Abstract. Jr Dechimo AA, Jr Buot IE. 2023. Biophysical assessment of the plant biodiversity of Northern Negros Natural Park, Negros Island, Philippines. Biodiversitas 24: 583-602. Data sets on plant bioresources in Northern Negros Natural Park are critical in planning for conservation management and strategies. This study aimed to (i) conduct a survey of plant species in NNNP and determine their conservation status, (ii) assess the species diversity pattern and vegetation structures, (iii) establish altitudinal zones, and (iv) analyze the environmental factors affecting species distribution. Standard vegetation analysis and secondary data were utilized in the data collection process. Results showed 242 species, 72 families of 78 tree species, 90 shrubs and small trees, and 37 epiphytes. About 112 species are threatened, 35 of which are Philippine endemics. Two altitudinal zones were identified using the cluster analysis: Zone I (643 to 1,256 m asl.), dominated by Crypteronia paniculata, Acer laurinum, Weinmannia hutchinsonii, and Syzygiumsp.; and Zone II (1421 to 1470 m asl.) dominated by Dacrydium cf. beccarii. Zone I was further subdivided into three clusters: Zone IA (643 to 985 m asl.), Zone IB (908 to 913 m asl.), and Zone IC (822 to 1,182 m asl.). Canonical correspondence analysis illustrated that environmental factors (N, Altitude, and human disturbance) influenced the zonation of vegetation or species abundance. These results are important in understanding the landscape and crafting strategic interventions and management plans for conservation.
Ethnobotanical data, a vital component of a thorough examination of a protected area that aids in planning for management efforts and strategies for biodiversity conservation, is rarely employed because of its rarity or absence in Northern Negros Natural Park’s (NNNP) database. This study aims to [1] determine the plant and other forest bioresource utilization of the local communities in NNNP, [2] assess the threats to the park and its biodiversity due to the utilization of bioresources, and [3] evaluate the Institutional Management Regime for NNNP. The data was gathered using focus groups, key informant interviews, and household surveys. For the secondary data, information was also accessed from the Office of the Protected Area Superintendent and local government units. One hundred thirteen (113) species are used for food (26%), ornamental (24%), herbal or medicinal value (19%), construction (12%), commercial (9%), charcoal and fuel wood (8%), and craft (3%) based on data collected from 643 families in the 11 cities and municipalities that make up the protected area. Housing construction, settlement, and the production of annual and non-perennial timber crops were all noted as major threats identified in the park. According to the review of the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT), the “context” and “planning” components were the strengths of the protected area employing the management rating of 64 and 53.8%, respectively. The Republic Act No. 11038, commonly known as the Expanded National Integrated Protected Area System (ENIPAS), is the sole unambiguous law that governs bioresource harvesting in protected areas. In addition, policies imposed by cooperatives and villages were used to control the usage and harvesting of bioresources. These findings gave us a crucial socioeconomic and institutional understanding of the landscape, preparing us to make interventions and create management plans to deal with problems involving the use of bioresources in the protected area.
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