As if the pandemic were not bad enough, two typhoons hit the area back-to-back in November 2020, knocking out power for weeks. Despite these obstacles, our partners have managed to deliver two-way radios, cooking gear, and first-aid kits to the community, anticipating the return of tourism in 2021. They do not yet have permission to build handrails along the eco-trail.

The travel ban instituted in response to the covid-19 pandemic has had a big effect on tourism—and incomes—in Lobo. Most activities are on hold. (Some members of our nonprofit partner live within walking distance of the plant nursery, so they can still look after the seedlings.) People have turned to backyard farming to grow food, and have received some aid from the national and local governments. Bantay Kalikasan, the organization founded by late activist and Seacology Prize recipient Gina Lopez, is also expected to give money to buy food and household staples.
Looking ahead, the community is planning for two years of impact from the pandemic. They are discussing options for attracting tourists again by instituting physical distancing and by working with other tourist sites to build exciting trips. They are also exploring ways to diversify their sources of income.

The Lobo community came together to conserve their forest, pursue ecologically sustainable tourism, and provide good livelihoods to their members. This project exemplifies Seacology’s goal of empowering local people to control and protect their environment and, as a result, prosper economically. Community members and tourists (supervised by the mountain guides) have planted about 2,000 endemic tree seedlings.

The visitors center has been built; guardrails, nipa huts, and restrooms are still under construction. Tour guides are using the center to teach hikers about keeping the Nalayag Ecotrail healthy, and community members sell snacks there. The new local people’s organization, which works to promote tourism and protect the environment, also holds its meetings there. They have declared Monday a “rest day” for the mountain; no climbers are allowed, and the guides do a weekly survey and clean-up.

Duane Silverstein and field representative Ferdie Marcelo visited this project site and saw the partially built visitors’ center. Duane talked to one trail guide—a former miner—who now earns as much money leading one group of hikers on the trail as he did working 12 hours in the mine.