SA pagkilala sa mayaman nitong biological resources- flora at fauna, na makikita lamang sa Mulanay Watershed Forest Reserve (MWFR) pati na rin ang kagandahan at ecological importance nito, nais ni Senator Cynthia A. Villar na gawin itong ‘Protected Area’ (PA).
Sa pagsasampa sa Senate Bill No. 1691, ipinanukala ni Villar, chairperson ng Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, na tatawagin ang MWRF na San Francisco Protected Landscape (SFPL).
Aniya, kailangang ideklarang PS ang MWFR dahil sa mayaman nitong gubat na tirahan ng mga wildlife, kabilang ang mga nanganganib na mawalang uri ng flora at fauna.
May 29.6 ektarya ang MWFR kung saan makikita ang mayamang biodiversity ng flora at fauna kabilang ang mga nasa updated national lists ng threatened Philippine plants at animals at ang kanilang kategorya.
Tinukoy ng Biodiversity Monitoring System Report ang 83 floral species at 59 faunal species sa lugar, at 3 flora at 2 fauna species na endangered.
“Significantly, the senator noted that the MWFR also provides clean source of water for the people that can be used domestically and agriculturally,” ayon sa senador.
Noong 2021, isinailalim ng DENR ang MWFR sa Protected Area Suitability Assessment (PASA) upang matiyak kung angkop itong gawing PA sa ilalim ng Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act.
Lusot naman ito sa kategoryang Protected Landscape.
Pinangalanan itong San Francisco Protected Landscape.
“As such, the State shall ensure the conservation, protection, management and rehabilitation of the area. It is likewise recognized that effective administration of this area is possible only through cooperation among the National Government, LGUs, concerned NGOs, private entities and local communities,” ani Villar.
“The use and enjoyment of this area must be consistent with the principles of biological diversity and sustainable development,” dagdag pa niya.
