ENVIRONMENT: Forest Environment

Forest Environment

The peninsular forest of Pandan are proposed for inclusion into NIPAS. However, delineation is still pending due to technical and financial problem. Area contains Hakot forest, Mandi forest including virgin and selectively logged primary, low-elevation forest; and the Malumpati Watershed. Priority sites for biodiversity conservation contains critically endangered flora and fauna. Conservation efforts currently underway by Philippine Endemic Species Conservation Project (PESCP), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Northwest Panay Biodiversity Management Council (NPBMC), and the said peninsular forest is priority site for Foundation for the Philippine Environment.

Likewise, protected areas as defined and established under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) are portions of land set aside for reasons of unique physical and biological significance that needs conservation, protection, rehabilitation, sustainable development and management. It also includes non-NIPAS areas, Environmentally Critical Areas and Network of Strategic Agricultural and Fishery Development Zone that requires immediate regeneration and protection.

NIPAS Areas

The proposed NIPAS area in the municipality is the Northwest Panay Peninsula located in coordinates 11º 44' to 11º 55' N and 121º 52' to 122º 05' E. The mountain ranges in the peninsula straddles on the municipal boundaries of Nabas, Malay, and Buruanga in the Province of Aklan and Pandan and Libertad in the Province of Antique. The range is separated from the mountains of Central Panay by an approximately 20 kilometers wide lowland plain with a saddle up to 60 meters above sea level.

Terrestrial Ecosystem

• Malumpati Watershed, Forest Cover, and Forest Stand and Structure

Forest areas in the surroundings of Malumpati start at elevations as low as 100-150 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l) with secondary scrub and forest first, heavily interspersed with clearings and coconut plantations, then grading into more mature secondary forest and first remnants of selectively logged primary forest. At 200-300 m.a.s.l. some good quality primary forest can be found next to valley-floor plantations of banana (Musa sp.), abaca (Musa textiles), and coconut and lower-slope clearings prepared for further crops. More extensive good primary forest extends to elevations below 350 m.a.s.l. in few areas around Malumpati.