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DENR declares annual 3-month off season in Mt. Apo

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="mt-apo" src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/08/04/mt-apo.jpg"/></figure></div><p>DAVAO CITY— Trekking activities have been prohibited in Mount Apo for 3 months after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Protected Area Management Board (DENR-PAMB) declared the annual off-season to give way for the mountain&#x27;s rehabilitation.</p><p>According to a resolution by the PAMB, the off-season for 2021 covers the months of July, August and September.</p><p>The DENR clarified that the off-season covers trails from the Davao region but starting next year, this would cover both trails from Davao and Cotabato.</p><p>The department said the off-season aims to give way for the implementation of the Mt. Apo Natural Park&#x27;s (MANP) rehabilitation, improvement of public services, disaster risk prevention, biodiversity preservation, and strengthening of law enforcement mechanisms.</p><p>&quot;The action plan during the off-season will comprise greening program which include tree planting along the trails, seedling propagation and wildling collection as well as site adoption for the reforestation activities,&quot; DENR-Davao said in a statement.</p><p>The off season will also allow the flora and fauna of Mount Apo to have an &quot;undisturbed&quot; period, especially since these months are the breeding or mating period of some bird species.</p><p>Mount Apo, the country&#x27;s highest mountain, is a biodiversity hotspot, making it among the country&#x27;s ASEAN Heritage Parks and Protected Areas proclaimed under the National Integrated Protected Areas Systems.</p><p>Off-season for 2022 will cover the months of June, July and August, according to the resolution.</p><div><strong>— Report from Hernel Tocmo</strong></div>

Trekking activities have been prohibited in Mt. Apo after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources declared the annual off-season.