Nature in Action: Why is Sierra Madre Called the Backbone of Luzon?
2 October 2022Over 1.4 million hectares of land stretch across the Sierra Madre, which acts as a natural shield to protect Luzon's northeast coast from Pacific typhoons. In length, it measures approximately 500 kilometers (307.69 miles). In addition to marine reserves and national parks, it encompasses no less than sixty-eight protected areas in the Philippines.
There is a reason why the Sierra Madre mountains are known as the "backbone of Luzon." The Sierra Madre mountains are the longest mountain range in the Philippines, as well as one of the most biodiverse in the country. In addition, Sierra Madre is extremely biodiverse, with a variety of plants and animals - many of which are indigenous to the Philippines - living and thriving within its vast expanses.
Conservation issues in the Sierra Madre Mountain Range
While there are certain environmental laws in position that serve as guidelines for the oversight and utilization of Philippine forests, they are not adequate to ensure the security and preservation of the country’s mountain ranges and biodiversity. Hence, it’s critical to continue calling for the conservation of this irreplaceable and invaluable environmental wonder.
Just recently, a Super Typhoon Karding, internationally named Noru, was expected to be a super typhoon as strong as Odette—a storm that wreaked havoc in Visayas and Mindanao. While the storm ripped through Luzon, it was downgraded to a typhoon thanks to the Philippines' shield against turbulent weather: the Sierra Madre.
Just recently, a Super Typhoon Karding, internationally named Noru, was expected to be a super typhoon as strong as Odette—a storm that wreaked havoc in Visayas and Mindanao. While the storm ripped through Luzon, it was downgraded to a typhoon thanks to the Philippines' shield against turbulent weather: the Sierra Madre.
What Most Filipinos Don't Know About the Sierra Madre Mountain Range
The Sierra Madre isn't something you've heard about for the first time. In addition to being familiar with the mountain range from elementary school, the current calamities have made Filipinos more aware of this natural treasure that has been neglected for decades. In fact, it has protected us from other natural disasters like Typhoon Karen and Typhoon Lawin. Listed here are some of the things you must learn about this natural gem.
1. The Sierra Madre is the natural barrier of Luzon from strong typhoons.
The Sierra Madre has prevented numerous typhoons coming from the Pacific Ocean from devasting the provinces of Luzon, according to environmentalists. Tropical cyclones such as Ompong, Ondoy, Labuyo, and Mario are slowed down by this natural mountain barrier covering the northeastern coast of Luzon.
2. It has the largest remaining tract of rainforest.
One of Luzon's most biodiverse areas, Sierra Madre spans ten provinces (Aurora, Bulacan, Cagayan, Isabela, Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Quezon, Quirino, and Rizal). Approximately 40% of Philippine forests are found in this area, making it the largest tract of rainforest in the country. A total of 201 species of mammals, 556 species of birds, 85 species of amphibians, and 252 species of reptiles are found there, many of which are endemic or highly threatened. This area has also been home to the world's biggest eagle and the famed national bird.
A number of rare and endangered plants can also be found in the Sierra Madre, including Rafflesia Manillana Corpse Flower, Kauan, and Kalanta trees. Based on the impact study conducted in the area, 67 tree species are already endangered, 143 are indigenous to the area, and 58 are endemic.
3. It comprises numerous watersheds for agricultural lands.
Apart from animals, Sierra Madre has provided life to many locals living near it. Angat, Magat, Ipo, and Binga are just some of the watersheds that serve the adjacent agricultural lands in Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley. Several urban areas, like Metro Manila, also depend on it for their infrastructure, water utility, and power plants.
As a tributary of the Ilagan River, the northern part of Sierra Madre drains into 11 major river systems, including the Philippine Sea and Rio Grande de Cagayan. 29% of the park's total land area is drained by the Palanan River, the largest drainage area in the range, followed by the Abuan River and Catalangan River.
4. It is the ancestral domain of the Agta-Dumagat-Remontado indigenous group.
Apart from the Philippine brown deer and Philippine warty pig that live in the Sierra Madre, Agta-Dumagat-Remontado, collectively known as Agta, are the last surviving hunter-gatherer groups. For at least 35,000 years, they have lived along the coasts of Sierra Madre's tropical rainforest and survived.
5. It has been long-threatened by man-made activities and industrialization.
The DENR reports that the Sierra Madre range has already lost 161,240 hectares of its forests to illegal logging as of 2010. In addition to roads and mining sites, many areas of the mountain range have been converted into infrastructure projects. Sierra Madre's virgin forests, natural parks, and protected areas were destroyed as a result of this – resulting in the displacement of many indigenous people, the widespread practice of slash-and-burn farming (known as Kaingin), and the recent flooding of Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
6. The mountain range is under threat.
Just like any other natural resource, the Sierra Madre mountain range has been taken for granted for so long. But aside from the illegal loggers, miners, unbothered humans, and selfish business owners, we have one controversial project that is said to threaten the Sierra Madre.
The Kaliwa Dam is a proposed mega-dam that falls within an Environmentally Critical Area. Once implemented, old-growth forest areas will be flooded and they will need to remove thousands of people living in the area. Though this project is said to be for the welfare of the residents, it's crucial that they acknowledge the risks that come with this proposal.
#SaveSierraMadreDay
In 2012, Benigno Aquino III (PNoy) declared Save Sierra Madre Day under Presidential Proclamation No. 413. Many netizens agreed that the 1.4 million-hectare mountain range should be protected because it not only protects the region from typhoons, but also provides habitat for endangered and endemic species, and is a source of food and water for the indigenous people.
What Are the Current Efforts to Preserve Sierra Madre?
There are conservation efforts of environmental organizations that we can amplify. Also, the Forest Foundation Philippines grants technical assistance to projects that protect and conserve Philippine forests. Hence, if you have projects in mind or collective efforts to start a campaign, you can check them out.
While the Sierra Madre Mountain Range faces other challenges like land grabbing, disregard for the rights of indigenous communities to their ancestral domains, forest degradation, land conversion, and development aggression, we must rise above them and strengthen our efforts to protect the mountain.
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