i " Republic of the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City Tel, Nos. (632) 920-4301 * (632) 828-0881 to 93 ‘924-2540 * 926-8502 AUG 3 0 204 {929-6626 loc. 2012 - 2014 ip DENR MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR No. 2004 - SUBJECT : Amending DMC 36, series of 1993 re: Criteria and Guidelines for the Categorization of Protected Areas under the National Integrated Protected Areas ‘System (NIPAS) Pursuant to Republic Act No. 7586 or the NIPAS Act and in order to provide a more appropriate criteria that will suit the present biophysical and socio-economic conditions of protected areas in the country, the criteria and guidelines for the categorization of protected areas under NIPAS as provided under Annex A of DMC. 35 Series of 1993 is hereby amended in accordance with the attached matrix SECTION 1. Title - This Memorandum Circular shall be known as the ‘Amended guidelines for the categorization of Protected Areas under the National Integrated Protected Areas System. SECTION 2. Objective - It shall be the objective of this circular to set forth the guidelines for the categorization of Protected Areas under NIPAS. | SECTION 3. Definition of Categories: | 4. Strict Nature Reserve (SNR) - is an area possessing some outstanding ecogystem, features and/or species of flora and fauna of national scientific impartance, maintained to protect nature and maintain processes in an undisturbed state in order to have ecologically representative examples of the natural environmental monitoring, education and for maintenance of genetic resources in a dynamic and evolutionary state; 2. Natural Park (NP) - is a relatively large area not materially altered by human activity where extractive resource uses are not allowed and which are maintained to protect outstanding natural and scenic areas of national or international significance for scientific, educational and recreational use; 3. Natural Monuments/Natural Landmark (NM/NL) — is @ relatively small area focused on protection of small features to preserve nationally significant natural features on account of their special interest or unique characteristics, 4. Wildlife Sanctuary (WS) ~ comprises an area which assures the natural conditions necessary to protect nationally significant species, groups of species, biotic communities or physical features of the environmept where these may require specific human manipulation for their perpetuation; Let's Go Green!5. Protected Landscape and Seascape (PL/S) - are areas of national significance which are characterized by the harmonious interaction of man and land while providing opportunities for public enjoyment through recreation and tourism within the normal lifestyles and economic activity of these areas; 6. Resource Reserve (RS) - is an extensive and relatively isolated and uninhabited area normally with difficult access designated as such to protect natural resources of the area for future use and prevent or contain development activities that could affect the resources pending the establishment of objectives which are based upon appropriate knowledge and planning; 7. Natural Biotic Area/Anthropological Reserve — is an area set aside to allow the way of life of societies living in harmony with the environment to adopt to modern technology at their pace; and 8. Other categories — refer to those areas established by law, conventions or intemational agreements which the Philippine Government is a signatory. SECTION 4. Criteria — the following criteria shall be used in the determination of categories appropriate for each of the protected areas found suitable for inclusion in the NIPAS 1, Natural Feature - This criterion includes representatives of the various ecosystems within the protected area, the diversity of biota and habitats, and the ecological state of the area. 2. Management Objective - This includes the administration of protected area taking into consideration social acceptability of the conservation program, accessibility of the area and the presence of natural and cultural features of the area. 3. Allowable Human Activities - These include the human activities that are dependent on the natural features of the protected area including those that have outstanding physical features. 4. Appropriate Management Zones — This pertains to the recommended management zones for each of the NIPAS category. The management zones are established on a need basis and/or usefulness based on existing and planned land-use inside the protected area. SECTION 5. Categorization - The categorization of the protected areas shall be done in accordance with the Protected Area Category Matrix attached as Annex A. This will be substantiated by the results of the Protected Areas Suitabiltiy Assessment (PASA). For further guidance, Annex B may be used. SECTION 6. Report - The Regional Executive Director shall submit to the Secretary through the Director, PAWB, a report on the categorization of each of the protected areas found suitable for inclusion in NIPAS. This report shall also include the rationale/justification for the categorization made. ans .SECTION 7. Repealing Clause - This Memorandum Circular supersedes all Circulars and/or Memoranda inconsistent herewith. SECTION 8. Effectivity - This Circular shall take effect immediately upon approval. flies ec rees ua 9 OY 25m aiden wos 2661S SE OVC. m pouep S02 TY ssuary seen TEM (sae our 2 2uneeg oN _YRIBLEADAnnex B Conservation Objectives of Protected Area Categories [CONSERVATION OBJECTIVE | Strict Nature: | Natural Park] Natural | Wildlife | Protected | Resource | Natural Reserve! Monument | sanctuary! | Landscape/ | Reserve | Biotic Area/ Scientific Natural | Managed | Seascape Antropologieal Reserve Landmark | Nature Reserve Reterve Maintain sample ecosystem 1 ' 1 1 x x 1 jin natural state Maintain ecological x ' 1 x x x 1 diversity and enviconmental reguation Conserve genetic resources 1 ’ i ! x x 1 Provide education, research & 1 x 1 , x x x environmen monitoring (Conserved watershed, food x ’ x x x x x lcontrol IContrt erosion and x x x x x x x Isecimentaton Maintain incigenous use oF 1 x 1 Inabitation Produce protein from widife x x x x |Produce timber, forage or x x x lextractve commodities lProvide recreation and ! 1 x ' x tourism service [Protect sites and objects of x x x 1 x 1 Jcutural, historical, or larchaeciogicalhertage Protect scenic beauty x 1 x x ' Maintain open options management fexiblity x 1 multipieuse . |Controute to rural x 1 x x ' x x development Sources! 4. Milla, KR. 1960, Planning National Parks for Ecodevelopment, Center for Strategic Wildland Management Studies, Ann Arbor; 2. UCNAUNEP 1986, Managing Protected Areas in the Tropics, IUCN, Gland Switzerland Notes: = Primary Objectives X= Compatible ObjectivesCOMPARATIVE MATRIX Neturat Park (NP) |For ecosystem consenation and CRITERIA CATEGORIES EXISTING PROPOSED. |Naturl Feature {strict Nature Reserve Pristine natural environment [Area wth blodversy:rch natural snr) of unusual species dversty locosystems in an undisturbed state > [Natural Par (NP) Jan ecological communty with Retavely large biodiversity Ich natural ecosystems; capable of |weh mivmum deurbance sustainngimaintaining significant iustrating the process Jecologica! lor succession and restoring to Jprocessesttunctions natural condtions folowing [isruptive change Natural Monument (NM) [Unique geological features of |Naonaty signicant natura lnestnetic or cleric values.e.g. [features of cura or geokoie volcanoes, caves, etc jive [waite Sanctuary (WS) _|important wife species, unique, _|Habtat of a species or a group rae, twreatened and endangered of species of prorty manage- Iment concer abit of important wife lspecies (endemic and tnreatened) as indicated by lspecies assemblage (0.9 * 5 [Endemic Bird Area, Important ~ Bird Area.important Plat Area) Protected Landscapen ‘| Miiple use character (harmonious |Arees of national signifcance [Seascapes (PLS interaction of man, land and sea) [which are characterized by } Ine harmonious interaction of human ana nature |Reecurce Reserve (RR) [Extensive and relatively isolated, [Extensive and relatively luninhabted and inacoessile lunnabited, isolated and tf lnaccessibie resource base INetural Bice Area (NBA) [Ancestral domain (natural ates) Areas of extensive cutural : [sonticance; indigenous. & peoples and othe local communities living in armory wth ther environment practicing ther culture and trations [Management | Stict Nature Reserve For sdionce or widerness. |- Research and scientific studies JOpjectve (s) (SNR) [prctetion |- Emironmental monitoring‘COMPARATIVE MATRIX sie Natural Monument (NM) 5 |waite Sanctuary (WS) seeing, bird watching and trekiong etc. ana Limited scientific research activ lnvoving only meesuremerts, [counts and observations e.g, behavioral stucies of primates, counts of migratory wide Regulated recreation e.g. controled [seasonal hunting and fishing |. scent research ivoting ema! lacale manipulation experiments e.g. habitat and popuiation planting food plats or creation of artificial water hole, saticks, etc |. controled recreation 9. Sight laceng, trekeng, tour in a simple rat systern Sock-econemic activites with lemphais on the development of lcompatible custainabie practices: Je. controled collection of dead }wood, wits, honey and other |inor forest products; traditional Jnurting and fishing practices |- Reguated recreation eg. Bird CRITERIA CATEGORIES EXISTING ‘PROPOSED, [Natural Monument (Nit) [For Sonservaion of specific natura: [Conservation nd protection of features |speciic natural features |wicite Sanctuary (WS) |For conservation of wife Protection and conservation of jie and ther nabeat Jprotected Landscapes! ‘|For landcapefsenscape conserve- [Protection of natura features |seascapes lionand recreation lana providing opportunites fr lsustainable resource use [Resource Reserve (RR) |For protection ofthe natural Conservation and protacton of resources ofthe aren for future use [natural resouroes for future use Natural Bite Area (NBA) |For preservation of ICCs and ther Protection and conservation of [cure ae traction Jcuture/customs and ractions lot inciganous Peoples (IPs) and other local commutes . land ther ervronment, inching ee resources lAtowable Human |strct Neture Reserve Lirted sciertnc research actvty _|Limted sctentftc research Le. lActvties (snr) inwotving nly measurements, Icounts, observations, and lcounts and observations -€ 9. measurements a the ste and behavioral studies of primates, educational actives [counts of migratory wide [Natura Park (NP) Reguated recreation such ae sight |Nsture Recreation |- Regulated resource use, consistent wth management plan EXCEPT cutting of naturally rowing tees |. Regulated resource use |EXCEPT those that are essential to conservation of the species being managed and cutting of naturaty growing trees |. Sustainable socio economi: lactivties and tractonal practices (ecotourism included) | Reguiated resource use EXCEPT leuting of naturally rowing trees Inowever,naturaty growing tees fr personal and non-commercial use or tenured migrants, may be alowedNatural Bite Area (NBA) omaa strict Nature Reserve IsNR) Natural Park (NP) aoe fstuios anc census, counts of Iwate Resources extraction in a including hunting and fishing ew COMPARATIVE MATRIX CRITERIA, ‘CATEGORIES EXISTING ‘PROPOSED [waiching, tering, eight seeing te. —|ubjecl To allocation crteria prescribed by PAMB : Resource Reserve (RR) | Scientific research involving only _|- Research and scientific measurements, counts and lsucies “ : observations e.9, behavioral | ioctverety montoring | Tradttonal and sustainable i ened strict Protection and Butter Zone \SPz ana 82) - Al zones defined in DAO 25 '$ 1962 except mutiple use zones - Multiple use zones shal only be allowed to be established inCOMPARATIVE MATRIX ‘CRITERIA CATEGORIES EXISTING, Nature Monument NM) Iwate Sanctuary (WS) protected Lancecape! Seoscepe US) Resource Reserve (RR) Natural Biotic Area (NBA) |Ab Zones defined in DAO 25 81902 Stet Protection, Cutural, [Restoration and Butter Zones JAW zones 28 defined in DAO 25, [s 1992