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[av_heading heading=’ URBAN FARMER ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY JULIO P. YAP JR.
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Protect, develop, conserve natural resources
TOURISM, which is considered as among the fastest growing sectors in the Philippines, relies heavily on the natural resources and cultural wealth of the country.
It is therefore necessary to protect, develop, and conserve these invaluable resources.
The increasing prominence of the country’s tourism industry yields both positive impact on the economy and negative impact on the environment.
The anticipated continued increase in the number of touristsis expected to increase the earnings from foreign exchange and promote the country’s tourism business.
It is also expected to strengthen the country’s political and economic relations, but it is also feared to bring negative effects on the environment.
A strong tourism industry is also likely to cause pollution, depletion of marine and forest ecosystems, disappearance of flora and fauna, exploitation of resources, accumulation of wastes, drinking water shortages, overcrowding, and many more.
To address the negative impacts of the sector on our environment, the government has issued a number of laws and guidelines on tourism and ecotourism development, such as the Tourism Act of 2009 (RA 9593), National Ecotourism Strategy (EO 111), and recently, the Guidelines on Ecotourism Planning and Management in Protected Areas (DENR Administrative Order 2013-19).
In line with this, the Forestry and Environment Research Division (FERD) of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (PCAARRD-DOST) recently conducted a five-day training-workshop on Tourism Carrying Capacity for Sustainable Ecotourism Development.
Dr. Lope A. Calanog, a freelance consultant in Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity Management, along with foresters Alicia G. Calderon and Ma. Lourdes DC. Reyes served as the facilitators of the training-workshop.
This was attended by 27 participants coming from the different agencies throughout the regions.
The training-workshop aims to teach the participants the basic concepts and principles of tourism carrying capacity as it relates to ecotourism planning and development.
It also aims to show the participants the proper way to compute tourism carrying capacity, particularly on how to estimate standard requirement of tourists and visitors in a specific ecotourism site or destination.
This can help prevent overcrowding in famous tourist attractions in the country.
The participants found the training-workshop useful and relevant to biodiversity conservation and management, tourism planning and development, and community extensions, in which they are engaged.
Meanwhile, one noticeable area that has richnatural resources and cultural wealth is the province of Negros Occidental, which is incidentally known as “sugarland” for producing almost 60 percent of our country’s sugar supply.
However, there is more to Negros Occidental than just sugar – from the flashing smiles, the lilting singsong dialect, the opulent heritage, world famous arts and crafts, interesting churches, sparkling white beaches, mountain resorts, and many more.
These factors have contributed much in making the province one of the prime destinations of both local and international tourists.
Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr. says that the province is a fascinating place to choose when one wants to get away from the hectic life in the metropolis./PN
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