This blogger, along with
LOGSAC mainstays Hardi Joy Desuyo and Chester Mitz Manuel participated the
SMART LAWIN Patrolling in Buribid Mountain Range, Tibolo, Sta. Cruz, Davao del
Sur on September 2-4, 2015. Completing the casts from Sta. Cruz of the
patrolling activity were mountaineers Ronie Torlao and Nelson Denson. Prior to
the actual foot patrolling, the team were oriented by personnel from
USAID-B+WISER about the use of SMART LAWIN software.
B+WISER has been very
consistent lately of tapping local personnel, including porters and community
residents to biodiversity and threats monitoring in areas within the Mt. Apo
Natural Park (MANP) using the SMART LAWIN system. It is expected that the new
system called Landscape and Wildlife Indicator (LAWIN) shall enhance the
Biodiversity Monitoring System (BMS) which is already employed by the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
With the introduction of
geo-spatial dimension to the analysis, the automation and semi-automation of
the analysis, and the integration of timely and responsive environmental law
enforcement system are seen as instrumental value additions to the current BMS,
which will make data analysis more robust providing real time information that
will allow for quick actions from concerned government functionaries.
Major components of the
observations considered during the patrolling were wildlife, which includes
flora, fauna and bird species; as well as the threats in MANP. In the lower portion
of Mt. Buribid recording some 1,400 masl, we saw species of dominant trees like
lawaan and tanggili where huge diameter averaging more or less 150 cm located
in the early secondary growth forest. Since it was the first time we conducted foot
patrolling, we will be back to do the same activity in identified old growth
forest in Tibolo.
We followed a trail
introduced to us by our guide Kagawad Arman Ladingan and we saw tracks of wild
pigs and wild chicken as the prevailing fauna in the mountain. Other indirect
observation we noticed was the remains of corn and banana plants left by civets
and wild pigs.
Bird species are in
abundance also in Mt. Buribid. After we left the basecamp in the morning of the
second day, we hear assorted birds in the first area near sitio Basak. As a
beginner in the bird watching, I found it hard to identify them one by one with
their sounds although I determined some spotted dove in the lower portions and
some sunbirds and fantails. As we go through the vastly forested portion, I saw
flock of the popular Apo Myna and towards the southwest we saw one hornbill.
The sad part of the
patrolling was the threats we saw. There were portions were locals have
encroached the area for farming employing the slash and burn method. We also
saw two big trees cut down in the middle of the forest. In some portions down
north, there are numbers of buyo-buyo species occupying a large part of the
vegetation. This plant is highly toxic and could harm other useful species.
As a mountaineering club
who loves nature, we will always be happy to take part to whatever activities
related to biodiversity monitoring. It has always been our priority to do that,
even with a little remuneration or no financial gain whatsoever. We would just
like to be known in our fight for environmental conservation, nothing else
matters.
