One of the main tourist attractions in the province of Negros Occidental is the ca. 24-hectare Mambucal Rainforest, almost 30 kilometers from Bacolod City.
It is accessible through a well maintained, all-weather road from the City, and is now a favorite tourist attraction.
In 2002, the provincial government of Negros Occidental led by Gov. Joseph Marañon improved the tourist facilities in the area. The current governor, Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., has further developed the area into an excellent tourist resort attraction.
More buildings to accommodate tourists and facilities for cool and hot baths have been built, and roads connecting these facilities have been constructed.
It may be remembered that Gov Alfredo Marañon Jr. has a good record of environmental conservation in establishing the Sagay Marine Protected Area, one of the successful marine reserves in the Philippines.
It is our hope that the provincial government of Negros Occidental will continue to maintain the Mambucal Rainforest.
With due care in seeing to it that further development of the area will not harm the forest and its associated animal life, I am sure the forest will continue to flourish in the future.
Certainly, financial support can come from tourism receipts, as has been shown by many other protected areas in the world. In fact, the Province does not need to depend on the national government for this support.
As regards technical and scientific support for this laudable program, I am sure that many people will volunteer their expertise to help the local government maintain the Mambucal Rainforest.
In this regard, our group at Silliman University is ready to serve as adviser to the government of Negros Occidental.
One unique feature of the Mambucal Resort is its natural setting. A piece of the original lowland dipterocarp forest has been preserved, including some of the Negros flora and fauna. At present, these can only be found in very few places on the island, and they are rapidly vanishing.
Our people should be thankful to the officials of the province of Negros Occidental for their laudable effort to preserve and protect the natural-forest heritage of the island of Negros. Our younger generations and those yet unborn will be deprived of experiencing and appreciating what Negros Island was like before their lifetimes, if we do not preserve what now remains of this remarkable forest type.
It is hoped that more local government units in the Philippines will follow the example of the province of Negros Occidental in preserving what is left of their original, natural forests.
I close by briefly describing the forest of Mambucal Resort. The dipterocarps and other tree species grow to heights of more than 100 feet, and form a closed canopy. Wrapped around or growing on the trunks of these tall trees are vines, arboreal ferns, and other plants. Lower storey of trees, tree ferns, shrubs and wildlings cover the remaining forest ground. Forest streams keep the area moist or wet. The whole area is well shaded and cool.
During the day, birds fly around, and large numbers of fruit bats can be seen hanging on the branches of some trees, or flying from tree to tree. At night, the sounds of some species of frogs can be heard. Other species of wildlife no doubt exist but need to be identified.
Walking in the forest is a relaxing experience.
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Author’s email: [email protected]
