26/07/2026
๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฐ๐๐ง ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ง: ๐๐๐,๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง'๐ฌ '๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐
๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐๐ซ'
For decades, Palawan has carried a proud title as the Philippinesโ "last ecological frontier." It is a living sanctuary where emerald canopy meets turquoise waters, housing nearly half of the countryโs remaining old-growth forests, 30 percent of its mangroves, and 40 percent of its coral reefs. Yet behind the postcard-perfect images lies a rapidly shifting reality: Palawan is now losing its trees faster than anywhere else in the country.
A recent study drawing from Global Forest Watch satellite monitoring reveals that between 2001 and 2025, Palawan suffered a staggering loss of approximately 219,000 hectares of tree cover. That single figure accounts for nearly 14 percent of all tree cover loss recorded nationwide during the same timeframe, representing a nearly 19 percent shrinkage of the island provinceโs canopy compared to the turn of the century.
More concerning still is what kind of forest is being lost. Over 48,000 hectares of the destruction hit dense, humid primary forestโthe ancient, irreplaceable heart of the islandโs biodiversity. Once these old-growth strongholds are cleared, the delicate balance of Palawanโs terrestrial and marine ecosystems begins to unravel.
The satellite tracking paints a clear map of where the pressure is most severe. Over half of the total tree cover loss occurred across just five municipalities: Rizal leads with 31,000 hectares lost, followed by Puerto Princesa City at 23,000 hectares, Roxas at 22,000 hectares, and Bataraza and Taytay at 19,000 hectares each.
The drivers behind this rapid change reflect a familiar tension between resource extraction and environmental conservation. Palawan currently hosts 11 active, large-scale mining projects. Among the most prominent operations is the long-running Rio Tuba nickel mine in Bataraza, located in an area tied to the prominent political family of a sitting congresswoman known nationally for championing women's and senior citizens' rights.
As industrial activities, agricultural encroachment, and infrastructure expansion continue to alter the landscape, local community members and environmental advocates warn that policy protections are struggling to keep pace. Without stronger enforcement and a renewed commitment to safeguarding what remains, the nationโs premier eco-tourism hub risks losing the very frontier that defines it. |
