WV has 19 biodiversity sites
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has already proclaimed 19 Biodiversity Conservation Sites in Western Visayas. It is part of the 128 key biodiversity areas (KBA) identified in the region and in Central Visayas.
The DENR report on the region's biodiversity sites or protected areas was presented yesterday by Arlene Delawis in the first day of the seminar-workshop on The Environmental Security Test (TEST).
In Iloilo, the identified protected areas are the Jalaur River Watershed Forest Reserve; Maasin Watershed Forest Reserve (Maasin) and Bulabog Putian Natural Park (Dingle-San Enrique)
In Antique, the protected areas are Sibalom Natural Park, Dalanas Watershed Forest Reserve and Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park. Northwest Panay Peninsula Park is between the boundaries of Antique and Aklan.
The Pan-ay River watershed Forest Reserve in Tapaz, Capiz, Aklan Watershed Forest Reserve and Taklong Island National Marine Reserve in Nueva Valencia are also included in the biodiversity conservation sites.
In Negros Occidental the biodiversity conservation sites are Mt. Kanla-on Natural Park, Sagay Marine Reserve, Northern Negros Natural Park, Bago Watershed Forest Reserve, Ilog Hilabangan Watershed Forest Reserve and Kabankalan Watershed Forest Reserve.
The other important biodiversity sites are the Central Panay Mountains: Madjaas-Baloi Complex (Aklan, Antique, Capiz & Iloilo); Gigantes Island, Carles, Iloilo; Boracay Island and Guimaras Strait.
The 19 biodiversity conservation sites or Protected Areas in the region are home for the 209 globally threatened and 419 endemic species of freshwater species amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.