The remaining 16,487 hectares of forest cover at the Northern Negros Natural Park are now protected from commercial logging with Republic Act 3680 imposing a logging ban in the 3rd District of Negros Occidental which comprise the cities of Silay, Talisay and Victorias and two municipalities, E.B. Magalona and Murcia.
President Arroyo signed into law last November 3 House Bill 3680 known as “An Act Imposing a Logging Ban in the Third District of the Province of Negros Occidental” which was authored by Rep. Jose Carlos Lacson seeks to prohibit the cutting down of trees for commercial purposes.
The Northern Negros Natural Park is Negros Occidental’s major watershed area where rare flora and fauna species can be found such as hornbill, bleeding heart pigeon, Visayan warty pig and Philippine spotted deer. Mambukal Resort in Murcia and Gawahon Eco-Park in Victorias City are located inside the Northern Negros Natural Park.