DENR Memorandum Circular No. 16 prescribing guidelines for the establishment and management of buffer zones for protected areas.

The purpose of this Order is to protect, conserve and maintain the biodiversity within protected areas by establishing buffer zones.
Buffer zones shall be areas outside the boundary of a protected area that need specific management consideration in order to prevent its destruction. Section 5 deals with types and extent of buffer zones, and with criteria on the selection of buffer zones. A Buffer Zone may be established either in terrestrial or aquatic areas (sect. 6). Land-use assessment and socio-economic assessment on buffer zones shall be undertaken by the DENR (sects. 8 and 9). Buffer zone areas may be divided into management sub-zones as provided for in section 12. Activities prohibited within buffer zones are listed in section 13. The Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) and Protected Area Superintendent (PAS) shall administer the Buffer Zone.