Suchergebnisse

Philippine landscapes and seascapes have been undergoing massive degradation especially with the onset of the Anthropocene epoch. The unique forests over limestone in Guiuan Marine Resource Protected Landscapes and Seascapes in Eastern Samar have never been exempted from ongoing deteriorating conditions leading to the diminishing ecosystem services for the nearby villages. Conservation plan and action are urgent. The current paper determines top-priority plants for conservation using the localized conservation priority index (LCPI), which considers the contexts of the locality. LCPI follows a point scoring procedure recognizing holistic social, cultural, ecological and biophysical variables, such as cultural use, frequency value of occurrences in study plots, species distribution, harvesting risk, and economic use. Research findings indicated Caryota rumphiana Mart., Saribus rotundifolius (Lam.) Blume Artocarpus blancoi (Elmer) Merr., Shorea negrosensis Foxw., Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br., Calophyllum soulattri Burm.f., Artocarpus rubrovenius Warb., Nothaphoebe leytensis (Elmer) Merr., Shorea astylosa Foxw., Palaquium sp., Heterospathe intermedia (Becc.) Fernando, Hancea wenzeliana (Slik) S.E.C.Sierra, Kulju & Welzen, Aquilaria cumingiana (Decne.) Ridl., Wallaceodendron celebicum Koord., Palaquium luzoniense (Fern.-Vill.) Vidal, Mastixia sp., Wrightia sp., Lubi-lubi, Kuyakya and Neonauclea formicaria (Elmer) Merr. The leaves, stems, fruits, and flowers are the most-commonly harvested plant parts in high-priority level species, most of which are primarily used for housing and construction. The identified plants were geotagged to intensify onsite protection. The findings are of extreme relevance in providing guidance to protected area staff, local people organizations, and community residents in embarking on urgent conservation action in conserving locally vulnerable biodiversity in order to sustain ecosystem services.

Conservation of forests over limestone (FOL), a unique and fragile ecosystem, is critical to ensure the sustainability of both nature and human communities in the vicinities. A survey was conducted to determine the gendered perception about the FOL, the importance of its ecosystem services, and conservation actions in Guiuan Marine Reserve Protected Landscape and Seascape (GMRPLS), Guiuan, Eastern Samar, Philippines. About 541 men and women of barangays Pagnamitan, Ngolos, Baras, and Sulangan, Guiuan, Eastern Samar participated. Both men (3%) and women (2%) in GMRPLS were involved in the conservation of FOL, e.g., policymaking, awareness campaigns, tree planting, and other activities. Also, about 8% of women (W) and 7% of men (M) were interested in participating in conservation actions. The men and women in GMRPLS were slightly to very well familiar (M=92%, W=90%) and aware (M=94%, W=92%) of FOL. The men (96%) and women (94%) were also slightly to very well aware that the FOL is protected by law and managed by an agency. Also, the men and women considered the ecosystem services of FOL critical, e.g., protection against typhoons, water, fresh air, and wildlife habitat. Conservation actions such as conducting forest information dissemination, participating in conservation programs, planting seedlings, and enacting a localized biodiversity conservation strategy specific to FOL were recommended by the men and women in GMRPLS. Forest regulation and governance of all concerned are necessary to ensure the FOL's sustainability and the continued enjoyment of the communities of its ecosystem services. Moreover, the study suggests extension activities, e.g., information and education campaigns in these barangays, to increase their awareness and appreciation of FOL and encourage their engagement in FOL conservation.