Cleopatra’s Needle needs your vote!

The lush island province of Palawan is a last frontier for conservation in the Philippines. The island boasts half of its original primary forests, some of the oldest and most diverse in Southeast Asia, and was identified in a November 2013 study published in Science, as the world’s fourth most “irreplaceable” area for unique and threatened wildlife. It needs your vote to receive EOCA funding…..

Cleopatra’s Needle is the third highest point on Palawan Island and a popular trekking and climbing destination. The site has approximately 85% of Palawan’s endemic species of mammals and birds, many of which are endangered. Despite bans on commercial logging in Palawan and the 41,000 hectares of primary forest recently being declared a Critical Habitat, threats still include illegal felling, charcoal production, agriculture and unsustainable tourism. Visitors currently create their own trails in the forest.

The project, run by the Centre for Sustainability, will create 10km of official, signed trail to a popular cave and waterfalls to keep visitors off fragile and sensitive habitats and allow vegetation to reestablish in eroded areas. It will strengthen alternative livelihood opportunities via tourism guiding for trekking, climbing and birding tours and plant 2,000 native trees. Native tree walks will help educate 100 locals about the importance of the forest and field guides and maps will be created for visitors.

Approximately 85% of the long list of Palawan’s endemic mammals and birds can be found around Cleopatra’s Needle and together with the Underground River National Park, this is their last safe haven.
Species include Palawan Horned Frog, Palawan Bearcat, Palawan Leopardcat, Palawan Forest Turtle, Philippines Cockatoo, Palawan Peacock Pheasant. Find out more about the Cleopatra’s Needle project at www.centreforsustainability.org.  Cleopatra’s Needle is located on the island of Puerto Princesa.

Place your vote to choose projects to receive EOCA funding in 2017 – the Cleopatra’s Needle Restoration Project in the Philippines is nominated by Páramo.

The European Outdoor Conservation Association is a collective of 125 businesses from the outdoor industry who have come together to raise money for worldwide conservation projects. Since it was founded in 2006 by the European Outdoor Group (EOG) the organisation has donated over €2 million Euros to conservation projects. Conservation bodies, nominated by EOCA members, can apply for grants of up to €30,000 for specific projects. This year, Páramo are nominating the Cleopatra’s Needle project in the Alpine category – for projects at high altitudes.

Vote for this project on the EOCA website until 22 March.