Land Use

Lakes, like forests, rivers, and coastal waters, are shared natural resources. Presidential Decree No.1067 or the Water Code of the Philippines requires that the following distances be applied to particular land use: a) 3 meters for urban areas; b) 20 meters for agricultural areas; and c) 40 meters for forest are considered buffer zones and can be used by the public for recreation, navigation, floatage, fishing, and salvage. These areas are subject to private or public ownership (in natural parks) ownership and preferred land use. Since each lake has unique natural characteristics, the land use and cover surrounding the lakes vary with these characteristics and the development plans of the local government. The section below provides a picture of the Land Use Map covering the seven small crater lakes. Maps from the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) were used. 

This project recognized the significance of the fisherfolks'  local knowledge of the overall health of the lakes.  They were requested to participate in the Focused Group Discussion (FGD) in identifying land use maps of the seven lakes; see data here. However, it is to be noted that the data derived from FGD are based on the participants' memories of the land use.