FOUR remote provinces in the Philippines harbor biologically diverse, yet highly endangered forests. Through the GOLDEN Forests, a five-year project grant awarded by the European Community to the Haribon Foundation, there is hope to breathe life back to these forests.
On December 21, 2005, the European Community (EC) awarded a five-year project grant of P 1,439,269 to the Haribon Foundation. The project, Governance and Local Development for Endangered Forests or GOLDEN Forests. Bringing life back to Mt. Irid Angilo in the provinces of Quezon, Aurora, Bulacan and Rizal; Mt. Hilong-Hilong and Diwata in Agusan, and Surigao; and Zambales mountains in Zambales is the project aim. Economic support for the poor and marginalized communities living in these areas is also part of the assistance package.
The GOLDEN Forest areas have been selected based on their biological importance quantified in terms of species richness and watershed functions, as well as the extent of threats they are facing. Except for the Zambales Mountains, all the project sites are habitats of the Philippine Eagle, the country’s national bird and a flagship species for conservation.
The GOLDEN Forests is the second EC project grant to Haribon. The first one, implemented in 2001 to 2004, was the Integration of Forest Management with Local Governance (IFCLGP) in Mindoro, Antique and Surigao del Sur provinces.
Projects like IFCLGP and GOLDEN guide the local communities and local government consider forest conservation in their planning and decision-making for development, said Noel Resurreccion, Haribon Site Conservation Department Manager. He also cited that the implementation of the GOLDEN Forests is very timely and relevant as the Foundation gears up for its nationwide campaign to restore one million hectares of denuded forests by year 2020.
Restoring the remaining forests is of outmost importance because as cited by a Filipino scientist, Dr. Sajise, an archipelago like the Philippines needs 54 percent forest cover to be able to adequately perform its ecological functions, Resurreccion said.