BACOLOD CITY – A unified forest law enforcement protocol aimed to further protect and preserve the Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP) was signed by representatives of concerned agencies in Negros Occidental Tuesday.

The signing rites, held at the Governor's Hall of the Provincial Capitol, was led by Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., who was joined by the mayors of the 11 towns and cities covered by the NNNP. Other signatories are Senior Supt. Allan Guisihan, provincial police director, and Col. Oscar Lactao, commander of the Philippine Army 303rd Infantry Brigade, who represented the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, respectively.

The Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) is protecting the NNNP under a co-management scheme with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

"It is incumbent upon local leaders to protect, conserve, and preserve what is left and as much as possible bring (NNNP) back to its original state or even just 50 percent of its forest cover. Only one-fifth of its forest cover is left. The NNNP forest cover is very important for our food security," Marañon said after the signing of the protocol held during the NNNP Management Council meeting.

The common protocol will serve as a guide in the enforcement operations of the province's anti-illegal logging team Task Force Ilahas, Bantay Bukid Brigades, and DENR personnel.

PEMO chief Aleta Nuñez said she hopes the implementation of the protocol will address the issues raised in the enforcement of forestry laws in the NNNP.

The NNNP has a total land area of 80,454.50 hectares, spanning the cities of Talisay, Silay, Victorias, Cadiz, Sagay, and San Carlos and the municipalities of E.B. Magalona, Toboso, Calatrava, Don Salvador Benedicto, and Murcia.

By 2001, its forest cover has been reduced to only 28 percent or 22,288.81 hectares. As the largest watershed of Negros Occidental, it is the main source of water for 17 municipalities and cities in central and northern Negros.

It is also home to critically endangered large mammals such as the Visayan Spotted Dear (Cervusalfredi), Visayan Warty Pig (Suscebifrons), and Common Palm Civet (Paradoxurushermaphroditus).

Large settlements are also present inside the forest reserve, numbering almost 9,000 households scattered in 43 barangays.*