Title: COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES OF WILDLIFE HAZARD AT KEY AIRPORTS IN BICOL REGION
Authors:
Honesto G. De Vera and Theresa T. Nasser
Abstract:
The research explores the nature and characteristics of wildlife incidents and contributing factors to wildlife presence. The study will compare and evaluate the methods for mitigation used at the key airports in the Bicol region, as well as the inconsistent reporting and execution of the wildlife hazard management plan. Thus, the study emphasized the impact of external elements such surrounding residential areas and agricultural fields and sought to find important implementation gaps between knowledge and practice, particularly in vegetation removal and habitat management. The respondents must be safety officers at major airports in the Bicol Region in order to meet the study’s inclusion requirements. Their legitimacy allows the study to get pertinent data and viewpoints on reducing hazards associated with wildlife. Applying a semi-structured interview guide was used as the primary research instrument for qualitative data collection. Highlighting the consistent patterns of wildlife incidents specifically the prevalence of cattle egrets and the timing of incidents during morning landings and seasonal peaks the research reinforces the need for targeted mitigation strategies during these critical periods. More significantly, the identification of implementation gaps between theoretical knowledge and actual practice underscores the importance of addressing resource constraints and shifting from reactive to proactive management approaches. The study recommends enhanced incident profiling, integrated environmental management programs, improved compliance frameworks, and adaptive management strategies tailored to the local context to strengthen aviation safety in the Bicol Region.
Keywords: Wildlife Hazard Mitigation, Aviation Safety, Wildlife-Aircraft Collision, Airport Environmental Management, Wildlife Risk Reduction.
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