Horseshoe crab (Tachypleus tridentatus) is a marine arthropod that is more related to scorpions, spiders and the extinct trilobites (Hu et al., 2009 as cited in Padin et al., 2017). One of its unique characteristics is its appearance but not identical to their prehistoric ancestors. Literatures revealed that the external morphology of the horseshoe crab changed a little over the past 150 million years (Avise et.al., 1984 and Kin and Blazejowski, 2014 as cited in Padin et al., 2017), gaining the reputation as a “living fossil.”

It is classified as endangered under the IUCN Red list of Threatened Species (Laurie et al., 2019). It has  a critical link to coastal biodiversity. One of their ecological functions is to lay millions of eggs on beaches to feed shorebirds, fish and other wildlife. Its large hard shell serves as microhabitats for many other species such as sponges, mud crabs, mussels and snails. Unfortunately, population density is low due to overharvesting for food bait, biomedical testing and habitat loss.

In the Philippines, the Snake Island in Palawan is the only place recorded where it is found. Snake Island located at 09"54.192N 118"49.490E, within Honda Bay, Palawan was established as the DENR National Coastal and Marine Center for Research (NCMCR) through DENR Administrative Order 2011-12, for specific functions and purposes such as (1) Serve as field station for applied research for the marine and coastal environment, ecotourism, as well as terrestrial biodiversity; (2). Serve as a field laboratory for the implementation of the Integrated Coastal Marine Program pursuant to Executive Order 533 adopting Integrated Coastal Management as a             national strategy to ensure the sustainable development of the country's coastal and   marine resources; and (3). Serve as a model for sustainable coastal and marine management, as well as the proper implementation of the principles of ecotourism.

In spite of the occurring pandemic that the world is facing today, the regular monitoring and patrolling activities of the Snake Island Management Office (SIMO) headed by its Chief, Ms. Rhodora B. Ubani is continuously being conducted. SIMO reported two consecutive sightings of the horsehoe crab on the first semester of CY 2021, February 10 and June 30, 2021.

The two horseshoe crabs with approximately 65 cm (female) and 50 cm (male) length were spotted in front of the research station of Snake Island during their regular monitoring. It is believed to be mating since the male horseshoe crab mounts on the female’s back forming  an amplexus or mating embrace. According to Gerhart (2007, as cited in Padin et al., 2017), the female tows her mate to the shore and burrows near the water after the mating process.

Because of this rare occurrence, it is evidently discerned that  the Snake Island – National Coastal and Marine Center for Research is an important habitat for horseshoe crab in the country. That is why for CY 2021, the Ecosystems Research and Development Division (ERDB) has chosen the Snake Island as one of their pipeline study area.

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Published: 04 October 2021

Task Force Cali-Kasan meeting at Brgy. Calintaan, Occidental Mindoro.

In the continuous endeavor of the Task Force Cali-Kasan from  the day it was approved on February 8, 2021, until this time amidst the pandemic, it can be labeled as  a young multi-sectoral organization that has accomplished a leap of movements towards the environment and natural resources protection, conservation and awareness in the municipality of Calintaan, Occidental Mindoro.

These actions undertaken by the Task Force were being recognized measured through the full participation and support of all sectors within  the municipality when solicited. However, TF Cali-Kasan knew that their actions today must be supported by other programs to ensure its sustainability and continuity.

Despite the threat brought by the COVID-19 virus, the Task Force was not hindered in  securing and accentuating the importance of the environment especially in these trying times and health prevailing issues. Thus, on September 21, 2021, TF Cali-Kasan agreed to conduct a meeting at Brgy. Iriron, Calintaan, Occidental Mindoro with the assurance to follow the basic health protocols and guidelines provided by the Local IATF.

The meeting was presided by the Task Force Co-Chairperson and OIC, CENR Officer for San Jose- Forester Efren L. delos Reyes in the absence of the Task Force Chairperson- Mayor/ Atty. Eric C. Labrador was recently diagnosed positive with COVID-19 virus.

“Ipinararating po sa atin na kahit ano man ang ating mapag-usapan at mapagkasunduan ay siya na ring desisyon ni Mayor”, said LGU Calintaan MENRO Delmer B. Garingalo as he ended his presentation on the Task Force’s accomplishments during the meeting.

In the continuation of the meeting, Forester delos Reyes presented the status of apprehensions conducted in Calintaan. The presentation led the Task Force to think of other ways to strengthen the protection of their natural resources.

After a thorough deliberation from the suggestions given by the members, the Task Force agreed to strengthen the CEPA campaigns to prevent some of the residents of Calintaan from committing illegal forest and other environmental-related violations.

To implement the intensified CEPA campaign and activities, resolutions were drafted, deliberated, and approved during the meeting.

Task Force Cali-Kasan approved Resolution No. 2021-01 entitled: Resolution Requesting the Department of Environment and Natural Resources -Community Environment and Natural Resources Office - San Jose for the Immediate Conduct of Orientation/Training on the Deputation of Environment and Natural Resources Officers (DENROs) and Wildlife Enforcement Officers (WEOs) this Calendar Year 2021 and the Municipality of Calintaan, Occidental Mindoro for the Provision of Available Funds Thereof.

Another resolution was carefully deliberated and approved by the Task Force aiming to encourage the public to establish their private plantations and the government to have a communal forest to provide for the lumbers needed for development within the municipality.

Resolution No. 2021-02 entitled: Resolution Requesting the DENR-CENRO San Jose to Conduct Orientation/ Training on the Establishment, Operation, and Management of Barangay Nursery/ies and the Municipality of Calintaan, Occidental Mindoro for the Provision of Available Funds Thereof was agreed and approved by the multi-sectoral Task Force.

OIC, CENRO delos Reyes on behalf of the CENRO San Jose expressed his gratitude and full support in these endeavors that the Task Force will be taking. That during the economical and health issues that the county is experiencing, a group of public servants are consistently battling against environmental and natural resources abuse and degradation and to ensure that these natural resources will be enjoyed by all today and for future generations.

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Published: 22 September 2021

PENRO Marinduque National Greening Program Coordinator Forester Maria Elena M. Parañaque plants bamboo during the activity on September 17, 2021.

In celebration of the World Bamboo Day 2021, the DENR PENRO Marinduque conducted a Simultaneous Bamboo Planting Activity as part of our month-long World Bamboo Day celebration located at Brgy. Sibuyao,  and Brgy. Bayakbakin, Torrijos, Marinduque.

This year’s local theme, “Alay ng Bayan sa Inang Kalikasan, Kawayan,” underscores the importance of bamboo and its potential to aid in today’s most pressing socio-economic and ecological issues.

The event was spearheaded by the National Greening Program Coordinators of PENR Office which was participated by Local Government Unit (LGU) of Sibuyao and Bayakbakin, respectively. The activity was aimed to raise awareness on the ecological benefits bamboo for it plays an  important role in absorbing greenhouse gases, insulating carbon dioxide from the environment and producing 35 percent more oxygen than its equivalent tree size.

The safety protocols pursuant to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management and Emerging Infectious Diseases on COVID-19 were strictly followed and implemented during the activity.

The World Bamboo Day was created by Kamesh Salam in the year 2009 at the 8th World Bamboo Congress held in  Bangkok. He was the former president of the World Bamboo Organization.

Since 2009, WBO has been celebrating International Bamboo Day to increase the awareness of bamboo in the world. To generate awareness about promoting the bamboo industry, 18 September was marked as World Bamboo Day.

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Published: 20 September 2021

The Apo Reef Natural Park (ARNP) is home to a diverse range of avian species which is continuously monitored through the implementation of the Biodiversity Monitoring System (i.e. transect walk and field diary method), and the conduct of the Annual Bird Census in partnership with the Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (MBCFI). In 2019, the total tally of bird species recorded in ARNP was 82.

The Protected Area Management Office of ARNP is continuously improving its efforts to document the birds found within the Protected Area, wherein, Park Rangers have already learned the basic features of a DSLR camera to be able to photograph the birds that they encounter and record in their field diaries. The photographs of the notable avian species from January to July 2021 were forwarded to MBCFI.The final identification was done by Mr. Bob Natural (wildlife biologist) and Desmond Allen (ornithologist). Upon verification with the existing bird records, six (6) new species were recorded in ARNP for the first time. These new species are Chinese grosbeak (Eophona migratoria), beach thick-knee (Esacus magnirostris), little ringed plover (Charadrius dubius), Philippine magpie-robin (Copsychus minadananensis), ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres), and yellow bittern (Ixobrychus sinensis).

The first ever record of the Chinese grosbeak in the Philippines was in October 1991 at Sabtang Island, Batanes (Jensen et al., 2015). This year, the the said bird species was sighted for the first time in ARNP.

On the other hand, the record of beach thick-knee in the ARNP calls for further conservation and protection of the said Protected Area since this avian species is classified as Near Threatened in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (current population trend: decreasing) (Birdlife International, 2016 from The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species). Moreover, the beach thick-knee is a resident species of the Philippines with a distribution/known occurrence in the following locations: Calayan, Camiguin Norte, Dammi, Fuga, Loran, Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro, Palaui, Palawan, Pata, Polillo, Sibutu, Tataan, Tres Islas, and Tumindao (2003 Statistics on Protected Areas and Wildlife Resources – DENR-PAWB).

Male Chinese Grosbeak (Eophona migratoria) photographed by Team A led by Park Maintenance Foreman Roberto P. Beringuela on May 10, 2021 near the Ranger’s Station in Apo Island, ARNP

Asian Glossy Starling (Aplonis panayensis)

Beach Thick-knee (Esacus magnirostris) photographed by Park Ranger Michael Dagdag on March 23, 2021 along the sandy beach in Apo Island, ARNP

Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)  in its breeding plumage photographed by Park Ranger Michael Dagdag on February 24, 2021 along the sandy beach in Apo Island, ARNP

Female Philippine Magpie-robin (Copsychus mindananensis) photographed by Park Ranger Michael Dagdag on May 14, 2021 near the Ranger’s Station in Apo Island, ARNP

Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) in its breeding plumage photographed by Team A led by Park Maintenance Foreman Roberto P. Beringuela on April 22, 2021 along the sandy beach in Apo Island, ARNP

Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) photographed on May 16, 2021 along the sandy beach in Apo Island, ARNP

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Adult male Yellow Bottern (Ixobrychus sinensis) photographed by Park Ranger Michael Dagdag on May 14, 2021 in Apo Island, ARNP

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Published: 08 September 2021

The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office-Occidental Mindoro conducted its own tree planting activity on June 25, 2021 within the Seed Production Area at Brgy. Tubili, Paluan, Occidental Mindoro. The preparation of the site and seedlings were carried out by employees from the Technical Services Division and PENR Officer Ernesto E. Tañada. NGP Coordinator Roderick S. Orpilla oriented the participants on their designated planting area and demonstrated the proper way of handling and planting of seedlings. Before the tree planting proper, Forester I Connie A. Pito led the participants for the Oath of Tree Growing. A total of 67 participants composed of employees from PENRO, CENRO Sablayan, Provincial Environment and Management Unit and Barangay Officials of Tubili participated in the tree planting activity and a total of one thousand (1,000) narra seedlings were planted.###

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Published: 30 June 2021