Discovering the (natural) wonders of Subic

The Subic Forest Watershed Reserve (SFWR) is located in the west-central portion of the major Philippine island of Luzon, 160 km by road northwest of Manila.
It is at the northern portion of the Bataan Biogeographic Zone, which noted high biodiversity and endemism. This secondary growth, low land dipterocarp forest covers approximately 9,800 hectares of which 3,000 hectares is closed canopy.
The forests were protected from overexploitation for over 50 years while under the jurisdiction of the former US Naval Facility.
It is a priority site of the National Integrated Protected Area System (NIPAS). The SFWR lies entirely within the bounds of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) under authority of Republic Act 7227 of 1992.
A Memorandum of Agreement was executed between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the SBMA in 1992, which delegated to the SBMA the enforcement of environmental policies, rules and regulations within the Freeport, provides for management jurisdiction over this protected area.
A wide range of habitats are present in the forest due to the terrain, presence of streams, fringing grasslands and other breaks in the canopy. It is possible to draw an imaginary line through the rainforest, running water, grassland and mangrove habitats that blends into the marine seagrass and coral reef habitats. This represents the major habitats to the tropics.
The preliminary results of the forest biodiverstiy survey revealed 745 plant species. Of these, 3 are included on the endangered species list while 4 are potentially threatened. Thus, the urgency of preserving the Subic forest then is highlighted.
The forest is dominated by white lauan, apitong, guijo, palosapis, which are ecologically and economically important tree species. Recently, a rattan palm previously found only on Mt. Arayat was discovered.
Fifteen percent of the Luzon bird species are found in the Subic forest which comprises ten percent of the whole Philippines. Monkeys loiter at the roadsides. Monitor lizards, snakes, birds of prey, jungle fowl and signs of wild boar foraging are common at the forest fringe. There are 27 endemic vertebrates.
An approximately 10,000 individual fruit bat colony and herd of feral water buffaloes also live within the SWFR. At the southwest portion of the reserve is a well maintained network of paved roads which links two piers to a complex of 6 groups of earth-covered, concrete ammunition bunkers referred to as the Naval Magazine area.
These bunker groups are enclosed in fences. The Naval Magazine in turn is linked by a two-lane road to the rest of th Freeport zone and a narrower road to the municipality of Morong, Bataan. This is slated for low-impact, eco and adventure tourism-oriented development.
Some 150 families of Aetas, an indigenous cultural community, live within SFWR.
A school, a windmill-driven water pump and recreational area are present. They have access to the SBMA Health and Welfare department. Medical and dental missions visit them every now and then. Livelihood opportunities include manual labor at the freeport, SBMA Forest Rangers and forest guides for various eco-tourism activities.
Several entrepreneurs have small variety stores offering staples and canned goods.
The community uses the resources of the forest and the adjacent bay. The Pamulaklakin Forest Trails, which is operated by their self-help organization, provides seasonal livelihood through cultural demonstrations, forest tours and picnic areas.
Ecotourism has tremendous potential given the variety of flora and fauna, presence of streams, waterfalls and trail systems. The road system in the Naval Magazine is ideal for cycling and bird watching.
Horse trails traverse sectionsof the forest. The Jungle Environmental Survival Training (JEST) camp school established by an Aeta to train Americans retained much of its staff and offers treks of up to several nights into the forest. The Philippine Military and Police forces also train in this area.
The western side of the Grande Island and Chiquita Island have the highest coral cover in the bay with up to 75 percent living corals. There are 75 species of fish present in Subic Bay. Important reef fish species comprise 96.25 percent.
The world’s rare and endangered Olive Ridley turtle, Hawksbill, Dugong or Seacow inhabit the Subic Bay. Six species of seagrass are growing in the marine preserved areas of Triboa and Ilanin Bays. There are 156 animal species (vertebrates) and 568 species of insects.
The next time you visit Subic, try to remember some of this information and share it to others, particularly to kids, to instill good values of a clean and green environment.