“A PROPOSED WILDLIFE PRESERVATION AND RESEARCH

CENTER”

BASEY, SAMAR

A Research Study

Presented to

Ar. Dianne Angelynne Lim-So

Instructor

In Partial Fulfillment

Of the Requirements of the Degree

In Bachelor of Science in Architecture

by:

DHON RAUL R. LABITA

MARK EMMANUEL D. ESPERA

NIÑO ROBIN R. PIAMONTE

Bachelor of Science in Architecture

1.1. Background of the Study

Wildlife is a precious gift of God to this planet. The term ‘wildlife’ not

only caters to wild animals but also takes into account all undomesticated

lifeforms including birds, insects, plants, fungi and even microscopic organisms.

For maintaining a healthy ecological balance on this earth, animals, plants and

marine species are as important as humans. Each organism on this earth has a

unique place in food chain that helps contribute to the ecosystem in its own

special way.

But, sadly today, many of the animals and birds are getting endangered.

The natural habitats of animals and plants are being destroyed for land

development and farming by humans. Poaching and hunting of animals for fur,

jewelry, meat and leather are other great factors contributing to wildlife

extinction. If soon, no stringent steps are taken to save wildlife, it would not be

long when they will find a place only on the list of extinct species. And that would

not be all! The extinction of wildlife species will certainly have a fatal impact on

human race as well. So, for us as humans, it becomes a great responsibility to save

the wildlife, our planet and most importantly, our own selves.

Philippines, situated in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of about

7,641 islands that are categorized broadly under three main geographical divisions

from north to south: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Faces conservation efforts

are providing hope for the future of wildlife and natural habitats, as populations of
some rare species including ancient trees, some types of endangered orchids, etc.

begin to rebound. Even with these notable successes, conservation faces

increasingly complex and widespread threats from human activities, such as

habitat loss, poaching, illegal trade, and climate change. According to World

Wildlife Fund’s Living Planet Report 2014, global wildlife populations have

declined by more than 50% in the past 40 years.1

One of the protected areas for wildlife preservation in the Philippines is

the Samar island, the island is divided into three provinces: Samar (the western

two-fifths of the island of Samar), Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar. These

three provinces, along with the provinces on the nearby islands of Leyte and

Biliran are part of the Eastern Visayas region.

The Samar Island Natural Park occupies the low rugged central mountain

range of the island of Samar shared by all three provinces in the island. It extends

from the Northern Samar municipalities of Catubig, Las Navas, Lope de Vega,

Mondragon and Silvino Lobos in the north to the Eastern Samar municipalities of

Arteche, Balangiga, Balangkayan, Borongan, Can-avid, Dolores, General

MacArthur, Giporlos, Hernani, Jipapad, Lawaan, Llorente, Maslog, Maydolong,

Oras, Quinapondan, San Julian, Sulat and Taft; and the Samar Province

municipalities of Basey, Calbayog, Calbiga, Catbalogan, Gandara, Hinabangan,

Jiabong, Marabut, Matuguinao, Motiong, Paranas, Pinabacdao, San Jorge and San

Jose de Buan in the island's central and southern regions.

Some of the world’s most iconic wildlife — ancestral trees, rare orchids,

herbal plants, flowers, especially the Rafflesia flower-as well as many lesser

1 Alok Kumar Chandrakar, Wildlife: An Introduction, (Central University of Gujarat, 2018)

at protecting them.

As human populations continue to grow and compete for resources, the

pressures on wildlife become ever more acute. This is especially the case in

developing countries where three-quarters of our world’s terrestrial animal species

live. Across developing nations, human livelihood choices are limited and often

tied directly to biodiversity. Wildlife species’ survival is likewise tied to human

activities affecting their remaining habitats. Effective solutions seek to involve

local communities in wildlife and habitat protection.

A wildlife preservation and research center are a must, it’s an established

and focused cohort of researchers recognized as having a significant national

impact and international relevance. Research centers have a prime focus to

conduct research of strategic importance to the university in terms of

national/international standing and peer esteem, commercial research and research

training, as well as engage in consulting and extension activities. Specially

oriented on the problems and objectives faced by study. A wildlife preservation

and research center are a must for it’s the one that will help not totally stop but

minimize the destruction of the natural environment of the protected area form

dangerous and illegal acts of humans, and research center for the monitoring the

stability of wild life. 2

2 Research Centres and Research Institutes – Procedures (University of the Sunshine Coast, 2019)
| www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures/research-centres-and-research-institutes-
procedures/pdf
1.2. Objectives of the Study

The long-range of objective of the project is to attract more people for the

awareness in the area so that DENR’s campaign for the protection of endangered

animal species shall be sustained. Likewise, it is anticipated that the study shall

bring in more information on the significance of wildlife in our diversity.

Specifically, the study will adopt the following objectives:

1. To know the different kinds of plants that needs special attention in

order not to get extinct.

2. To identify the present technologies to be applied in the preservation of

the natural environment of the protected area.

3. To identify the laws and codes that are needed for this proposal.

4. To identify the best site for the proposal.

5. To identify the space requirements that are needed for the proposal.
Part 2: Review of Related Literature

Recognizing the potential of the environments of Region 8 or Eastern

Visayas for the preservation of wildlife and protection for the endangered species,

this study will seek to gather data for developing the strategies and approaches

that deals with the preservation of the wildlife and at the same time on how to

build a research center without disrupting the natural environment of the protected

area. This part of the study contains the received literature that is related to the

study and will serve as a basis for the conceptualizing and designing the proposed

wildlife preservation and research center.

2.1. Related Readings

2.1.1. Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (2001)

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9147 AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE

CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES AND

THEIR HABITATS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR

OTHER PURPOSES.

This Act is known as the “Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection

Act." It is the policy of the State that aims to conserve the country’s wildlife

resources and their habitats for sustainability. In the pursuit of this policy, this Act

shall have the following objective to conserve and protect wildlife species and

their habitats to promote ecological balance and enhance biological diversity. To

regulate the collection and trade of wildlife to pursue, with due regard to the
national interest, the Philippine commitment to international conventions,

protection of wildlife and their habitats; and to initiate or support scientific studies

on the conservation of biological diversity.

These particular sections in RA 9147 which will be relevant to the study.

Chapter II “Bioprospecting” means the research, collection and utilization of

biological and genetic resources for purposes of applying the knowledge derived

therefrom solely for commercial purposes. Chapter III Conservation and

Protection of Wildlife Resources. Chapter IV Illegal Acts. CHAPTER V Fines and

Penalties.

2.1.2. The Revised Implementation of Rules and Regulation of Presidential

Decree 1096 - The National Building Code of the Philippines (NBCP)

(2005)

The decree that serves as guidelines to have a uniform standard and

requirement in building design, construction, use, occupancy and maintenance in

the policy of the government to ensure the safety of the end user, to safeguard the

property and public welfare. These particular sections in the NCBP which will be

relevant to the study, but not limited to. The Batas Pambansa Bilang 344 or the

Law of Enhance of Disabled persons. Rule VII or Classification and General

requirements of all buildings by occupancy, Rule VIII or Light and Ventilation

and Rule IX or Sanitation.

development of infrastructures as well as the consideration and protection of the

disabled persons.

2.1.3. Presidential Decree No. 984 (1976)

“Providing for the revision of Republic Act No. 3931, commonly known

as the Pollution Control Law, and for other purposes’

It regulates the pollution for the environment to be considered for the

development of the study.

2.1.4. Presidential Decree No. 1433 (1978)

PROMULGATING THE PLANT QUARANTINE LAW OF 1978,

THEREBY REVISING AND CONSOLIDATING EXISTING PLANT

QUARANTINE LAWS TO FURTHER IMPROVE AND STRENGTHEN THE

PLANT QUARANTINE SERVICE OF THE BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY.

The attainment of the foregoing objectives requires the necessary

improvement and strengthening of the Plant Quarantine Services of the Bureau of

Plant Industry by providing adequate laws; regulations; resources and facilities;

and incentives to Plant Quarantine Officers.

2.1.5. Republic Act No. 9168 (2002)

“An Act to Provide Protection To New Plant Varieties, Establishing A

Nation Plant Variety Protection Board And For Other Purposes.”

on Act of 2002.

2.2. Related Literature

2.2.1. Ex Situ Support to the Conservation of Wild Populations and

Habitats, by Mike Maunder, Edward O. Guerrant Jr., Kayri Havens, and

Kingsley W. Dixon (2004)

Ex situ plant conservation is a portfolio of scientifically based techniques

available to support the primary objective of retaining plant diversity in the wild.

Each has its own strengths, weaknesses, and spheres of applicability (Box 18.1).

There is an increasing recognition among both practitioners and authors that to be

most effective plant conservation efforts should incorporate a wide variety of

complementary techniques. This integrated approach (sensu Falk 1990) is

overcoming the traditional schisms between the institutions and processes of in

situ and ex situ plant conservation. Most global investment for ex situ

conservation has been for genetic resource conservation, that is, the retention of

plant material of value for crop breeding (Cohen et al. 1991). These activities are

recognized as legitimate investments by both governments and development

agencies. We maintain that comparable or greater levels of investment are

essential to successfully retain wild plant diversity, on which sustainable

development and, ultimately, life depend.

habitat and ecosystem conservation, a response that will require immense social,

economic, political, and scientific investment (Cowling and Pressey 2001).

Opportunities for extensive ecosystem reserves, though extremely valuable, are

decreasing as modern agriculture, logging, plantation, and mining concessions

damage high-diversity ecosystems, including ancient anthropogenic landscapes

and their agricultural heritages. Tropical areas especially are experiencing

increasing human population growth accompanied by dramatic social and

economic changes. The surviving major wilderness areas (sensu Mittermeier et al.

1998), as large undisturbed natural areas, offer the best opportunities for retaining

ecosystem and evolutionary processes. Necessary as such areas are, these are not

adequate in terms of scale and distribution. Furthermore, even relatively pristine

habitats are becoming increasingly permeable to invasive species, pests and

diseases, overharvesting, civil unrest, climate change, and other problems.

Nevertheless, opportunities do exist to secure large areas of high-diversity habitat;

a study by Pimm et al. (2001) suggests that a one-time investment of $4 billion

could secure 2 million km2 of habitat and manage the 2 million km2 already

protected.3

The main facilities that contribute to the ex situ conservation of animals

are zoos and aquaria. They are estimated to total about 2,107 facilities in 125

countries (World Resources Institute 1998). There are many other facilities that

differ in their size and scope (often focusing on selected taxa) and in what they are

3 Edward O. Guerrant Jr., Kayri Havens, Mike Maunder, Ex Situ Plant Conservation – Supporting
Species Survival in the Wild (The Society for Ecological Restoration International, 2004)
aiming to do, usually with some contribution to the conservation of the animals

they hold. The latter diverse group includes orphan- ages, rescue and

rehabilitation centers, sanctuaries, wildlife parks and centers, crocodile ranches,

and butterfly farms. These numerous facilities usually are privately owned, and

their conservation efforts are more often directed toward the care, welfare, and

possible release back into the wild (usually locally and very rarely into other

countries) of individual animals. A number of such specialized bodies are making

significant scientific contributions to reintroduction projects, including the

International Crane Foundation and the Peregrine Fund. In general, however, the

international body of zoos, which tend to be the larger and more complex

institutions, represents the biggest network of conservation-focused institutions

for which the in situ and ex situ conservation of populations and species are very

significant objectives.

These facilities are not evenly distributed and are concentrated into a small

number of zoo-rich nations. For instance, six nations (the United States, Germany,

Japan, France, China, and the United Kingdom) collectively hold 1,202 zoos,

representing 57 percent of the world total. These six nations include only two with

biodiversity hotspots (Myers et al. 2000): the United States and China. On a

regional scale Europe has 699 zoos, Africa 66, North America 522, Central

America 120, South America 130, Asia 497, and Oceania 73. Within these

regions, ex situ facilities are not evenly distributed; for instance, 22 (33 percent)

of Africa’s 66 zoos are in the Republic of South Africa. The association is not

complete, but the level of per capita gross national product is one determinant of
the level of investment in zoos: relative affluence encourages both government

and public investment in zoos. Botanic gardens show a similar pattern of

distribution at a regional and global level. There are 98 botanic gardens in sub-

Saharan Africa, but 19 (22 percent) of these are in the Republic of South Africa.

Ten countries rich in botanic gardens (the United States, Germany, China, India,

France, Australia, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Italy)

collectively hold 1,202 botanic gardens (Wyse Jackson 2001), accounting for

about 50 percent of the world total. In conclusion, although the global portfolio of

ex situ facilities represents an enormous body of capital and human resources,

their distribution is inevitably skewed toward rich nations. The greatest

concentrations of wild species are in the tropical developing countries, yet these

are the areas with the fewest financial resources for ex situ conservation. Thus,

where animal species need conservation management out of their natural habitat

or range, this is more likely to be in an institution outside their own country.

These conclusions raise two questions: are these out-of-country facilities keeping

the species of highest priority for conservation, and what activities and resources

do these out-of-country facilities offer conservation?

2.2.2. The Conservation of Wild Plant Species in Seed Banks, by Daniel J.

Schoen and Anthony H. D. Brown (2001)

Current extinction rates of plant and animal species are estimated to be as

much as 100- to 1000-fold higher than during the recent geological past, a

phenomenon that conservation biologists attribute to wide-scale destruction of

there have been increasing efforts to stockpile wild plant species in large,

centralized seed banks—a form of conservation that falls under the general

category of ex situ conservation, or conservation outside the native habitat.

Seed banks are facilities where seeds are stored under cold and dry

conditions. This prolongs seed viability and thereby preserves plants for future

use. Traditionally, seed banks have played their largest role in the conservation of

domesticated plant varieties (Plucknett 1987), though some agricultural seed

banks such as those maintained by US National Plant Germplasm System have

kept collections of nondomesticated species, particularly the wild relatives of crop

plants. During the past two decades many botanical gardens began to establish

seed banks for the purpose of conservation. Most noteworthy is the Millennium

Seed Bank Project at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in Great Britain (Smith et

al. 1998). This massive undertaking aims to stockpile 10% of the world’s plant

diversity, targeting species of the dry tropics, as well as all plant species native to

Great Britain. Similar, though less ambitious, efforts are under way in North

America, sponsored by the Center for Plant Conservation at the Missouri

Botanical Garden in St. Louis, and regional initiatives (e.g., the New England

Plant Conservation Program) are being carried out in many parts of the world. As

well, over 700 botanical gardens maintain seed collections of mostly wild,

ornamental, medicinal, and in some cases crop and crop-related species (FAO

1996).4

4 Daniel J. Schoen and Anthony H. D. Brown, The Conservation of Wild Plant Species in Seed
Banks (American Institute of Biological Sciences, 2001), academic.oup.com/bioscience/article-
abstract/51/11/960/227143
2.2.3. Ex situ conservation – Facilities

Botanical gardens, and zoos are the most conventional methods of Ex-situ

conservation. Also in ex- situ conservation, all of which house whole, protected

specimens for breeding and reintroduction into the wild when necessary and

possible. These facilities provide not only housing and care for specimens of

endangered species, but also have an educational value. They inform the public of

the threatened status of endangered species and of those factors which cause the

threat, with the hope of creating public interest in stopping and reversing those

factors which jeopardize a species' survival in the first place. They are the most

publicly visited ex situ conservation sites, with the WZCS (World Zoo

Conservation Strategy) estimating that the 1100 organized zoos in the world

receive more than 600 million visitors annually. Globally there is an estimated

total of 2,107 aquaria and zoos in 125 countries. Additionally many private

collectors or other not-for-profit groups hold animals and they engage in

conservation or reintroduction efforts. Similarly there are approximately 2,000

botanical gardens in 148 counties cultivating or storing an estimated 80,000 taxa

of plants.

2.3. Related Studies

Curnow (1996)

Adequate research facilities are critical to provide scientific information

and to develop methods for resolving problems caused by the interaction of wild

animals and society while at the same time maintaining the quality of

environments shared with wildlife. Assessments of the Denver Wildlife Research

Center (DWRC) in the late 1980's by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection

Service (APHIS) and other groups identified inadequate and sub-standard indoor

and outdoor animal research facilities. The short-term solution was to cease using

facilities that were sub-standard, thus severely limiting the Center's ability to

develop alternatives to existing control methods.5

2.3.2. A Critical Review of Wildlife Conservation in the Philippines, by

Renee Galang (2004)

The floristic diversity is equally diverse. With between 10,000 to 14,000

species of vascular and non-vascular plants. More than half of these species are

Philippine endemic (Merrill 1923-26, DENR-PAWB et. al. 2002). Recent

specimen collection of Pteridophytes (ferns and fern allies) for the Philippine

National Herbarium on the island of Panay discovered 40 new species of which

34 are endemics to Panay (Barcelona 2003). The most exciting recent floristic

discovery was on the same island of Rafflesia speciosa. It has the largest extant

flower structure, 56 cm diameter, in the Philippines. This is the 19th described

5 Richard D. Cornow, Introducing the National Wildlife Research Center (University of Nebraska
– Lincoln, 1996), digitalcommons.unl.edu/vpc17/13
species of Rafflesia and the 3rd reported endemic to the country (Barcelona

2003).

The decline of the Philippine forest is primarily due to the Philippine

government failure to implement protective policies and the corruption of former

administrations. This is especially true on the latter half of last century where the

forest declined from 50% in 1950 to less than 20% at present, of which less than

3% is primary forest left.6

2.3.3. Wildlife diversity studies and conservation efforts in the Philippines,

by Juancho B. Balatibat (2007)

The Philippines with diverse landscapes is a biologically rich country and

is regarded as a significant biodiversity hotspot and conservation area in the

world. Per hectare, the Philippines probably harbors more diversity of life than

any other country on Earth, but its biodiversity is also under tremendous threat of

endangerment (Ong and others 2002). In addition, because of the large number of

islands of different sizes and geological histories, the Philippines may have the

greatest concentration of island endemism in the world, which makes it one of the

best places in the world for ecological and evolutionary studies (Alcala 2002,

Catibog-Sinha and Heaney 2006). Conservation International lists the Philippines

amongst the top ten “Megadiversity Countries” globally. Major international

conservation organizations currently regard the Philippines as one of the top

global priorities for conservation action (Oliver and Heaney, 1996). Birdlife

6 Renee Galang, A Critical Review of Wildlife Conservation in the Philippines (University of

Melbourne, 2004)
International, for example, has ranked the country as one of the highest priorities

for bird conservation.

Of the more than 1,000 terrestrial wildlife species (576 birds, 172

terrestrial mammals, 101 amphibians and 258 reptiles) recorded for the

Philippines, almost half (49%) are unique to this country. Unfortunately, these

wildlife resources are continuously under pressures due to loss and destruction of

their habitat, over-exploitation, environmental pollution and the recent global

climate change. About 128 endemic wildlife species are under various threat

categories (Ong and others 2002). Conservation efforts for wildlife and other

biological resources in the Philippines began in 1987 with the creation of

Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) received more attention after the

country signed the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). These

wildlife diversity studies, therefore, may contribute important and reliable data on

wildlife from various sites for the implementation of wildlife conservation

initiatives throughout the Philippines.

To address the goals of the study, the researchers developed a multi-

method research strategy that will support the exploratory and descriptive nature

of the research. This part of the proposal will present the research design, data

collection and data analysis procedures, approaches and strategies that the

researchers will consider in attaining the objectives of the study.

3.1. Research Design

The proposed study will use a research design method that will attempt to

gather, evaluate, analyze and apply to project design the needed data. The

proposed study aims to preserve the natural environment of the protected areas.

Descriptive design is a scientific method which involves observing and

describing the behavior of a subject without influencing it. To be specific, the

researchers will use the descriptive status. Descriptive status, this approach to

problem solving seeks to answer questions to real facts relating to existing

conditions, which will help conduct the study.

3.2. Research Instrument

The researchers will use the internet as the source of data gathering. The

researchers will also use printed references as research tools. Cellphones and

laptops will be used a tools to utilize in gathering data to meet the specific

objectives of the proposed study.

This part presents the general methods and approaches which will be used

by the researchers to gather specific data’s. The categories are subdivided namely;

Data to be collected, Data collection method and Methods of data collection and

analysis and Method of data utilization for design.

3.3.1. Data to be Collected

The researchers will gather data about the status and list of endangered

plants. The researchers will also gather laws and codes that is suitable for the

proposal study. The researchers will collect different information such as

guidelines, standards, principles, consideration of space planning and design of

wildlife and research center. The researcher will gather data suitable about

preservation and protection of endangered plants. The researchers will also collect

sites data from maps, geohazard maps from Samar Island Natural Park (SINP) of

Samar and other useful maps.

3.3.2. Data Collection Method

The researchers will gather data on the list of endangered plants and data

about laws and codes that are relevant for a wildlife preservation and research

center through library/e-books and internet research. Data to help formulate the

site selection criteria will be gathered through geohazard maps, Google Maps,

barangay maps and other useful maps. The researcher will gather data about
modern technologies for the protection of endangered plants through library and

electronic books, PDFs and internet.

3.3.3. Method of Data Presentation and Analysis

The researchers will present all the gathered information of the proposed

study in descriptive form. The gathered data will be categorized accordingly. Data

collected like types of plants will be presented in textual descriptions, tabular

method, through maps, photographs and other methods of data collection in order

to understand the study.

3.3.4. Method of Data Utilization for Design

The researchers will utilize the results and the library and internet research

gathered for the conceptualization of the design specially the strategies as the

primary subject for this study. This part of the study discusses how the data will

be utilized in the design conceptualization in wildlife preservation and research

center.

3.3.4.a. Endangered plants

The researchers will utilize gathered data that will serve as the guide in

choosing the species that needs intensive care than those of less. The proper

approach to manage and monitor the status of the endangered plants.

How will this data be used in the design

plant in making the site development plan.

3.3.4.b. Laws and codes

The design standards space requirements and design consideration will be

utilized in the design process of the study especially in the preservation of the

natural environment. The applications of laws and codes on the strategies in

conceptualizing of the proposed research center and wildlife protection.

Which parts of your design?

This data will be use as guide in making a floor plan to provide an

appropriate space requirement.

3.3.4.c. Modern technologies

The collected data of different modern technologies will be utilized in the

preservation of the natural environment of the protected areas.

Should be applied in your design. How?

3.3.4.d. The site

The researcher will be analyzing the site boundary, contour and other

physical aspects of the selected site to manage the approach in the design and

selecting the most suitable site for the proposed wildlife preservation and research

center.

How will your data about site be applied/used in your design?

This data will be used as a reference to create a more desirable site

development plan.