As part of its endeavor to protect and manage biodiversity, UNESCO officially unveiled its updated list and designation of biosphere reserves, which includes the Province of Apayao. The province received acclaim on a global scale for its efforts to preserve their environment.
Apayao's protected zones for biodiversity conservation are now protected pursuant to the award.
The Province of Apayao's biosphere reserve is 3,960 square kilometers, according to UNESCO.
Product of hard work
After learning that its forests were home to the first known active Philippine Eagle nest in Luzon, the Provincial Government of Apayao began the process of inscribing the area as a UNESCO biosphere reserve.
It has collaborated with institutions including the United States Forest Service (USFS) and the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) to assist with UNESCO-mandated training, documentation, and planning.
Apayao is home to the Apayao Lowland Forest Key Biodiversity Area, which is endemism-rich and provides a haven for critically endangered species like the Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), according to a UNESCO article.
Apayo is home to 10 Indigenous Cultural communities and ethnolinguistic groups, whose "traditions and laws are deeply intertwined with the land and its resources," in addition to its ecological diversity.
Milestone for Apayao and the Philippines
During his acceptance address, Governor Elias Bulut Jr. stated that the honor is a significant achievement for the entire nation, not only the province of Apayao.
“As a Biosphere Reserve of the Apayaos, we hope to inspire other learning spaces for conservation and sustainable development in the Philippines and around the world,” he said.
In a Facebook post, the Apayao provincial government stated that being named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve strengthens its commitment to protecting and stewarding the Cordillera's "last frontier."
After Albay, Puerto Galera, and Palawan, Apayao is the fourth province in the Philippines to be designated as a biosphere reserve.
