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TAMARAW CONSERVATION PROGRAM

IMPLEMENTING AGENCY :

Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau

DATE STARTED :

FUNDING SOURCE :

BACKGROUND INFORMATION :

The Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis) is an endemic land mammal found only on the Island of Mindoro. Despite the existence of legislations that provide for its protection and conservation since 1916, the species' population continues to decline and for the past 4 decades, it has been recognized as threatened with extinction. In 1965, the plight of the Tamaraw and the Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyii) was given attention in the Bangkok Conference of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (now known as The World Conservation Union). In response, the Philippine Government created the Presidential Committee for the Conservation of the Tamaraw (PCCT) in 1979 to implement measures to conserve the species and its habitats. This marked the start of the Tamaraw Conservation Program (TCP).

Subsequent developments included the establishment of the 280-hectare Gene Pool Farm in Manoot, Rizal in 1980. This was followed by the capture of Tamaraws in Aruyan, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro from 1982-1993 for breeding purposes. A total of twenty (20) Tamaraws were captured during the said period. Habitat protection became an integral part of the Project since 1983.

From its inception to date, several agencies have handled the implementation of the Project. These agencies included the Presidential Assistance for the National Minorities (PANAMIN, 1979-1983); Office of the Muslim Affairs and Cultural Communities (OMACC, 1984); Ministry of Agriculture and Food (MAF, 1985-86); Central Office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in collaboration with the Conservation and Resource Management Foundation, Inc. (DENR & CRMFI, 1987-89); DENR-Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB, 1990-1997) with the assistance of the University of the Philippines Foundation, Inc. (UPLBFI) in 1990-93 & 1995; and, DENR-Region IV in 1998. In 1999, the management and supervision of the Project was again placed under PAWB. The Bureau continues to implement the TCP to date (2001).

OBJECTIVES :

PROJECT COMPONENTS AND ACTIVITIES:

Since 1999, the Project operates under 3 major components, namely: 1) Wild Population & Habitat Management; 2) Captive Population Management; and, 3) Community Assistance Program (CAP) and Information, Education and Communication Campaign (IEC).

Under the Wild Population and Habitat Management component, scope of activities include protection of the Tamaraw and its habitats in Mts. Iglit-Baco National Park (MIBNP) and Aruyan-Sablayan Tamaraw reservation; manning of entry/exit points to/from MIBNP; Tamaraw population study and biodiversity monitoring. Future activities will include habitat restoration and expansion of protection and research activities by covering other important areas maintaining Tamaraw.

On Captive Population Management, activities include the maintenance of the Gene Pool Farm, breeding and conduct of basic studies on Tamaraw in captivity, and development of forage areas.

Staff capability building, community organizing and development as conservation partners of the TCP, implementation and monitoring of livelihood projects, public awareness programs through biodiversity lecture tour and encampment, radio plugging and regular broadcasting, house to house campaign, production of educational materials, development of Tamaraw Information Corner (TIC), conduct of seminars/workshops, data base development and networking are among the activities under the CAP and IEC component of the Project.

MILESTONES :

1. Increase in Tamaraw population in MIBNP from 154 in 2000 to 187 individuals in 2001;

2. Protected Tamaraw habitats of more than 7,500 hectares;

3. Live birth of a tamaraw ("Kalibasib") in captivity in 1999;

4. Maintained Tamaraw breeding farm with 4 individuals in captivity, namely: Mimi, Charlie, Dabu & Kalibasib.

5. Organized Barangay Tamaraw Conservation Councils in 2 barangays ( Brgys. Poypoy and Malpalon in Calintaan, Occidental Mindoro) as partners of TCP;

6. Developed livelihood assistance projects for 3 communities residing within and along the boundary of MIBNP, namely; the Swine Production Program for residents of Brgy. Popoy; a similar program for residents of Brgy. Malpalon; and the "Pagpaparami ng Baboy-Mangyan" for the members of the indigenous group, "Tau-buids";

7. Created "Tamaraw Conservation Advisory Group" to assess plans and programs affecting the Tamaraw and provide recommendations to better address the conservation needs of the species;

8. Implemented at least 12 training programs/seminars/workshops and trained 40 staff on various aspects of Project operation;

9. Conducted (2) Biodiversity Conservation Camps (one for Biology teachers and the other one for local students and youth leaders in Mindoro);

10. Established Tamaraw Information Corner at TCP Office in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro;

11. Installed seven (7) billboards in strategic locations (piers, airport, entry points to MIBNP) in Occidental Mindoro;

12. Conducted Dalaw-Turo (Teach and Visit) presentations and biodiversity lecture tours in at least 14 schools in Occidental Mindoro;

13. Designed radio program entitled "Ugnayang Tamaraw", which is aired every Saturday, 10:30-11:00 A.M. over DZVT, a local radio station in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro;

14. Reproduced 1,000 copies of posters, 1,000 brochures and 1,000 T-shirts featuring the Tamaraw and the Program.