Environment and Watershed Condition

Emmanuel M. Lleva

Abra River Watershed

Area: 5125 sq KmEastern Divide: Elevations 2000 masl. MountainousWestern Divide: Elevations 500 masl. Less rugged.Flat terrain is estimated at 10% of total land

area

Identified Land Cover and Corresponding Area

Identified land cover and corresponding area for the province of Abra.

Land Cover

Area (hectares)

Percent

Closed Forest 35,119.91 9.10 Open Forest 100,008.49 25.93 Plantations 1,999.44 0.52 Built Up Area 2,053.22 0.54 Cultivated Land 30,171.60 7.82 Grassland Barren 25,331.32 6.57 Other Wooded Land 183,357.52 47.54 Inland Water 7,650.21 1.98 TOTAL 385,691.71 100

Source: The Cordillera Environment, DENR-FMS (2014)

Major Agricultural Products

• Rice • Corn• Vegetables• Roots and Fruits• Beef • Pork • Poulty

Condition of the watershed

• Based on the data of DENR and the PPDO, it is estimated that approximately 800 km2 of the watershed area of Abra River in Abra Province is severely eroded. This corresponds to approx. 20% of the whole area of the province.

• Main causes for erosion are natural events (earthquakes with consequent slides) on one hand and the impact of man and animals on the other hand.

• Most of the heavily eroded land is pasture land which is regularly burnt and which is generally very steep.

Soil erosion susceptibility in Abra River Basin

Erosion and Sedimentation

Steep slopes + Scant vegetation + High rainfall = High Erosion Rates

Abra is number 6 in most susceptible to landslides

Evidenced by braided riverRecommend the use of satellite imagery to

determine erosion and sedimentation rates through GIS modeling

River Basin BiodiversityLocal Fauna (Fishes, Insects and Macrophytes) Introduced: 4 Endemic: 13Forest Flora (Trees and Shrubs) Introduced: 34 Endemic: 106

• Source: ERDS Vulnerability Assessment of Lusuac Watershed 2008. STARM Report

Abra River Physical Characteristics (Dulay, 2005)

Approved and registered Abra Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA).

MGB approved commercial sand and gravel mines in the province of Abra.

Other Exploration Projects

Upstream of Abra River Royalco in Bakun, Goldfields in Mankayan, Cordillera Exploration Company Inc. (CEXI)

application in parts of Mountain Province and Phelps Dodge application in Patiakan, Quirino. Downstream Abra River there are also a lot of

mining applications such as Sulfotara, in Tubo Goldenlake in Lacub, and others.

2102 Production

2013 Production

Gold 29,201 ounces 33,240 ounces

Silver 51,449 ounces 67,815 ounces

Sales 2.13 B 2.02 B

Parameters at Critical Points Compared to Water Quality Criteria for Toxic and other Deleterious Substances for Fresh

Waters (for the Protection of Public Health). (Dulay, 2005)

The data has to be taken with some caution since it is also possible that taking the samples from the milling site itself would not constitute a polluted waterway since the settling pond or tailings storage facility would have bound these elements to humic substances following a range of pH toward alkalinity 6.5 to 8.5

Suyoc Mines

Suyoc Mines

Total Suspended Solid in Casamata Hill Park, Bangued Abra, 2013

Table 1Total Suspended Solids (mg/L) of Water Bodies in Casamata Hill National Park, Bangued, Abra for the year 2013.

Sampling Station & Location Jan. 21, 2013

June 26, 2013

Sep. 23, 2013

Nov. 6, 2013

Nov. 10, 2013

DENR Standard*

SS 1 (San Quintin) <1 19 57 Nd <1 50 SS 2 (Pidingan) 35 7 187 13 Nd 50 SS 2-1 (Sinalang) 21 2 196 11 Nd 50 SS3-1 (Calaba) 7 15 225 7 Nd 50 SS4 (Tineg River 1 19 218 4 Nd 50 Pamora Farms nd 9 nd Nd Nd 50

* DAO 90-34. DENR Freshwater Standards for Class A Water Bodies.

Table 1Total Dissolved Solids (mg/L) of Water Bodies in Casamata Hill National Park, Bangued, Abra for the year 2013.

Sampling Station & Location Jan. 21, 2013

June 26, 2013

Sep. 23, 2013

Nov. 6, 2013

Nov. 10, 2013

DENR Standard*

SS 1 (San Quintin) 154 157 478 nd 157 1000 SS 2 (Pidingan) 250 252 269 291 Nd 1000 SS 2-1 (Sinalang) 278 251 257 300 Nd 1000 SS3-1 (Calaba) 197 160 152 178 Nd 1000 SS4 (Tineg River 207 166 137 141 Nd 1000 Pamora Farms Nd 347 Nd Nd Nd 1000 * DAO 90-34. DENR Freshwater Standards for Class A Water Bodies.

Total Dissolved Solid in Casamata Hill Park, Bangued Abra, 2013

Conclusion on the general condition and trends in the River basin

Non-Sustainable Resource Extraction A major forest product that is derived for livelihood in part of Abra including the

barangays of Salnec and Layugan in Bucay; Sta. Rosa in Peñarrubia; and Sagap of Bangued. To prevent the depletion of natural timber, the DENR-PENRO of the province is constantly monitoring charcoal making and expansion. However, a number of people still persist to use trees from the forest as a faster way to derive income.

Reduced Water Quantity and Quality The tables presented on water quality indicate that the Abra River is being

degraded at an alarming rate. This is exacerbated by the heavy sediment load from the accelerated erosion from denuded watersheds. The disproportionate size of grasslands which is estimated at 32% of the total land area of Abra is a major environmental problem. Additional problem is solid waste.

Depletion of Biodiversity The depletion of biodiversity from the fire disclimax is mainly habitat destruction.

The reduction of habitats would surely reduce the wildlife communities that could also lead to extinction.

Watershed Condition

Severely eroded – 800 km2 or 20% of whole province

DENR Reforested Area – 15,500 has. Deforestation is seen as cause of

severe floodsClimate Change – new normal

Forest Land Use Change in 23 Years

1987 2003 2010

727,831 796,655 864,811

Government Iniatives

• National Greening Program

Other Options

• Agroforestry, Expanded Orchards – mango, coffee, cacao, etc.

• Forest Protection - lapat system• RUPES – Rewarding the Upland Poor for

Environmental Services• Rubber• Palm Oil

Rubber Plantation in India

Rubber Production Income (1 ha.)Year Grams per

treeGross

Monthly Yearly

1-5 0 0 06 20 1,700 17,0009 100 8,500 85,00013 200 17,000 170,00016 300 25,500 255,00020 375 31,875 318,750Establishment Costs: P7,000, Annual Fertilizer Costs: P1,000

E. Alcala. Former Director. International Rubber Research and Development Board

8M ha eyed for oil palm plantations: DENR Chief says idle lands ideal palm site

Oil Palm

Oil Palm

2.5 ha farm Income per year (P) 2014

Income per year P 2020

Coco farm 40,000 40,000Malaysian oil palm

380,000 670,000

Dr. P. Pamplona. Philippine Palm Oil Development Council.

Comparisons for Rubber and Oil Palm

Structural Initiatives

• Sabo Dams

Mini Hydro Projects

ENR Enterprises

• Fruit wines• Ornamental bamboo• Soft broom from Tiger Grass Farm• Dragon Fruit• Honey Processing• Latex Production• Tableya from Cacao

Dios ti Agngina Apo