Master of Science in Environmental Management

The implementation of Landscape and Wildlife Indicator (LAWIN) is a significant step towards the protection and conservation of the environment in Northern Aurora.
The LAWIN forest and biodiversity protection system integrated a science-based assessment, user-friendly and the use of innovative technology on the monitoring the status of the forest. It assists the environmental monitoring especially in the forest and biodiversity of highly conservation areas. It allows the communities and environment authority to alleviate the status of the natural forest and also the ecosystem against degradation and deforestation. LAWIN as a forest and biodiversity protection system strengthens the capacity of Department of Environment and Natural Resources to protect the remaining natural forest effectively. The system integrates user-friendly technologies and ecosystem-based approaches to engage local communities in protecting and preserving forest. Its program and mobile application (cyber tracker) allow for fast and easy collection, recording, viewing, and analysis of forest patrol data. Using the tools incorporated in the LAWIN forest and biodiversity protection system of DENR staff can plan, patrol, and respond to forest threat immediately.
There were 149,843 hectares of natural forest in Northern Aurora and the 115,137.18 hectares part of the natural forest is the conservation area of CENRO Casiguran. In the results of data gathering and based on the observations generated from spatial monitoring and reporting tool (SMART Connect), there were two hundred fifty-three (253) different indicator birds and eleven (11) indicator mammals’ species that are dependent on intact forest, and it was reflected that the forest was in good condition. The data of patrolled distance from C.Y 2018-2022 meets its annual targets. The patrollers observed/recorded nineteen (19) mixed human activities that may cause degradation and destruction of natural forest and biodiversity. Threats identified during the patrolling was immediately addressed by different level of response required such as level 1 (requires action within a week), level 2 (requires action within a month), level 3 (emergency/immediate action required), and level 4 (no further action required). The major issues/problem encountered by the LAWIN patrollers during its implementation were the lack of budget, inadequate service vehicles, and the risky of their life during the apprehension and patrolling.