Strengthening Protected Area Management in Bohol
BOHOL - The Provincial Government of Bohol, through the Bohol Provincial Environment Management Office (BPEMO), participated in the 3rd Quarter Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) Meeting of the Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape (RSPL) on August 19, 2026, at the Bohol Boutique Hotel in Yanaya, Bilar, Bohol. The meeting brought together government agencies, local government units, researchers, and other protected area stakeholders to discuss important matters involving protected area management, biodiversity conservation, infrastructure, research, and environmental monitoring. Several proposals and requests were presented for consideration, with the PAMB members approving or endorsing the agendas taken up during the meeting.
Promoting Biodiversity Research and Conservation
BPEMO presented its proposed survey, mapping, validation, monitoring, and assessment activities for the Bohol Helmet Orchid (Corybas boholensis), along with plans for wildlings collection within the RSPL. Forester Jomar P. Cuerbo also presented a research study examining the abundance, distribution, and utilization of bamboo in the Loboc Watershed. The National Museum of the Philippines likewise proposed exploring, locating, and collecting representative specimens of Amorphophallus calcicola and Corybas boholensis within the protected landscape, although the agenda was not taken up because its representative was absent. Research activities on bats were also discussed, including the LANGUB research program on bat diversity, associated ectoparasites, and microbiome profiling, as well as thesis studies examining communities’ awareness of the ecological and economic importance of bats.
Strengthening Collaboration for RSPL Conservation
The meeting highlighted the importance of continued cooperation among national government agencies, local governments, researchers, communities, and protected area stakeholders in managing the Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape. Through BPEMO’s active participation and the work of the PAMB, conservation programs can be strengthened through research, biodiversity monitoring, environmental assessment, and coordinated decision-making. The initiatives discussed during the meeting contribute to the continued protection of Bohol’s natural resources while supporting responsible research and sustainable management within one of the province’s important protected landscapes.
