Discovering Bohol's rich treasures, sustainably

CEBU, Philippines - Bohol is famous for its wide-eyed tarsiers and amazing terrain highlighted by hundreds of  mounds whose color turn chocolate during the dry season.

The uniqueness of the terrain and the apparent endemic origin of the tarsiers are reasons enough to put Bohol in the world’s must-see places. Unfortunately, these symbols of the island are also symbols of environmental exploitation and destruction.

As tourists come in busloads, enterprising locals have found a way to make money by giving visitors an experience of these icons.

Tarsiers are caged where it would be easy for visitors to catch, handle and take pictures of or with them; while the hills are invaded by buildings and other facilities where tourists can take snapshots of the sprawling mounds while enjoying the wonderful scenery from the top. This does not count the illegal activities on the hills as it is made of limestone, an essential ingredient for cement and other industrial products.

Regardless of the numerous laws that prohibit such irresponsible activities, many persist largely because of the government’s lack of will to prosecute the perpetrators and protect these treasures.

Despite this sad state, some non-government organizations, foundations, and tour operators are starting the trend of sustainable eco-tourism in the island, focusing on the experience that visitors would get from helping protect what’s left of Bohol’s unique treasures, rather than on the sight seeing experience, which can be very fleeting.

iTravel iExplore Tours and Services (www.iTravelCebu.com, Phone: 035-2365253) has partnered with Soil and Water Conservation Foundation, Inc. (www.swcfi.org) to bring to potential travelers a package that will not only show them the sites and wonders that are in many travel magazine pages, but also involve them in the foundation’s conservation efforts. An experience that’s more rewarding than merely appreciating beautiful sceneries or spending the whole day under Bohol’s pockets of empyreal white sand beaches, lounging on a Dedon Frank Ligthart Leaf chair under the blazing heat of the tropical sun.

Bohol Biodiversity Complex

An alternative and a more sustainable Bohol trip would bring visitors to the Bohol Biodiversity Complex, which is the center of the entire province’s environmental advocacy, co-managed by the Bohol Environmental Management Office; SCWFI; Central Visayas State College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Technology; Barangay Roxas, Bilar; Municipality of Bilar; and the Bohol Provincial Government through the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian.

Through the efforts of couple Bill and Aida Granert who runs SCWFI, the facility started to welcome visitors in order to raise funds for its operation, while making their work in raising awareness on the urgency of caring for Bohol’s treasures cut out for them.

An overnight stay at the complex would not be enough, as there are loads of activities that one would enjoy doing, whether as a group or even as an individual trying to reconnect with nature.

The complex is surrounded by 1.2 hectares of rainforest and has facilities that include a training center, lodging quarters, organic vegetable gardens, greenhouse, vermi-composting facility, farm animal sheds, reforestation area, Karst trail, gene bank, and a dipterocarp mini laboratory.

Aida said that should the guests wish, they can set-up camp in its sprawling grounds for an authentic outdoor experience, but for this, they need to bring their own tents. However, should they choose, the facility also has a humble dormitory-type lodging place.

Environmentally-sound activities

At the complex, activities would include a walk at the Karst Trail preceded by a short lecture on Bohol’s Karst terrain, its characteristics, importance, and peculiarities. The short trail would take you inside a forest with a cave that is still beginning to form, and across creeks in untainted exquisiteness. Here you would be able to appreciate the diversity of life inside a forest, as well as realize the importance of every life form, even weeds and insects which most of the time are considered as pests.

Early in the morning, one could enjoy bird watching as the richness of foliage cover has become a sanctuary for several species of birds and other wildlife. You would be lucky to see long tailed macaques, Philippine squirrels, flying lemurs, Brahminy kites, and Steere’s Pitta.

There are also several group activities that the facility can arrange for guests, including games that will encourage them to read the different signs and information boards all over the facility, discovering Bohol’s richness.

Cave explorations and river tubing activities can also be enjoyed for the more adventurous traveler. River tubing is an activity that would take participants on a cruise through the rapids of Makapiko River aboard bloated tire tubes – an exciting and invigorating ride that will leave everyone wet and puffing.

For those who wish to explore caves, Aida said that they can bring guests on a leisurely walk to one of the area’s “friendlier” caves that would not require too much effort, but would give enough memories that can leave one wanting for more. Aside from these, Bohol boasts of over 1,400 caves (as of 2006), the reason for the province’s name, derived from the Visayan word buho, meaning hole.

The pinnacle of the visit would be the tree planting activity, where, for a minimal fee, one would be given the privilege to leave a memory and a legacy through a tree which will be taken cared of until maturity. The fee is basically a donation that will go to the many conservation efforts of the facility.

Other sustainable Bohol destinations

To complement the trip to the Bohol Biodiversity Complex, there are other sustainable activities that would take the traveler around Bohol’s secluded and lesser known places.

A trip to Bohol Bee Farm Resort and Restaurant (www.boholbeefarm.com) for an organic feast is marvelously filling, both spirit and tummy-wise. But a new food destination, just a few minutes away from the complex, is the Balay Sa Humay, which is also an SCWFI-assisted facility that highlights the rice traditions of the island. Here you could savor the many rice-based dishes and desserts of Bohol and neighboring islands with a peek into Filipino culture through an arranged cultural presentation and even a rice-pounding session.

The Balay sa Humay has also built rooms in the middle of a vast rice field, which can be a relaxing experience, as your mornings will be greeted by the beautiful green fields backdropped by majestic hills and exquisite rural communities.

Another encouraging and growing facility is the Jose L. Gonzaga Farmer’s Foundation in Danao, Bohol which also accommodates overnight stays. The facility is basically an organic farm that would engage visitors in various sustainable farming practices including vermi-composting and others. The foundation was formed in 2002 by Assistio Gonzaga and the rest of the Gonzaga family. The edge of this facility is its proximity to the island’s new destination, the Danao Adventure Park.

So, the next time you plan to visit Bohol, try doing it in an environmentally sustainable way. By helping promote sustainable tourism, we can all make sure that we will still be enjoying these treasures decades from now.