Victorias Mayor Javier “Javi” Benitez said on Sunday, August 14, that he is pushing for the passage of an ordinance creating the Gawahon Development Authority to manage and further boost the protection of the Gawahon Eco Park in his city.

Benitez, at the 17th anniversary of the Northern Negros Natural Park held at the Gawahon Eco Park, stressed the need to strike a balance between environmental protection and economic development.

They are conserving the environment by having Bantay Bukid personnel  protect trees and birds at the  Gawahon Eco Park, which they will make as sustainable as possible, he said.

They will go after those engaged in illegal logging and hunting, he said.

The Gawahon Eco Park has one of the most diverse areas of the NNNP, being home to Tarictic horn bills and bleeding heart pigeons and the like, and very rare flora and fauna, he said.

They will conduct reforestation to address climate change and flooding, he added.

Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said the NNNP anniversary is a celebration of the last remaining primary growth rain forest and the need to raise awareness to maintain its biodiversity.

Any development in the area should be geared toward sustaining and conserving the biodiversity and the remaining forest cover, he said.

There is need to expand the forest cover that impacts on the current environmental crisis, he added.*