I.

TITLE
“Community Eco Park”

II. BACKGROUND, PROBLEM, OBJECTIVES, RESEARCH QUESTIONS, AND/OR

HYPOTHESIS

II.A. BACKGROUND

Section 17 (ii) of Republic Act 7160, otherwise known as

the Local Government Code of 1991 mandates the municipal
governments to implement community-based forestry projects
which include integrated social forestry programs;
management and control of communal forests; establishment
tree parts, greenbelts, and other similar forest development
projects.

The Municipality of Sablan, Benguet has majority of its

land classified as forests and for agricultural purposes
(DILG-CAR, 2013). The lot is located in Pappa, Sablan,
Benguet with an area of 342,736 SQ.M. Through eco parks,
they could earn profit, promote tourism, increase employment
rate of the residents, and with proper planning, it could
improve the vicinities’ ecology (Samote, 2014).

Early in 2006, the Municipal Environment and Natural

Resources Committee (ENRC) and Municipal Technical Working
Group (MTWG) in consultation with the Punong Barangays and
under the auspices of DENR representatives have decided to
establish the communal forests and eventual turnover of
their management to the municipal government of Sablan,
Benguet. On February 22-23, 2007 planning-workshop on the
formulation of the communal forest resource management plan
was conducted. With the able assistance of the CENRO-Wangal
and DENR-CAR Regional Office, the Communal Forest Resource
Management Plan for the communal forest of Barangay Pappa is
formulated. This plan shall be the framework in the
establishment of the other exiting communal forests of the
Municipality of Sablan.

Forest Resources Management Plan was then formulated by

the Municipal Tourism Council for the purpose of preparing
the blueprint for the development and management of the said
communal forest. The stakeholders came out with the
following objectives:
1. Formulation of the policy guidelines and/or ordinances in
the management and utilization of forest resources within
the next one year;
2. To formulate specific plans of action on introducing
development interventions without disturbing the bio-
physical diversity of the communal forest;
 3. To establish an eco-tourism site as a means of preserving
the natural resources within the planning period.

The proposed park plays an important role as an

educational open classroom for the community and aims at
raising global awareness issues in our country, thus
ensuring that children grow up with an awareness of the
global problems facing the world today, and how they can
contribute, as active members of the society, in reducing
the consequences of pollution and global warming we have
created with our own hands. An Eco park is not just about
preservation, but also about restoring nature conservation
and a largescale transformation of the landscape (Refaat,
2014).

II.B PROBLEMS AND OBJECTIVES

Statement of the problem:
The study aims to create an eco-park to protect and
sustain the communal forest for the strengthening of
community partnership and to attract local tourism. The
study seeks to answer the following specific questions:
1. What are the expected activities in the park? Will the
proposed activities be appropriate for the site?
2. What are the plans of action on introducing
development interventions without disturbing the bio-
physical diversity of the communal forest?
3. How does the eco-tourism establish eco-tourism site as
means of preserving the natural resources?

II.D. OBJECTIVES
The primary goal of the proposal is to provide an
eco-park where-in local government unit, community members,
students and other public people whom are interested in the
area is can interact with each other. To be able to achieve
this goal, the objectives of the study are implemented:
1. To find out if the preference and activities the
Sanguniang Bayan proposed are feasible in the area.
2. To determine spaces needed for strengthening of the
local government unit and community partnership
through sustainable and effective eco-park.
3. To strengthen local government unit and community
partnership towards the sustainable management,
protection and utilization of an ecologically-balanced
forest resource for the benefit of the present and
next generation.
4. To provide new architectural eco-park design approach.

II.E. Creating a HYPOTHESIS

sustainable
III. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
and
educational Oasis paradigm:
park through ecological and
architectural sustainability Qualita
design: aspects in tive
regenerative environment and approac
design landscape. h
Proposed Sablan
community park

IV. SIGNIFICANCE

BLISTT aims to decongest Baguio, and Sablan is a

municipality that will willingly help in solving this
problem and is coincidentally also opening its doors to
tourism. Different tourist spots have started to draw
some attention away from the bustling city of Baguio,
which in turn would redirect the influx of tourists in
the city reducing the amount of traffic.

Developing a tourist attraction in the wilderness of

Sablan that would strengthen the local government unit
and community partnership and to upgrade the existing
economic situation with the promotion of tourism which
could provide employment and income to the people of the
municipality.
For the Tourists. Findings of the study will give the
tourists satisfaction and pleasure as the park will be
developed and provide attractions that will gain and
fulfill their expectations.
For the Community. Since the study will be focused in
developing and managing sustainability on Pappa Community
Eco Park, there will be a conserved habitat and wildlife
that will give a positive impact on its’ environmental
areaspecially within the community of La Mesa Eco Park.

V. DESIGN METHODS
V.I. METHODS OF INQUIRY

The researchers used the qualitative study as the method

of research for the proposed project, for the reason that
the researchers conducted a visit to the site which is
located in Pappa, Sablan, to gain additional knowledge about
the elements found in the site and to assess what building
type is suited for the project. Key persons were involved
through interview regarding the data needed for the initial
documents. The accessor, the department of tourism and the
department of agriculture acknowledged the request of the
researchers. The mayor of Sablan even suggested of his wants
for the communal forest. The initial assessment report of
the municipal tourism council was of great help to the
decision of building type. Since their meeting provided an
eco-recreational camp site, the researchers took in mind
this plan for the project because it seemed as a wise
choice. An eco-park would preserve the forest and not
violate the guidelines of a protected sanctuary as issued by
the DENR
 V.II DESIGN METHODS
The communal forest according to the data gathered is a
habitat for various kinds of trees, creeks, flora and fauna.
This natural element paved the use of the researchers for
biomimetic concept. It suggests the idea of being one with
nature, the preservation enriched with eco-tourism
activities (as seen on the initial report: activities such
as horseback riding and picnic) and few facilities of
biomimetic design. The researchers would have to add other
unique features that would further develop the park.

VI. REFERENCES
Shakeri,M. Taghvaef, S. Ghorbanzadeh, M. (2005) A Pattern of
Eco-park Design: Case of Beshghardash Region in Bojnourd,
Iran
Hasibur, R. Jaman, F. Saidur,F. (2014). Ecology and
Diversity of Wildlife in the Eco-Park of th Jamun Bridge and
Its Adjacent Area, Sirajgonj, Bangladesh. Ecoprint: An
International Journal of Ecology, 20, 27-36.
https://doi.org/10.3126/eco.v20i0.11327

Kala, C. (2013). Ecotourism and Sustainable Development of

Mountain Communities: A Study of Dhanolti Ecopark in
Uttarakhand State of India. Applied Ecology and
Environmental Sciences, 2013, 1, 5,( 98-103)

VII. WORK AND ACTIVITY PLAN