Section 6. Boundary Delineation The boundaries of the protected areas and/or their buffer zones which overlap with the ancestral domains/lands or vice versa shall be delineated on the ground and mapped to determine exact location by the DENR and NCIP in close coordination and consultation with the ICCs/IPs. Markers or signages shall be installed on the ground to identify the boundaries of the protected areas and/or their buffer zones and/or ancestral domains/lands as may be necessary or appropriate. Section 7. Resources Assessment/Inventory. A detailed resources assessment or inventory shall be jointly undertaken by the DENR and NCIP with the ICCs/IPs following the relevant harmonized guidelines. Information generated from such resources assessment shall be used, among others, as inputs in the preparation of the management plan and for monitoring of the biological resources of the protected area. No management plan shall be prepared without undertaking the resources assessment. Section 8. Preparation of Harmonized Management Plan. Based on the resources assessment and/or existing plans, the management plan of the protected area shall be prepared jointly by the Technical Working Group (TWG) to be created at the regional level of the DENR and NCIP with the participation of the concerned ICCs/IPs. The management plan shall include among others, the objectives, strategies, zoning and allowable resource utilization and committed activities of the stakeholders. In cases where both the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development Protection Plan (ADSDPP) and Protected Area Management Plan (PAMP) on the same land/coverage area are existing, the same shall be reviewed by the TWG concerned to facilitate harmonization of the plans. Where only the ADSDPP exists, it will be enhanced to ensure the protection and conservation of biological diversity, however, in the absence thereof, the community shall formulate a management plan, taking into consideration any existing PAMP, with the assistance of the DENR and NCIP. The harmonized plan shall adhere to existing policies on: a. The use of natural resources like wildlife species based on existing policies, legislations, rules and regulations. b. Access to natural resources for family use and sustenance based on established customs and traditional practices as reflected in their ADSDPP or Ancestral Domain Management Plan (ADMP) c. The construction of infrastructure in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system d. Management arrangements and commitments of stakeholders e. Monitoring and Evaluation f. Recognition of existing property rights regime Section 9. Creation of Technical Working Groups. To ensure that integration and/or harmonization of plans within overlapped areas, there shall be Technical Working Groups on the regional and provincial levels to be organized within thirty (30) working days after the effectivity of this Memorandum Circular. 3

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