The Freshness of Batanes

	The Freshness of Batanes

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	The Freshness of Batanes The pristine freshness of Batanes is preserved by each peace loving and pro environment people in its undisturbed and unspoiled beauty of nature. Batanes is the northern most and smallest province of the Philippines with lush mountains, green rolling hills, stunning scenery of the landscape and coastline, magnificent quiet roads, winding trails, crystal clean seas, blue skies and wonderful fresh air. Its fields are well cared from the harsh forces of
			nature by rows of hedges of reeds and trees and are very productive. During the freak of the hot summer months what beholds the viewer is the greenness of the verdant lands, the cool blowing breeze and the cleanliness of the towns and villages. The Batanes people called Ivatans are very hospitable, warm loving and peaceful besides being hardworking. Beyond the blessed natural beauty of the place is the Ivatans unwavering community spirit. The rare unforgettable experience of the people visitingthe Batanes Isles is the enjoyment of breathing fresh air, free from dust pollution and gas and smoke pollutants which the healthy sturdy Ivatans have a free supply year round.

	Batanes: Feels Like Heaven!!! Tourists and other people coming to Batanes always says that the place is like heaven, free from pollution, and you are close to God. The place is beyond compare. A lot of things can prove this because Batanes has unending spectrum of habitat types and having a unique big green environment, which the Ivatan culture and traditional practices, led to harmony between the Ivatans and their natural environment. Batanes is a paradise of numerous flora and fauna including marine life. Good water quality: The combined action of roots, soils, rocks and leaf-litters prevents dirty water from reaching the ground water keeping it clean for drinking. Without the trees o hold the soil, eroded soil particles make rivers appear chocolate-brown in color during heavy rains.

	A Protected Paradise of the North Having been inhabitants of the Batanes islands since time immemorial, the Ivatans were able to develop a set of indigenous knowledge and systems in biodiversity conservation and management while adapting to the particularities of their harsh environment which enabled them to understand the “Nature of Batanes unique ecosystem”. The Ivatans are well aware of maintaining the environment free from pollution. This can be seen in several practices of the Ivatans which regulate resource use through certain types of abtas (customary laws) and dagen (taboos).The belief system of the Ivatans about enchanted places retained the biodiversity in some places untouched by humans.

	Threats of Batanes Fresh Air Excessive/unsustainable resource extraction due to agricultural expansion as well as land conversion has been observed. The lowland forest is the only habitat usually encroached by some local farmers. Continued loss of habitats and considerable disturbance to natural habitats may bring a negative impact on the freshness of Batanes. The number of vehicles and motorcycles is increasing that contribute much to the contamination of the air with noxious substances.