Ninoy Aquino Park Eyed as Biodiversity Showcase

Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/
By: “dave_dizon”
ABS-CBN News Online Beta

Manila, Philippines -- Environment Secretary Lito Atienza announced Monday plans to transform the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Nature Center (NAPWNC) in Quezon City into a “biodiversity showcase” for Filipinos.

Atienza said his agency's plan is to make NAPWNC a “model biodiversity conservation area in an urban area,” where people, particularly the youth, can learn more about Philippine biodiversity and appreciate the necessity of protecting such.

“We have long taken great pride in our wealth of flora and fauna. We have more than 14,000 species of plants. Of these, 9,000 are flowering. Worldwide, we rank fifth in the number of plant species. We also rank fourth in bird endemism, which means that these birds are found only in the Philippines. And we rank fifth in mammal endemism,” Atienza said in a statement.

"If NAPWNC is developed properly, environmental awareness of park visitors will be enhanced. We want the public to feel the visit to the park as both enjoyable and relaxing and a learning experience,” he added.

Atienza recently signed a memorandum of agreement with Palafox Associates, represented by its founder, managing partner and principal architect Felino Palafox, to facilitate the preparation of the NAPWNC Conceptual Master Plan that will include detailed site engineering, landscape architectural design and urban design.

According to Atienza, around 3,000 species of trees that thrive in the country are found inside the park, 100 of which are endemic to the country, such as narra, molave, kamagong and ipil. For flora and fauna which could not thrive in the NAPWNC, Atienza said pictures of those species will be displayed instead.

Anti-pollution interventions and better recreational facilities will likewise be introduced in the park, the DENR chief said, adding that “it (NAPWNC) is going to be a model for environment showcases that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources plans to establish outside Metro Manila.”

Atienza said the DENR already began initial consultations with several local planners to generate ideas that can be included in the agency's proposed master development plan for NAPWNC.

"We're targeting to finish the plan within four months so development work can commence as soon as possible," he said.

NAPWNC, a favorite weekend site for families and an educational spot for students, boasts of wide picnic grounds, a lagoon and a wildlife rescue center where some of the country's endangered and/or threatened species of wildlife are undergoing rehabilitation and care.
.