Apayao province declared as UNESCO biosphere reserve

The Province of Apayao in the Cordillera Administrative Region in Luzon is among the new 11 biosphere reserves declared by UNESCO.

According to "Kuya Kim Ano Na?" on "24 Oras," Tuesday, the 11 new biosphere reserves were decided upon during the 36th session of the International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO held in Agadir, Morocco early this month.

Apayao, considered the "Last Frontier of Cordillera," is the fourth biosphere reserve in the Philippines. The others are Palawan, Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro, and Albay in Bicol.

"Kami po'y talagang nagagalak at masaya dahil kinikilala ang mga natatanging mga likas-yaman ng aming probinsya," said Marcelo Menor, ENP, a supervising environmental specialist at the Provincial Governor's Office in Apayao.

Per the report, the local government unit of Apayao began its bid to be designated as a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 2018 after it discovered an active nest of Philippine eagles in the forests of Apayao.

Menor said that this was a collaborative effort of the LGU with the Philippine Eagle Foundation and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Areas of the province are now being protected for biodiversity conservation.

"Upang mapanatili ang kalikasan ng Apayao, mapatupad nang mas mahigpit na regulasyon para sa pangangalaga ng ating mga likas na yaman sa aming probinsya," said Menor.

Biosphere reserves are "learning places for sustainable development" and are designated by UNESCO to promote sustainable development, protect terrestrial marine, and coastal ecosystems, and encourage conservation.

Aside from Apayao in the Philippines, the other newly declared UNESCO biosphere reserves are located in Belgium, Gambia, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Italy, Mongolia, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, Slovenia, and Spain.

— CDC, GMA Integrated News