Rich biodiversity of Davao Gulf threatened - EcoGov

Pressure from rising population and economic growth is threatening the rich biodiversity of the Davao Gulf, and local government units (LGUs) in its surrounding areas are urged to join hands to protect animal species from being pushed further to the brink.

The Philippine Environmental Governance Project 2 (EcoGov) made this call as it sounded the alarm for some of the world’s most vulnerable and endangered animal species found in the Davao Gulf that are feared to become extinct “by the lack of concerted initiatives to address the environmental concerns” in the area.

Citing the observation of the Davao Gulf Management Council, the coordinating body for initiatives to address environmental concerns in the gulf, the EcoGov said the “fragmented initiatives by national government agencies and LGUs… deter integrated coastal management.”

The EcoGov, in particular, said “weak inter-LGU mechanisms for coastal and fishery law enforcement” were some of the pressing concerns in the Davao Gulf, which covers 23 LGUs.

“The pressures of economic and social growth have to be addressed through a concerted effort by gulf stakeholders, especially LGUs, because Davao Gulf is the source of livelihood for the people around (it),” Save Davao Gulf Foundation president Leo Avila III said in a statement.

The Davao Gulf is the feeding ground of 11 species of cetaceans, including sperm whales, killer whales, and bottle-nose dolphins.

It is also the nursing ground of five endangered turtle species, including the hawksbill, the leatherback, and olive ridley.

In fact, the Davao Gulf is a key biodiversity area (KBA) in the Philippines, which is listed as one of the world’s 34 “biodiversity hot spots.”

KBAs, which are considered “globally significant sites,” are building blocks for conservation programs that maintain effective ecological networks and prevent biodiversity loss.

On the other hand, five terrestrial KBAs in the uplands of the Davao Gulf region are also home to some of the world’s threatened mammals and birds, including the Philippine eagle.

An estimated 80 percent of Mindanao’s mammal species are not found anywhere else in the world. These include the Mindanao moonrat and the Mindanao pygmy fruit bat.

However, the rich biodiversity of Mindanao faces threats from economic growth and population pressures. And this condition can best be seen in the Davao Gulf region, where the population reached 4.1 million in 2007, the EcoGov said.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza has also called for initiatives to address the environmental threats to the Davao Gulf.

“We have to develop that awareness that what we do to our coastal areas would affect all our life-support systems. The impact of the degradation of the country’s coastlines will not only be felt by coastal communities but even by the people in the upland areas,” Atienza said.

The EcoGov is a technical assistance project in the Philippines funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The project is a collaborative effort of the DENR, LGUs and other partners to enhance the capabilities of LGUs to preserve and manage natural resources through good environmental governance and sound, sustainable management practices.

Currently, the EcoGov is assisting six LGUs in the Davao Gulf in the areas of forest and forestland management, coastal resource management, and urban environmental management. 

It is also providing advice on environment-friendly livelihood activities to communities, cooperatives, and people’s organizations.

For instance, the EcoGov, which began helping LGUs in 2005, teaches coastal communities how to manage coastal resources and prevent overfishing or stop illegal fishing practices.

Moreover, the USAID, through EcoGov, also funds assistance programs for solid waste and wastewater management in the gulf area.

According to EcoGov, the Davao Gulf is a catchment area for industrial, agricultural, and human waste, as well as siltation from upland regions.

“Waste generation continues to be a serious threat to the Davao Gulf,” it added. – Katherine Adraneda