ORANI, Bataan: The Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) on Monday sponsored a symposium on biodiversity and indigenous culture of the Bataan National Park at the foot of the mountain in Sinagtala Resort in Orani, Bataan.

BCDA Chairman Felicito Payumo said that what happened recently in New Bataan town, Campostela Valley should have chilling effect on Bataan. “We should not wait to experience the same fate of New Bataan before we do something,” he said

The symposium was named after the late Leonard Co, a botanist who identified thousands of flora inside the Bataan National Park. Selected students from the Bataan Peninsula State University in Balanga City were the main participants.

Glenda Co, widow of the slain botanist, was present.

Payumo said that the symposium has created awareness on the protection of the forests. Scientists and doctorate degree holders lectured on researches they have made. Two Aeta tribal leaders showed how important the mountains are to them.

“The Bataan National park is the life support system of the towns of Dinalupihan, Hermosa, Orani, Samal, Abucay and Pilar and the City of Balanga and part of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority,” said Payumo, former SBMA chairman.

“If threatened, it will be killing the life support system which comes from the watershed that is the ‘caldera’ that has the remaining diptherocap close canopy vegetation in central Luzon,” the BCDA chief said.