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FPE CEO visits Mt. Nacolod Local Conservation Area in Southern Leyte

Posted on January 6, 2020

 

On December 17, 2019, Dr. Renato D. Boniao, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE), together with the Visayas Regional Operations staff, visited Mt. Nacolod in Southern Leyte to have a first-hand understanding and experience of the realities and conservation actions in the area.

 

The Mt. Nacolod Local Conservation Area (LCA) is one of Philippine’s biologically diverse areas and is also one of FPE’s priority sites. With an area extending to 80,198.59 hectares, the mountain ranges cover the municipalities of Silago, Hinunangan, St. Bernard, Libagon, and Sogod in the province of Southern Leyte, and the municipalities of Abuyog and Mahaplag in the province of Leyte.  The landscape hosts five (5) major watersheds, including the Hinabian-Lawigan River Watershed, which supports 90% of Southern Leyte’s irrigable area.

This visit was facilitated by an FPE partner, the South Pacific Integrated Area Development Foundation, Inc. (SPIADFI), led by their very energetic Executive Director, Ms. Beverly Capena.

 

 

The site visit started in Barangay Catmon, Silago to see a good view of the pristine forest cover and the home of the newly discovered unique and world-renowned species of the Philippine tarsiers (Tarsius syrichta). The tarsiers found in this area are slightly larger than those found in other areas (like Bohol).

Dr. Boniao also met with the Libas Certificate of Land Owners Agreement (CLOA) Holders in Barangay Libas, Hinunangan. The meeting intended to share with the community their future activities in partnership with SPIADFI towards conserving and protecting the Mt. Nacolod area.

 

The Pancho Villa Women’s Association in Barangay Pancho Villa, Sogod, Southern Leyte Introduced their organization and showed their support to the initiatives in conserving biodiversity in Mt. Nacolod. The organization also showed Dr. Boniao their flower farm, a livelihood project supported by FPE.

 

This visit provided additional perspective to Dr.Boniao regarding the initiatives in the project sites that could set directions for the FPE Board of Trustees (BoT) on how FPE can advance its conservation actions in the area.