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Human forest interaction in Aborlan Guba System, Palawan Island, Philippines and implications for conservation and management
Dissertation Abstract:
The dynamics of human-forest interaction in Aborlan Guba System, Aborlan, Palawan was determined by doing social and literature surveys and by using the STELLA program for model development.
Of the 324 vascular plant species in 192 genera and 89 families recorded, 59.9 percent were rare; 40.1 percent were abundant; 20 percent were endemic, nine of which can only be found in Palawan; six were suspected as new to science; and 14.5 percent were threatened in some Red List.
The mean number of trees (GBH ≥ 10 cm) was 2,470/ha (c.l. ± 396, p ≥ .05) of which 49.6 percent were small (3–40 cm GBH) while 18.3 percent were big (≥100 cm GBH).
Cluster and principal component analyses revealed four forest associations with environmental variables significantly influencing the spatial distribution of tree species. Human impact was inversely proportional with species richness (r<i>2</i> = 0.968).
The direct users of the forest were poor indigenous peoples and migrants. Income, family size, education, and size of cultivated farm significantly influenced the harvest frequency of forest products.
The model projected that with the present economic condition, population, and reforestation program, forest cover will decline at 3 ha/yr and by 2031, 33 percent of the species will be lost resulting to PHP 789,912 annual loss.
The best way to sustainably manage the Aborlan Guba System is by increasing people’s income, reducing population growth, and increasing reforestation efforts. For immediate protection, the area must be upgraded from a controlled use zone to core zone but declaring it into a protected area under NIPAS law ensures its long term sustainability.