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The
NIPAS Act: factors affecting its implementation |
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Local
awareness and participation of the community are two major factors
affecting the implementation of the NIPAS (National Integrated Protected
Areas Systems) Act, a law on environmental conservation in the protected
areas.
This
was revealed by the study “Factors influencing the effectiveness
of the NIPAS Act.” It found that local awareness and participation
were not as impressive as they seemed to be.
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Awareness
on the Act was mostly about the prohibition on cutting of
trees in the protected areas or natural parks. It was further
limited to the prohibitions on animal hunting, fish poisoning,
and kaingin (slash-and-burn farming).
Nonetheless,
such knowledge of the Act had some positive impacts on the
management of forests in the Mt. Malindang range. No commercial
logging has happened in the area since the Act was implemented.
According
to researcher Aurelia L.V. Gomez of the University of the
Philippines in Mindanao, enforcing the NIPAS Act was largely
dependent on the availability of manpower and logistics.
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The
key factors were found to be the effective coordination of all agencies
and organizations involved in implementation and the active participation
of local communities within and around the park.
The
study recommends that an intensive information, education, and communication
campaign at different levels is needed. An integrated approach to
policy enforcement is also highly recommended where nongovernmental
organizations and private groups join government agencies for a
sustained policy enforcement.
The
study was monitored and evaluated by PCARRD during a regional symposium
on research, development, and extension highlights held in Obrero,
Davao City. (Ma. Rowena M. Baltazar, S&T Media Service)
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Copyright
© 2001
Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research
and Development
Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
Tel. Nos. (63-049) 536-0014 to 536-0015/ 536-0017 to 536-0020 & 536-0024
Fax Nos. (63-049) 536-0016/ 536-0132
E-mail: pcarrd@pcarrd.dost.gov.ph
All Rights Reserved. |
