Maps of areas of operation
     History and work of the PESCP

Community-based work for sustainable development on Panay

Content:
     Introduction
     Watershed management
     Livelihood and agricultural improvement
     Conservation awareness programs for sustainable development
     Ecotourism
 

Introduction

The areas of operation of the PESCP are most important for economic and social development on the sixth largest island of the Philippines. The forests of Panay are watersheds, important for fresh water supply of the island and for agriculture. On Negros, after destruction of 96% of the forest, sugar cane planters reported that there is 50% less water available for agriculture. On Panay, 92% of forests have been destroyed. Beside losses in agriculture, destruction of protective mountain forests leads to erosion and landslides (see figure below), and over-exploitation of natural resources traditionally used in crafts manufacture, construction, medicines, and in general trade affects the economy of the region. Boracay Island with its tourism is dependent on water from  the peninsula, and for development of tourism forests and sufficient fresh water supply are necessary. The natural resource base of the two mountain ranges of Panay serves the interests of over one 100 barangays (communities) on the peninsula, and over 220 barangays surrounding the Central Panay Mountains.

Our main objectives in this regard are:

• Protection of the remaining forests of Northwest Panay and the Central Panay Mountains as watersheds and sources of traditionally important natural materials, also avoiding the far greater expense of rehabilitation
• Protection of the peninsular forests as a genetic resource for rehabilitation of degraded forests in other parts of Panay (seed bank for the propagation of indigenous trees and other native plants)
• Protection particularly of animal species which are important for the ecosystem, for instance by seed dispersal which is important for forest regeneration
• Rendering of services that assist in diminishing the illegal overexploitation of natural resources (implementing alternative livelihoods)
• Rehabilitation and release of endangered wildlife species
• Conservation-related research (comprehensive inventory of terrestrial vertebrates of Panay, population census, behavioural ecology, conservation ethology)

The area and its inhabitants

The NW Panay peninsula consists of the municipalities of Pandan and Libertad in Antique, and Buruanga, Malay, and Nabas in Aklan. The area contains over 100 barangays with a collective population of over 100,000. We have identified 22 barangays as being key to our immediate conservation efforts, with 7 barangays in or approaching the uplands and therefore of the highest priority. Likewise we conducted community work in four clusters of the 219 barangays in the CPMR (provinces of Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo). In these barangays, we have initiated livelihood projects in conjunction with conservation education and resource management seminars conducted by the project’s educators. These programs are ongoing. Since 2000 the project reached out to Central Panay by way of a Wildlife Conservation Education Program designed to interdict non-sustainable hunting of endangered species.

The project employs a manager, Thomas Kuenzel, who is also the Environmental Program Coordinator of Aklan State University, President Dr. B. A. Palma, and 3 facilitators/educators on a full time basis (A. Alabado, R. Lestino, J. Venus) working primarily for the education of the local participants, monitoring natural resource extractivism, and implementing alternative livelihoods, presently supported by UNDP. A forester, J. Espiritu, is overseeing a reforestation scheme, an agriculturist, H. Dungganon, the improvement of agricultural  practices. A research assistant, S. Hembra, is working for the project’s endangered bird rehabilitation and release program the health aspects of which are overseen by the project’s vet Dr. E. Sanchez. Other personnel contributing to the PESCP include liaison officers, e.g. Maria Ibabao, assisting in a community resource management, forest monitoring and education program. B. Tacud serves as an extremely gifted field research assistant at PESCP’s upland Research Station in the NW Panay Peninsula. N. Bagac, a long time supporter of the project, is taking care of our captive birds, together with E. Felizardo, J. Jamangal, F. Geronimo and M. Melchor. A. Demegillo, agricultural extensionist in Pandan, coordinates the said wildlife program; 16 Forest Rangers are conducting surveys and are assisting in interventions with poachers and loggers, in parallel to ca 100 nest guards, Community Conservationists, and Tanods (community police) carrying out  a hornbill nest protection program in the CPMR with great success.
 

Current efforts

Watershed management

Unlike many parts of the Philippines, the NW Panay peninsula still has relatively intact watersheds and the last significant stands of primary, low elevation rainforest remaining in the entire biogeographic region of the West Visayas, which are valuable as gene banks for rehabilitation of deforested areas. Tree cutting and kaingin (= slash and burn agriculture), however, continue locally unchecked , and the cumulative effect of such activities is a point of concern to many communities. Some large areas of the peninsula and the CMPR have already been largely denuded and are in need of rehabilitation.

The poster below is an example both for the problems caused by destruction of forests and for conservation awareness material developed by the PESCP. It is based on an idea and draft by Guntram Meier (InGRIP animal / pest control for conservation); copyright: PESCP.
The figure may be used for free for other projects, the PESCP must then be quoted. For a higher resolution copy of this poster (file size about 830 KB), please click here.

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Livelihood and agricultural improvement

PESCP has initiated livelihood projects in communities identified as having the greatest impact on wildlife and other natural resources. One of the project's facilitators with previous development experience is largely focused on these programs which include a contractual obligation by POs to commit to a conservation activity. The project also employs local agricultural officers on a per diem basis to give seminars on integrated pest management, high-value crop production, and alternative technologies for agriculture. An extension of this process is a high priority for biodiversity protection and sustainable resource management. Livelihood and agricultural improvement will merge with reforestation by emphasizing agroforestry at the interface between biodiversity management and sustainable resource use in communities. Many of the materials traditionally used in crafts manufacture, construction, medicines, and in general trade have been or are being depleted to unsustainable levels, and should be cultivated along with inter cropping of food crops in a multiple use zone. Technology transfers and resource development are, in part, within the reach of a UNDP-financed agroforestry project, local NGOs and government agencies. Funding, however, is insufficient to implement programs of these types, and it is imperative that they are implemented under the supervision of a conservation organization at this stage of developing a consciousness for environmental thinking. PhilConserve, through its implementer PESCP is actively soliciting funding through several proposals under review for an extension of its Alternative Livelihood Program.
 

Conservation awareness programs for sustainable development

As far as conservation awareness programs and education are concerned, the PESCP has largely operated in the NW Panay peninsula, but in mid-year of 2001 a much needed extension program in Central Panay was commenced. This program is focusing on work in four clusters of priority barangays spread over four municipalities in four different provinces.
We try to frame our objectives in an historical, economic, and cultural context. Pending an increase in funding, we emphasize the following objectives:

• To help people to understand the benefits of a healthy environment, and how their behaviour affects the environment now and in the future.
• To increase awareness in communities, government, and media that the conservation of natural resources is of immediate and critical economic importance and that conservation minimises the far greater expense of rehabilitation.
• To organize the many levels of society and government in forums and provide knowhow for pro-environment action and jurisdiction. This includes LGUs and Provincial Government, and is best manifest in PESCP's facilitation of the NW Panay Biodiversity Management Council consisting of LGU Executive and other municipal representation, the DENR, and the PESCP. Yet illegal logging and hunting are ongo- ing. Therefore PESCP is presently organizing a sufficiently effective forest guarding system in cooperation with the LGUs, the provincial governments, the PNP, and DENR, aiming at the long-term deputisation of its Forest Rangers by the DENR.

Ecotourism is a potentially vital component to environmental management. Provincial planners in Antique and Aklan and the National Executive Office put strong emphasis on ecotourism specifically, and tourism generally; an Aklan Tourism Taskforce has been established (Executive Order No. 6). On Boracay Island, over-development led to environmental problems. Such impacts may, in part, be mitigated through expanding the venue for tourism in the area. To forestall its undesired consequences PESCP is advising developers on Boracay on environment-friendly expansion and direct protection of wildlife. Protection of the remaining forests of Northwest Panay and the CPMR is a keystone to potential ecotourism, and sustainable development of tourism in these areas is important. However, unless ecotourism is developed professionally and with sufficient revenues to the communities concerned, it will inevitably falter as has become abundantly clear in other places the world over.
Literature
 

Under optimal conditions, we would employ more people at the grass roots for greater duration. With an increase in funding, we would implement additional livelihood projects, emphasizing reforestation and agroforestry in association with existing POs. The project needs to expand its community education campaign into Central Panay.
 

Support  needed

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Philippine Endemic Species Conservation Project - Conservation Biology Unit, Ruhr-University Bochum

Last amendment: 20 June 2006