Plant and other forest bioresource utilization by local communities of Northern Negros Natural Park, Negros Island, Philippines

Ethnobotanical data, a vital component of a thorough examination of a protected area that aids in planning for management efforts and strategies for biodiversity conservation, is rarely employed because of its rarity or absence in Northern Negros Natural Park's (NNNP) database. This study aims to [1] determine the plant and other forest bioresource utilization of the local communities in NNNP, [2] assess the threats to the park and its biodiversity due to the utilization of bioresources, and [3] evaluate the Institutional Management Regime for NNNP. The data was gathered using focus groups, key informant interviews, and household surveys. For the secondary data, information was also accessed from the Office of the Protected Area Superintendent and local government units. One hundred thirteen (113) species are used for food (26%), ornamental (24%), herbal or medicinal value (19%), construction (12%), commercial (9%), charcoal and fuel wood (8%), and craft (3%) based on data collected from 643 families in the 11 cities and municipalities that make up the protected area. Housing construction, settlement, and the production of annual and non-perennial timber crops were all noted as major threats identified in the park. According to the review of the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT), the 'context' and 'planning' components were the strengths of the protected area employing the management rating of 64 and 53.8%, respectively. The Republic Act No. 11038, commonly known as the Expanded National Integrated Protected Area System (ENIPAS), is the sole unambiguous law that governs bioresource harvesting in protected areas. In addition, policies imposed by cooperatives and villages were used to control the usage and harvesting of bioresources. These findings gave us a crucial socioeconomic and institutional understanding of the landscape, preparing us to make interventions and create management plans to deal with problems involving the use of bioresources in the protected area.