Rafflesia
tour, an ecotourism potential
The area where Rafflesia lobata is found is in the middle
of the jungle and full of natural wonders. Threatened species like the
Spotted Deer, Visayan whrittered-billed hornbill, Visayan warty pig,
recently described monitor lizard commonly known as Mabitang and many
more species that hasn't been scientifically described before. At present,
hunters are the only ones that are utilising this natural resources
and threatened species are illegal to hunt them anymore. There is a
proposed large scale basalt mining by Glendale Mining and Development
Corporation backed by an Australian mining company that would remove
the vegetation and mine the basalt mountain in a massive scale. Both
hunting of threatened species and mining are not sustainable actions.
The alternative is to create a small scale eco-tourism activities that
would benefit the local communities through continual employment such
as being the porters and guides, sales of arts and crafts and food and
even entertainment. Their environment will be utilised in a sustainable
way and the tourists will leave the area content in that they have seen
the natural wonders and at the same time they will see that the community
benefits from them being there. The ecotourism is therefore a win for
the environment, for the local community and the tourists.
The local politicians ( Barangay Captain of Idio and the Mayor of Sebaste)
has invited me and encourage me to invest in the ecotourism to sustainably
utilise the natural resources of their mountain ranges. I am committed
to the conservation of this mountain ranges and thus am prepared to
invest in the area to develop its natural assets. My investment plan
will not only for the ecoturism but also for continual research that
I am doing in the jungle. I foresee volunteer researchers play a major
role in the success of ecotourism in that they will be the prefect ecotourist
guides because they will know more about the environment better than
others. The revenue of the ecotourism activities will fund the continual
research activities in the mountain ranges.
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