NATIONAL INTEGRATED PROTECTED AREA SYSTEM ACT
OF 1992 (NIPAS) within the protected areas which have actually and
Republic Act 7586
 Purpose: to secure the perpetual existence of all native plants
and animals through the establishment of a comprehensive
system of integrated protected areas.
 It classifies all the designated protected areas to maintain
essential ecological processes and life-support systems, to
preserve genetic diversity, to ensure sustainable use of
resources found therein, and to maintain their natural
conditions to the greatest extent possible.
DECLARATION OF POLICY
1. The law declares it as a policy of the state to secure for the
Filipino people of present and future generations the
perpetual existence of all native plants and animals through
the establishment of a comprehensive system of integrated
protected areas within the classification of national park as
provided for in the constitution.
Note: NIPAS act is aimed at overall biodiversity conservation,
although “biodiversity” is not defined in the act or in its
implementing rules and regulations of 1992 (NIPAS IRR). The act
focuses on habitant and ecosystem-related conservation, identifying
forests, watersheds, coastal zones, coral reefs and other such areas
that represent a wide variety of ecosystems.
NIPAS act takes into account irreplaceable areas with
unique natural characteristics and culturally important areas.
CATEGORIES OF PROTECTED AREAS, to wit:
1. Strict nature reserve;
2. Natural park;
3. Natural monuments;
4. Wildlife sanctuary;
5. Protected landscape ad seascapes;
6. Resource reserve;
7. Natural biotic areas; and
8. Other categories established by law, conventions or
international agreements to which the Philippine
government is a signatory.
DEFINITION OF TERMS (just read the others) to wit:
 NIPAS is the classification and administration of all
designated protected areas to maintain essential ecological
processed and life-support systems, to preserve genetic
diversity, to ensure sustainable use of resources found therein,
and to maintain their natural conditions to the greatest extent
possible.
 PROTECTED AREAS refers to the identified portions of land
and water set aside by reason of their unique physical and
biological significance, managed to enhance biological
diversity and protected against destructive human
exploitation.
 BUFFERS ZONES identified areas outside the boundaries of
and immediately adjacent to designated protected areas that
need special development control in order to avoid or
minimize harm to the protected area.
 PROTECTED LANDSCAPES/SEASCAPES 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 lifestyle and economic activity of
these areas.
 TENURED MIGRANT COMMUNITIES are communities
continuously occupied such areas for 5 years before the
designation of the same as protected areas in accordance with
this act and are solely dependent therein for subsistence,
 WILDLIFE SANCTUARY comprises an area which assures
the natural conditions necessary to protect nationally
significant species, group of species, biotic communities or
physical features of the environment where these may require
specific human manipulation for their perpetuation.
Note: The Tañon Strait, pursuant to Proclamation No. 1234, was set
aside and declared a protected area under the category of protected
seascape.
 No energy resource exploitation and utilization may be done
in a protected seascape without a law for the purpose.
 RESIDENT MARINE MAMMALS vs. REYES, the court
held that while PD 87 is sufficient to satisfy the requirement
of a general law, the absence of the two conditions required
by Sec. 4, Art 12 of the 1987 Constitution, to wit:
1. That the president be a signatory to Service
Contract-46; and;
2. That Congress be notified of such contract.
Service contract involving the exploitation, development
and utilization of our natural resources are of paramount
interest to the present and future generations. Hence,
safeguards were put in place to insure that the guidelines
set by law are meticulously observed and likewise to
eradicate the corruption that may easily penetrate
departments and agencies by ensuring that the president has
authorized or approved of these service contracts herself.
Note: Calauit Island, Busuanga, Palawan, declared a game preserve
and wildlife sanctuary but later proclaimed by the President as an
ancestral land belonging to the Indigenous Cultural Community of
Tagbanua as their private but community property.
ESTABLISHMENT AND EXTENT OF THE SYSTEM
 Section 5(a) of RA 7586 provides that the establishment and
operationalization of the system shall involve the following:
a. All areas or islands in the PH proclaimed, designated or
set aside, pursuant to a law, presidential decree,
presidential proclamation or executive order as a national
park, game refuge, bird and wildlife sanctuary,
wilderness area, strict nature reserve, watershed,
mangrove reserve, fish sanctuary, natural and historical
landmark, protected and managed landscape/seascape as
well as identified virgin forests before the effectivity of
the act are hereby designated as initial components of the
system. The initial components of the system shall be
governed by existing laws, rules and regulations, not
inconsistent with this act.
 Buffer Zones – for each protected area, peripheral buffer
zones shall be established to protect the same from activities
that will directly and indirectly harm it. Buffer Zones shall
include public and private lands. The DENR shall exercise the
same authority over buffer zones in the same manner as
protected areas.
 Management Plans – there shall be a general management
planning strategy to serve as a guide in formulating individual
plans for each protected area.
Management Plans must contain the following:
1. An individual management plan prepared by three
experts;
 2. Basic background information;
3. Field inventory of the resources within the area;
4. An assessment of assets and limitation;
5. Regional interrelationships
6. Particular objectives for managing the area;
7. Appropriate division of the area into management zones;
8. A review of the boundaries of the area; and
9. A design of the management programs.
ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE SYSTEM
 The NIPAS has been placed under the control and
administration of the DENR.
 The DENR secretary is empowered to perform the following
acts (see pg. 399-400 for the enumeration)
 PROTECTED MANAGEMENT BOARD
o Composition- regional executive director, a
representative from the autonomous regional
government (if applicable), provincial
development officer, one representative each
from the municipality government, barangay
covering the protected area and tribal community
(if applicable), three representative from non-
government organizations/local community
organizations; and one representative each from
other departments or national government
agencies involved in protected area management.
o Term: shall serve for a term of 5 years without
compensation EXCEPT for actual travelling and
subsistence expenses incurred in the performance
of their duties.
o They shall be appointed by the DENR
Secretary.
3. Use of any motorized equipment without a
permit from the management board;
4. Mutilating, defacing or destroying objects of
natural beauty or objects of interest to cultural
communities (of scenic value);
5. Damaging and leaving roads and trails in a
damaged condition;
6. Squatting, mineral locating, or otherwise
occupying any land;
7. Constructing or maintaining any kind of
structure, fences or enclosures, conducting any
business enterprise without a permit;
8. Leaving in exposed or unsanitary conditions
refuse or debris, or depositing in ground or in
bodies of water; and
9. Altering, removing destroying or defacing
boundary marks or signs.
Note: Bataan Natural Park is inalienable – the illegal possession or
sale of rights of portions thereof is prohibited under the IRR of
NIPAS Act.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

 Proposals for activities which are outside the scope of the

management plan for protected areas shall be subject to an
environmental impact assessment before they are adopted, and
the results thereof shall be taken into consideration in the
decision-making process.
 No actual implementation of such activities shall be allowed
without the required Environmental Compliance Certificate
(ECC) under the Philippine Environmental Impact Assessment
System (ELA).
 Ancestral Lands and Rights Over Them- the DENR shall
prescribe rules and regulations to govern ancestral lands within
protected areas. However, the DENR shall have NO POWER
to neither evict indigenous communities from their present
occupancy nor resettle them to another area without their
consent.
 No exploitation and utilization of energy resources found
within NIPAS shall be allowed unless through a law passed by
the Congress.

PROHIBITED ACTS

 Except as may be allowed by the nature of their categories and

pursuant to rules and regulations governing the same, the
following acts are prohibited within the protected areas, to
wit:

1. Hunting ,destroying , disturbing or mere

possession of any plants or animals or products
derived therefrom without a permit from the
Management Board;
2. Dumping of any waste products detrimental to
the protected area, or to the plants and animals
or inhabitants therein;