NATIONAL INTEGRATED

PROTECTED AREAS
SYSTEM ACT OF 1992
(REPUBLICT ACT NO. 7586)
 INTRODUCTION

• JUNE 1, 1992

• CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY

• serve as a LEGAL BASIS to conserve biodiversity through

managing selected protected areas
 INTRODUCTION

Tanon Strait Protected Seascape

Philippine Rise Marine Resource Reserve
INTRODUCTION
CATEGORIES OF
PROTECTED AREAS:

a. Strict nature reserve;

b. Natural park;
c. Natural monument;
d. Wildlife sanctuary;
e. Protected landscapes and
seascapes;
f. Resource reserve;
g. Natural biotic areas; and
h. Other categories established by
law, conventions or international
agreements which the Philippine
Government is a signatory.
 DECLARATION OF POLICY

• The policy of the State to secure for the Filipino people of present
and future generations the perpetual existence of all native plants
and animals through the establishment of a comprehensive system
of integrated protected areas within the classification of national
park.
• It is hereby established a National Integrated Protected Areas
System (NIPAS), which shall encompass outstandingly remarkable
areas and biologically important public lands that are habitats of
rare and endangered species of plants and animals, biogeographic
zones and related ecosystems, whether terrestrial, wetland or
marine, all of which shall be designated as “protected areas”.
 DEFINITION OF TERMS

• National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS)

- the classification and administration of all designated
protected areas to maintain essential ecological processes and
life-support systems, to preserve genetic diversity, to ensure
sustainable use of resources found therein, and to maintain
their natural conditions to the greatest extent possible
• Protected Area - refers to identified portions of land and
water set aside by reason of their unique physical and
biological significance, managed to enhance biological
diversity and protected against destructive human
exploitation
 DEFINITION OF TERMS

• Buffer zones - identified areas outside the boundaries

of and immediately adjacent to designated protected
areas pursuant to Section 8 that need special
development control in order to avoid or minimize
harm to the protected area
• Indigenous cultural community - a group of people
sharing common bonds of language, customs,
traditions and other distinctive cultural traits and who
have since time immemorial, occupied, possessed and
utilized a territory
 DEFINITION OF TERMS

• National park - a forest reservation essentially of natural

wilderness character which has been withdrawn from
settlement, occupancy or any form of exploitation except in
conformity with approved management plan and set aside as
such exclusively to conserve the area or preserve the scenery,
the natural and historic objects, wild animals and plants therein
and to provide enjoyment of these features in such areas
• Natural monuments - a relatively small area focused on
protection of small features to protect or preserve nationally
significant natural features on account of their special interest
or unique characteristics
 DEFINITION OF TERMS

• Natural biotic area - an area set aside to allow the way of life of
societies living in harmony with the environment to adapt to modern
technology at their pace
• Natural park - a relatively large area not materially altered by human
activity where extractive resource uses are not allowed and maintained
to protect outstanding natural and scenic areas of national or
international significance for scientific, educational and recreational use
• Protected landscapes/seascapes - areas of national significance
which are characterized by the harmonious interaction of man and land
while providing opportunities for public enjoyment through the
recreation and tourism within the normal lifestyle and economic activity
of these areas
 DEFINITION OF TERMS

• Resource reserve - an extensive and relatively isolated and uninhabited area normally with
difficult access designated as such to protect natural resources of the area for future use and
prevent or contain development activities that could affect the resource pending the
establishment of objectives which are based upon appropriate knowledge and planning;
• Strict nature reserve - an area possessing some outstanding ecosystem, features and/or
species of flora and fauna of national scientific importance maintained to protect nature and
maintain processes in an undisturbed state in order to have ecologically representative
examples of the natural environment available for scientific study, environmental monitoring,
education, and for the maintenance of genetic resources in a dynamic and evolutionary state;
• Tenured migrant communities - communities within protected areas which have actually
and continuously occupied such areas for five (5) years before the designation of the same as
protected areas in accordance with this Act and are solely dependent therein for subsistence;
and
• Wildlife sanctuary - comprises an area which assures the natural conditions necessary to
protect nationally significant species, groups of species, biotic communities or physical features
of the environment where these may require specific human manipulations for their
perpetuation.
 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SYSTEM

The establishment and operationalization of the System shall

involve the following:
• All areas or islands in the Philippines proclaimed,
designated or set aside, pursuant to a law, presidential
decree, presidential proclamation or executive order as
national park, game refuge, bird and wildlife sanctuary,
wilderness area, strict nature reserve, watershed,
mangrove reserve, fish sanctuary, natural and historical
landmark, protected and managed landscape/seascape
as well as identified virgin forests before the effectivity
of this Act are hereby designated as initial components
 MANAGEMENT PLANS

• GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLANNING STRATEGY

• PROMOTE THE ADOPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF

INNOVATIVE MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES

• PROVIDE GUIDELINES FOR THE PROTECTION OF

INDIGENOUS CULTURAL COMMUNITIES
 MANAGEMENT PLANS
• A management manual shall be formulated and developed which
must contain the following:
1. an individual management plan prepared by three (3) experts
2. basic background information
3. field inventory of the resources within the area
4. an assessment of assets and limitations
5. regional interrelationships
6. particular objectives for managing the area
7. appropriate division of the area into management zones
8. a review of the boundaries of the area
9. a design of the management programs
 ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT

Under the control and administration of the DENR

Each regional office shall have a Protected Areas and Wildlife Division which
shall manage protected areas and promote the permanent preservation of their
natural conditions.
The DENR Secretary is empowered to:
to conduct studies on various characteristic features and conditions of the
different protected areas and classify them
to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of
this Act
to fix and prescribe reasonable NIPAS fees
to submit an annual report to the President of the Philippines and to Congress
on the status of protected areas
Control occupancy of suitable portions of the protected area and resettle
forest occupants therein
 PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT BOARD

• Regional Executive Director

• A rep. from the Autonomous Regional Government (if applicable)
• Provincial Development Officer
• Rep. from Municipal Gov’t
• Rep. from Barangay covering the protected area
• Rep. from Tribal Community (if applicable)
• 3 Rep. from NGO/Local Community Organizations
• One rep. each from other departments or national gov’t agencies
involved in protected area management
 PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT BOARD

• The Board shall, by a majority vote:

• Decide the allocation of budget
• Approve proposal for funding
• Decide matters pertaining to Planning
• Peripheral Protection and General Administration of the area

• 5yr- term without compensation except for actual and

necessary traveling and subsistence expenses incurred in the
performance of their duties.
• Appointed by DENR Secretary
 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

• Proposal for activities for protected areas shall be

subject to an environmental impact assessment. No
actual implementation of such activities shall be
allowed without the required Environmental Compliance
Certificate (ECC).
 ANCESTRAL LANDS AND RIGHTS

• The DENR shall prescribe rules and regulations to

govern ancestral lands within protected areas
• The DENR have no power to evict indigenous
communities from their present occupancy nor resettle
them without their consent
• All rules and regulations shall be issued subject to
prior notice and hearing
P R O H I B I T E D A C T S U N D E R T H E N I PA S A C T ( W I T H R E S P E C T TO A N C E S T R A L L A N D A N D C U S TO M A R Y
RIGHTS):

1 . C O N V E R S I O N O F P R OT E C T E D A R E A S O R A N C E S T R A L L A N D S F O R N O N - E N V I R O N M E N TA L P U R P O S E S
2 . E X P L O I TAT I O N O F N AT U R A L R E S O U R C E S W I T H O U T P E R M I T
3 . D I S P O S A L O F WA S T E O R P O L LU T I O N
4 . D E S T RU C T I V E A C T I V I T I E S ( E . G . , P O A C H I N G , I L L E G A L H U N T I N G ) :
5 . D E V E L O P M E N T A C T I V I T I E S W I T H O U T E N V I R O N M E N TA L C L E A R A N C E O R C O N S E N T
6 . I N VA S I O N O R E N C R O A C H M E N T
7 . A LT E R AT I O N O F E C O S Y S T E M
8 . D I S R E S P E C T O F I N D I G E N O U S P E O P L E S ' C U S TO M A RY L AW S A N D R I G H T S

ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES:

 SURVEY FOR ENERGY RESOURCES

• Protected areas may be subject to exploration only for the

purpose of gathering information on energy resources and only
if such activity is carried out with the least damage to
surrounding areas
• Surveys shall be conducted only in accordance with a program
approved by the DENR and the result shall be made available to
the public and submitted to the President for appropriate
recommendation to Congress
• No exploitation and utilization of energy resources found within
NIPAS shall be allowed unless through a law passed by Congress
 PROHIBITED ACTS WITHIN THE PROTECTED AREAS (SEC 20)

• Hunting, destroying, disturbing, or mere possession of any plants or animals or

products derived therefrom without a permit from the Management Board
• Dumping of any waste products
• Use of any motorized equipment without a permit from the Management Board
• Mutilating, defacing or destroying objects of natural beauty
• Damaging and leaving roads and trails in a damaged condition
• Squatting, mineral locating, or otherwise occupying any land
• Constructing or maintaining any kind of structure, fence or enclosures, conducting
any business enterprise without a permit
• Leaving in exposed or unsanitary conditions refuse or debris, or depositing in ground
or in bodies of water
• Altering, removing destroying or defacing boundary marks or signs
 PENALTIES

• Fine - not less than Five thousand pesos (Php 5,000.00) nor more than Five hundred
thousand pesos (Php 500,000.00), exclusive of the value of the thing damaged or;
• Imprisonment - not less than one (1) year but not more than six (6) years; or both, as
determined by the court
• If the area requires rehabilitation or restoration as determined by the court, the
offender shall be required to restore or compensate for the restoration to the damages
• Provided, further, that court shall order the eviction of the offender from the land and
the forfeiture in favor of the Government of all minerals, timber or any species
collected or removed including all equipment, devices and firearms used in connection
therewith, and any construction or improvement made thereon by the offender.
• If the offender is an association or corporation, the president or manager shall be
directly responsible for the act of his employees and laborers
THANK YOU!