Protecting Sierra Madre Means LIFE for ALL

Extracted from Business Mirror, by Jonathan L. Mayuga (Oct 1, 2016). ACCORDING to the Save Sierra Madre Network Alliance Inc. (SSMNA), citing a 2004 study by Eken, et al. and a 2007 study by Langhammer, et al. key biodiversity areas (KBAs) are identified nationally using simple, globally standardized criteria and thresholds, based on the needs of biodiversity requiring safeguards at the site scale.

The Sierra Madre has at least 201 species of mammals, 556 species of birds, over 85 species of amphibians and 252 species of reptiles, of which 48 percent are endemic, with many of these near-threatened, critical, vulnerable and endangered.
According to SSMNA, a recent study published by the University of Kansas revealed that the nor thernmost par t of the range has yielded 101 species of amphibians and reptiles, suggesting further that more species within the range are yet to be discovered.

Furthermore, the study of Larry Heaney on the mammals highlighted Luzon, where the expansive mountain range resides, as the most endemic oceanic island in the whole world.

Besides the KBAs within the mountain range are three national parks and at least nine other protected areas.

SSMNA said its watershed supports the water supply in Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley, including Metro Manila.

The Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park’s (NSMNP) 16 watersheds alone provide water to more than 1.5 million people.

It has a total land area of 2.8 million hectares, stretching from Cagayan Valley in the north of Luzon to Calabarzon in the south of Luzon, encompassing the 10 provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Quezon. There are 28 protected areas within the mountain range, including 12 KBAs.

Around 10 million people living within and around the Sierra Madre depend on its bounty—for food, water and medicine, shelter and livelihood.

Source: https://businessmirror.com.ph/protected-sierra-madre-means-life-for-ips-the-whole-nation-2/

Neighbouring Laguna and Quezon provinces, the LQLG natural resources are water with about 300 million gallons of underground water recharged by at least seven principal watersheds. Laguna houses  Asia’s 3rd biggest lake-the Laguna de Bay- which ably supplies the Province’s fresh water resource requirements and form part of the people’s livelihood.

Laguna is nestled in the foothills of three mountains namely, Mount Makiling, Mount Banahaw, and the Sierra Madre Range that not only provide attraction for the tourism industry and sources of many forest-based products, but also serve as stewards for the clean air that Laguna generously share. The soil is heaven for those seeking opportunities in agriculture and horticulture given its richness and fertility.