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Two years after yApayaos' Biosphere Reserve was inscribed as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, government officials, conservation partners, scientists, and local communities gathered in Eva Garden, Calanasan on July 7 to look back on the work that earned the province international recognition and the efforts that have followed since.
Governor Elias C. Bulut Jr., Congresswoman Eleanor C. Bulut-Begtang, Vice Governor Kyle Mariah Chelsea S. Bulut-Cunan, provincial officials, Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) Executive Director Dennis Joseph I. Salvador, representatives of the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines (UNACOM), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Cordillera Administrative Region (DENR-CAR), Calanasan officials, and partner agencies took part in the anniversary program.
Apayao was inscribed into UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves on July 5, 2024, becoming the fourth biosphere reserve in the Philippines. The recognition followed years of scientific research, field documentation, and coordination among government agencies, academic institutions, conservation organizations, and Indigenous communities.
The program revisited the province’s journey toward inscription, shared updates on ongoing conservation and research work, and recognized the contributions of institutions and communities involved in managing the yApayaos’ Biosphere Reserve. The blessing and inauguration of the yApayaos’ Biosphere Reserve Center was also held during the activity.
The province’s nomination gained international attention following the discovery of the first active Philippine Eagle nest documented in Luzon, adding to the ecological significance of Apayao’s forests and watersheds.
Scientific work carried out over the past several years has continued to reveal the ecological richness of Apayao. Aside from the Philippine Eagle, researchers have documented previously unrecorded species of flora, rediscovered species that had not been recorded in the area for years, confirmed the presence of Rafflesia, and identified additional species of insects, vines, and other plant life. These discoveries continue to expand what is known about Apayao’s forests and their significance to biodiversity conservation.
Today, the yApayaos’ Biosphere Reserve covers one of the country’s most important landscapes for biodiversity conservation, where environmental protection, research, and the daily lives of local communities continue to exist side by side.
