DENR Strengthens Policy to Enhance Biodiversity Conservation in Mining
Reference Ecosystems Eyed in Mining Tenements
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is strengthening its recent policy to enhance biodiversity conservation and protection in mining operations in the country, benefitting stakeholders and communities starting with the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor.
The DENR Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), together with the DENR-GEF/UNDP Biodiversity Corridor Project, conducted a consultation meeting for the implementation of DENR Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2022-04, “Enhancing Biodiversity Protection and Conservation in Mining Operations,” on January 16-17 in Quezon City.
DAO 2022-04 aims to provide adequate measure and guidance towards promoting environmentally sustainable development of the country’s mineral resources. It also aims to introduce a science-based approach in the rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems in mining areas towards the realization of responsible mining as envisioned in Republic Act No. 7942, otherwise known as the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.
Moreover, the DAO complements the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP) to mainstream biodiversity in all sectors of the society, including the mining industry which often operates within or adjoining biodiversity rich areas of the country.
Reference Ecosystems
With the conduct of the consultation meeting and workshop, DENR-MGB said it hopes to come up with useful strategies in building appropriate systems in place to support and strengthen the implementation of the policy related to DAO 2022-04.
“Each stakeholder has a role to play in the success of the implementation of this policy,” Engr. Teodorico Sandoval, MGB OIC Assistant Director, said during his opening remarks. “When it comes to conserving our biodiversity, much is at stake not only for ourselves but more so for the future generations, thus it is crucial for our government and industry partners to ensure the success of this policy.”
One of the salient points of the policy states that at least five (5) percent of the total area of an approved mining tenement must be set aside as a reference ecosystem. In case there is no applicable area within the mining tenement, reference ecosystems may be set in an area one (1) kilometer away from the tenement, which shall serve as benchmark and source of propagules for future restoration activities.
“We have Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) with high conservation values in terms of biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services, with mining tenements present,” Anson Tagtag, OIC chief of the Caves, Wetlands and Other Ecosystems Division of DENR-BMB, remarked during the consultation meeting.
He added: “So how do we temper mining activities, and set aside elements of biodiversity, which as a community are important to us? Mineral resources are important to us, and so are biodiversity and ecosystem services. There has to be a way of allocating to use these resources, which are all part of our natural habitat.”
SHES Manual
Engr. Francis Glenn Suarte, chief for mine safety of MGB Environment and Social Development Division in CARAGA region, revealed during the same meeting that the bureau has underscored the importance and inclusion of biodiversity conservation in the work programs of mining companies.
In particular, he said MGB has included baseline and current information on biodiversity resources, as well as identification of impacts and mitigating measures, in the Safety and Health, Environment and Social (SHES) Development and Management Manual for mining firms.
At the end of the two-day consultation meeting, participants and stakeholders presented their implementation plan as well as reviewed and enhanced a DENR special order for the creation of a Technical Working Group for DAO 2022-04. (Mitch R. Confesor)