existing terrestrial and marine protected areas in defined key biodiversity areas (KBAs) through improved plans, legal frameworks, financial plans, and monitoring systems

3) Support the establishment of at least 100 new protected areas under innovative conservation management systems (for example, those led by local governments and communities)

4) Support an improved knowledge management and awareness-raising for PA management and value of biodiversity conservation.

Despite the highly ambitious and seemingly impossible targets to reach, PAME satisfyingly achieved its main goals. As stated in the report:

Average METT scores of 64 existing national protected areas increased from 34% in 2013 to 49% this 2017. This is a 46% increase, higher than the targeted 30% increase. Although only 55 out of 100 proposed sites were established or expanded through local legislation, more than 45 other sites are already under local legislative council deliberation. The legal process has been initiated and many more conservation areas will be established in the near future. Management effectiveness score of the 100 new or proposed sites is 27% on average, which is beyond the project target of 20%. Moreover, 114 out of the 160 project sites reported improved protection of species biodiversity, which is indicated by, one, two, or all of the following: 1) increased patrols, 2) decreased violations, and 3) improved biodiversity condition, without any deterioration in any of the other two indicators.

The project has therefore contributed to the PDP’s specific target of increasing area of PAs under effective management, providing support to 1.3 million hectares for existing national terrestrial PAs (65% of PDP’s 2-million-hectare target) and 0.3 million hectares for existing national marine PAs (9% of PDP’s 3.4-million-hectare target). Meanwhile, the 55 local conservation areas established so far through project support or incentive spans 183,227 hectares, more than half of the PDP’s 300,000-hectare target.

In terms of improving capacity of DENR and PA management teams, PAME has trained over 17,000 in relevant PA management topics like biophysical assessment and monitoring, and management planning. 94% of training participants surveyed attested to the trainings’ added value to their regular work.

Meanwhile, PAME’s knowledge management and communication improved, with 64% of sites releasing information, education, and communication (IEC) materials with the three foundations of sustainability (ecological, economic, and social).

The Center for Conservation and Innovation Philippines collaborated with other experts and experienced management authorities in writing this GIZ PAME Final Report. Interested to read the full report? Click here and learn more.

Link to the report —- https://snrd-asia.org/report-on-the-management-effectiveness-and-capacity-assessment-of-protected-areas-in-the-philippines/