Integrated Ecosystems Management: National Program Support for Environment Collecting individual efforts together to overcome challenges and Natural Resources Management Project and achieve joint benefits in ENR management (NPS-ENRMP)

An IEM Story:

Incorporating Integrated Ecosystem Management with Local Development Plans: The Case of and Infanta Municipalities in Province

Introduction General Nakar and 8,005 hectares and 11,665 hectares, respectively for Infanta. In previous The traditional municipal development planning years, their CLUPs covered only about 6% of in the through the Comprehensive the total land area of General Nakar and 40.7% Land Use Plan (CLUP) has been narrowly in the case of Infanta. The rest of the forestlands focused on settled communities, the urban and watershed are not covered in the CLUP, or and agricultural areas, and the alienable and if ever they have prepared plans for areas such disposable (A and D)lands. Forestlands and as those covered by ancestral domain claims watershed areas are often not included, or, if or protected areas, they stand separate and at all, just mentioned in passing in the CLUP. not linked to the traditional CLUP. This reflects Looking at the context of the General Nakar and limited understanding of the role of the highly Infanta in Quezon Province that largely compose diverse forests and watersheds as provider of the Kanan-Agos River Watershed (KARW), the various ecosystems goods and services that A and D Land and the forestlands are 10,426 are being enjoyed by both the upland and hectares and 150,576 hectares, respectively for downstream communities.

An IEM Story: The Story of General Nakar and Infanta, Quezon December 2013

Building on previous initiatives like those of the largest land area in the watershed, while the the Haribon Foundation and the University of Real municipality only covers a small portion. the Philippines at Los Baños, the World Bank/ Global Environment Facility-financed National Program Support for Environment and Natural General Nakar is the largest municipality of Resources Management Project (NPS ENRMP) Quezon province with an area of 145,607.19 facilitated concerted actions to provide a hectares or 16.75% of the total land area of the context in linking the uplands, lowlands, province. With respect to the level of hierarchy and coastal areas following the ridge to reef of centers for the province, the municipality landscapes of watersheds. The integrated falls at the medium level. This means that ecosystems management (IEM) approach was General Nakar has great potential for rural adopted in Kanan-Agos Watershed to align development, tourism, aquaculture/mariculture land and resources uses within a highly diverse and agroforestry. landscape. This article narrates the story of this intervention and its impacts to the community On the other hand, Infanta, with a total area and the environment. of 34,276 hectares, has high development potential as distribution center, tourism, light industry, aquaculture/mariculture, and Importance of Kanan-Agos agroforestry. Watershed Specifically, the following are identified There are three municipalities in the Agos River opportunities for improved management and Watershed. General Nakar and Infanta cover development of KARW:

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Tapping the potentials of agriculture, additional, 1,900 million liters of water per day forestry, and fishery. Agriculture, fishing, would be supplied through the forest-dependent enterprises, and services Water and Sewerage System (MWSS) to Metro are the major sources of income of many Manila and part of if the planned Laiban households. Infanta supplies high quality Dam in General Nakar pushes through. Several coconut products and products from nipa sap communal irrigation systems and settlement such as ‘lambanog” and vinegar. The forests in areas also depend on the groundwater and the watershed supply most of the non-timber surface water that comes from the Agos River. forest product raw materials for handicraft The continued supply of this water largely making and furniture such as rattan and tiger depends on a well-managed and conserved grass. Fishing is a major source of livelihood KARW. in the Infanta and General Nakar Pacific Coast area with an established fish port in Dahican, Increasing interest on ecotourism investment. Infanta. This is especially so with the nearness of KARW to Metro Manila with faster access through Major contributor of water supply for Metro the new Infanta-Marikina Road. A boom in Manila. At present, the of General infrastructure development and business Nakar supplies water to the in opportunities along this route is expected. through a 28-kilometer underground Natural waterfalls, mild and wide Agos River tunnel that traverses the Sierra Madre Mountain water flow, caves, serene tropical rainforest, Range. Angat Dam, along with Ipo Dam, supply beach resorts, and many scenic spots await 97% of the water needs of Metro Manila. An tourists from Manila and nearby provinces.

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Tour activities may include boating, trekking, Specifically, below are problems and threats beach swimming, and spelunking. This can attendant to the KARW: spur other business ventures such as hotels, restaurants, gasoline stations, and souvenir shops. The municipalities of Infanta, General High poverty incidence. Limited economic Nakar, and Real Quezon are also considered to opportunity and employment has resulted in be entry points to the Polillio Islands, which are high poverty incidence among families living known to have high biodiversity as well as nice within the KARW. Thus, many of them are in beaches and scenic spots. the subsistence level of living, making do with available resources.

Potential big market for key commodities. Again, this relates to Metro Manila being a huge Encroachments and kaingin-making. In their population center and, as such, a big market poverty, the local families turn to the forest too. Strategic commodities to focus on include and the uplands as source of their living. This fuelwood, soft broom and high value crops. is observable among the upland and coastal There is particularly high demand for fuelwood barangays of General Nakar facing the Pacific and charcoal among bakeries, food chains, Ocean. Living in houses near the coast, these and lower income households. With the entry communities have expanded their kaingin of investors and proper planning by the local cultivations to the upper slopes, while even governments of General Nakar and Infanta, fish catch along the shore has also dwindled. the demand for such commodities can be met Continuous cultivation of the barren slopes adequately, spurring livelihood developments resulted in soil nutrient loss leading to lower in the rural areas. crop production.

Poaching of forest products. With the Problems and Threats: Critical increasing local demand for forest products, poaching or illegal extractions of forest Watershed products has prevailed. The forest products The Kanan-Agos River basin has rich and include timber, non-timber products, and productive natural resources anchored on fuelwood. For fuelwood alone, Metro Manila its diverse forests, land, coastal, and fishery has a requirement of __ million cu meters per resources. As mentioned above, the narrow month. An established network and route of focus of the traditional CLUP which excluded smuggled forest products from the forest to the the forests and the watersheds has contributed market has made this illegal activity flourish. to the neglect of these areas. Through the years, these resources were indiscriminately abused by legal and illegal loggers, timber Land claims and tenure conflicts. Parties in poachers, miners, wildlife poachers, land conflict here include big absentee land owners speculators, and kaingineros. Thus, the diverse who hold legal papers to the land, actual natural forests and mangroves in the river basin occupants with no legal papers, and the Agta- face alarming degradation, deterioration, and Remontado tribe that was awarded a Certificate biodiversity loss. This situation has threatened of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) covering and weakened the ecosystem resiliency, which endangers the continuing supply of almost the whole land area of General Nakar key environmental services to on- and off-site municipality. This situation is causing not only communities and exacerbates the impacts estranged relationship between and among the of landslides and floods to downstream parties but also uncertainties in the protection communities. Thus, the watershed is less able and conservation of the rolling lands hilly lands. to provide protection against the onslaught of extreme weather occurrences due to climate change. Increasing access to the Protected Areas (PAs). The declared PAs under Presidential Proclamation (PP) 1636 in Infanta and under PP 196 in Gen. Nakar are now illegally occupied

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by an increasing number of families. As PAs, harmoniously integrate their CLUP, Forest Land these areas were set aside for conservation of Use Plan (FLUP), Protected Area Management biodiversity and protection of water sources Plan and the Ancestral Domain Sustainable for the communities. This squatting problem Development and Protection Plan (ADSDPP). combines with the inadequate field staff of the The IEM participatory and governance-oriented DENR and the weak tenure right system in the processes helped facilitate and harmonize PP 1636 area. The increasing access is due to efforts of the local governments, tenure and upland migration by families coming from the domain holders, NGOs, and communities for municipalities of General Nakar and Infanta, as aligning their land and resource uses consistent well as from outside the two municipalities. with present and future environmental needs and ecological stability of the Kanan-Agos River Watershed. The details for the formation and Convergence for the Conservation operation of such convergence are discussed and Protection of KARW below. The need to protect and conserve the KARW Identification of and coming together of to sustain its ecosystem services pushed RAAs. The identified site-based responsible, the convergence of concerned sectors for accountable, and authority-vested (RAAs) collective action. These stakeholders include stakeholders for the Kanan-Agos River the Department of Environment and Natural Watershed are the municipal local government Resources (DENR), the municipal governments units (LGUs) of General Nakar and Infanta of General Nakar and Infanta, and the National through their LGU-DENR Steering Committees, Council for Indigenous People (NCIP). Such the community and provincial offices of convergence led to the formulation and DENR, the Protected Area Management Board implementation of comprehensive ecosystem- of the protected area (PP 1636), the Agta- wide and LGU-based development plans that Remontado Tribe Council of Elders, and the

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holders community-based forest management LGU-DENR Steering Committees of General agreements and fishpond lease agreements Nakar and Infanta are providing oversight in Infanta. The first to come together are the supervision in the implementation of their local DENR with municipal local governments respective FLUPs and related concerns. of General Nakar and Infanta through their initiatives for their respective municipal Forest KARW IEM Framework Formulation. The IEM Land Use Plans (FLUPs) with financial and framework laid down the guiding principles for technical facilitation from nongovernment the holistic management of land, water, and organizations and funding institutions like the living resources in the KARW. It sought to unify Haribon Foundation Project Governance and individual and collective actions in managing Local Development of Endangered Forests the watershed for conservation, socio-cultural (GOLDEN FORESTS) financed by the European development, and economic development. Union and the NPS ENRMP Project financed by The vision under the IEM framework is stated the World Bank GEF. as “The Kanan-Agos River Basin, a watershed where God-fearing, healthy, empowered, Formation/Strengthening of Governance prosperous, climate change-adaptive, and Bodies. The individual efforts of the two local gender-responsive citizenry live in harmony governments were later linked and tied up with verdant forests, clean rivers, and rich together through the IEM initiative under the biodiversity.” NPS ENRMP. The formulation of the KARW IEM Framework was initiated through legwork Based on this IEM blueprint, the local action of an intersectoral Technical Working governments of General Nakar and Infanta Group and the KARW Management Council. The crafted their Environment and Natural KARW Management Council was later merged Resources (ENR) Management Plan that with the now Expanded PP1636 Protected covers their geographical share of the KARW, Area Management Board (EPAMB). Dumagat- addressing the management and development Remontado tribal elders were intermittently of the environment and natural resources involved in the processes of FLUP formulation in their respective municipalities including for General Nakar. At the municipality level, the forestland, agricultural land, urban areas, and coastal areas. Thus, their ENR plans became part of their municipal development plans for which they set aside budget in their annual investment plans.

Identification of Non- Negotiables. There was also joint effort in the identification of non- negotiables (NNs) or non- compromise areas in the watershed. These NNs are designated land and resource allocations whose intended uses and purposes cannot be compromised or modified to ensure protection and sustainability for the whole watershed-ecosystem. They

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also include types of investments that shall be regeneration, and agroforestry. This is through disallowed in a watershed-ecosystem or highly the help of contracted peoples organizations and diverse area. The identified non-negotiables in LGUs by administrative arrangement KARW are the following: with the DENR. These initiatives are being funded by the NPS ENRMP Project. • Conservation areas under PP1636 in Infanta • Overlap areas of CADT and PP1636 in General Nakar Conservation-Oriented Livelihoods. To lessen • Mangrove forests and forestlands in Infanta pressure on the threatened forest resources, • Protection forests in CADT area in General some conservation-oriented or environment Nakar friendly livelihoods are being promoted in • Hazard areas subject to land slides and the communities. Rice hull-fueled lambanog flooding making is intended to lessen pressure on the gathering and depletion of mangroves as the The identified actions for these NNs include traditional fuel for local wine making, while strengthening the oversight bodies specifically promoting the use of a waste material (rice the EPAMB and LGU-DENR Steering hull) that is otherwise thrown away and burned. Committees, recognition and inclusion of Livelihoods on agroforestry and fuelwood lots identified conservation areas and protection are intended solution to kaingin making that forests in CLUP, ADSDPP and LGU zoning would otherwise denude forests and turn them regime as supported by LGU zoning ordinance, into open cultivation. Part of the agroforestry and observing these in the course of FLUP scheme promoted is interplanting of coconut implementation. Recommended also is the with coffee. Fuelwood plantation establishment, inclusion of NCIP and CADT representatives in on the other hand, lessens pressure on the the EPAMB and co- management for the open cutting of natural forest as fuelwood source. access mangroves in Infanta. Tiger grass plantations have also been initiated to create continuing supply of raw materials for broom making while also providing continuous Guided IEM- and FLUP-based updating of soil cover as protection against erosion. Separate Comprehensive Land Use Plans. This initiative involves the update, review, approval, and initial support is also set aside for livelihoods initiated implementation of IEM and FLUP-consistent by indigenous peoples (IPs) for implementation CLUPs for Infanta and General Nakar. This inside the CADT area. requires integration of the non-negotiables as determined by the KARW IEM Framework Managing Conflict Between Local IPs and the General Nakar and Infanta FLUPs in and General Nakar LGU. One particular the updating of their respective CLUPs. This concern in the pursuit of convergence for the leads to the formulation of ordinances that conservation and improved management of will improve local governance framework for the KARW is the conflict between the General conservation activities, minimizing risks and Nakar LGU and the local tribe of the Dumagat- damages in hazard zone areas and providing Remontado. Practically the whole land area of incentives for environment-friendly land and the municipality of General Nakar, including resource use and management. There will also the coastal areas, had been declared as part be ordinances to effectively implement the IEM of the Agta- Remontado CADT. The local and FLUP-consistent zones to strongly support government of General Nakar questioned the KARW IEM framework. the lack of consultation with local officials during the process of area identification and delineation for their CADT under the Establishment of Nurseries and Rehabilitation facilitation of the NCIP. The IPs, on the other of Denuded Forests. Part also of the action on non-negotiables, specially in the erosion- hand, defend their claim and ownership of the prone and degraded areas, is the establishment area from the very beginning. The NPS ENRM of nurseries and rehabilitation of barren Project is trying to intervene and manage areas through reforestation, assisted natural the conflict through a technical assistance

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called “Engaging Indigenous Peoples for the DENR is also demonstrated in deployment and Integrated Ecosystem Management Planning in operation of the Barangay Law Enforcement GEF-Assisted Watersheds.” At this stage, some Teams (BLET). With strategically located headway had been attained in their leveling off outposts in the road network of the barangays, towards joint and collaborative management these teams have been instrumental in the and development of the area and reconciliatory apprehension of forest violators and in the efforts are continuing along this line. filing of appropriate cases in coordination with the local DENR. Within the period of Part of the strategy in the conflict management January 2010 to June 2013, the coordinated was a workshop among the NCIP, LGUs, and operation of DENR and BLET check points DENR, to facilitate and map out strategies on how has led to apprehension of 52,211 board feet ancestral domain holders in IEM sites (through of sawn lumber, confiscation of seven chain their ADSDPP and FLUPs/CLUPs) can partner saws, and impounding of four vehicles used with local government units (LGUs) in conserving for illegal logging. The continued operation of biodiversity, protecting forests, regulating these enforcement teams is helping reduce the activities in highly hazardous areas, and enforcing incidence of illegal logging and timber poaching ENR policies and regulations. A memorandum in KARW. of agreement between NCIP and LGU/General Nakar was also drafted to facilitate how they can Addressing Climate-Related Risks through work together to harmonize the FLUP/CLUP and Automatic Weather Station. With financial the ADSDPP preparation for KARW. support from the NPS ENRMP, the partner LGUs, the DENR, and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Coordinated Forestry Law Enforcement. Strong partnership between the LGU and the Services Administration (PAGASA) have joined

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efforts for the establishment and maintenance and lasting working relationship between of an automatic weather station (AWS) in the two institutions that is crucial for future KARW. Equipped with automatic instruments collaborations. to measure stream level, rainfall depth, wind velocity, and relative humidity, among others, the AWS can serve as a warning system for Synergistic Impact of DENR-LGU Partnership any impending flash flood, while in the long in Supporting Marginalized Communities. term, it can provide agro-meteorogical basis for This is exemplified by Barangay Batangan LGU cropping patterns and farming activities within in General Nakar. Through a small reforestation the watershed. contract with the DENR, the community succeeded in regenerating degraded natural forest in their area. Using the leftover amount and proceeds from extra seedlings sold, they Results of Collaboration also helped improve social, educational, and health services in the barangay. The partnership and collaboration of the LGUs and DENR for the Kanan-Agos River Watershed has resulted in the following: Contribution to Forest Rehabilitation. Partnership among LGU, DENR, and the local communities has led to the rehabilitation of Stronger LGU-DENR Partnership. The pursuit degraded areas in terms of 170 hectares of and implementation of IEM in KARW served as assisted natural regeneration and 10 hectares venue for strengthening partnership between of agroforestry areas. These areas will serve as DENR, the municipal and barangay LGUs, and models for parallel projects to be pursued by the community in environment and natural the LGUs and POs in the immediate future. resources management. The NPS ENRM Project gave opportunity for the LGU and the DENR to work together in addressing environmental and LGU Buy-ins. Having been fully convinced socioeconomic needs of the community while of the importance and applicability of IEM to promoting the rehabilitation of degraded areas their territory and seeing it as contributory and improving of ecosystem, services from to their devolved ENR functions, the LGUs the KARW. The result is closer, meaningful, of General Nakar and Infanta have bought into the pursuance of IEM in their territorial

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jurisdictions. They have allocated counterpart remain in pursuing and implementing the IEM- funds for the implementation of their municipal based comprehensive local development plans FLUP, for conservation-oriented livelihoods, for General Nakar and Infanta. solid waste management, and forestry law enforcement. Evidence of their buy-ins can In summary, the implementation of IEM in also be seen in their having passed ordinances KARW has led to the following: aligned and supportive of the fundamental mechanics of IEM. Paving the way for increased strategic investments. The enhanced IEM Framework Improved Resiliencies of Watershed- for KARW provides a better context for Ecosystem and the Communities. The investment and regulation that are consistent project has replicable models for improved with the IEM-based CLUPs and comprehensive resiliency of the watershed and communities to development plans for the two municipalities. adverse climate change impacts. In addition to This is especially so as the plans of the improving site and biodiversity condition, the Agta-Remontado IP and those of the other rehabilitated mountainsides are better able to tenure holders are also aligned with the IEM withstand erosion caused by heavy storms. On framework. This paves the way for increased the other hand, with supplemental food and strategic investments of the LGUs and the income generated, the established livelihoods DENR to improve the economic environment for the communities will make them better able for individual and private investments. to withstand and adjust to the effects of adverse climatic conditions. Putting in place an RAA-based forest protection and enforcement system. The IEM Prospects for the Future framework plan identifies land management areas in the KARW and pinpoints the While much headway has been achieved in stakeholders who will be responsible for the the partnership among the LGUs, the DENR, protection, rehabilitation, and development and the local communities for the improved of said areas and the resources therein. The management of KARW, much challenge also stakeholders include the concerned LGU,

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tenured land and resource unit managers, Improving collaborative efforts between and national government agencies. Under this NRM partners in KARW. The IEM framework setting, the local barangay is tapped as on the spells a mechanism that allows individual ground partner for improved management to form part of concerted action for the of the local natural resources. An example of improved management and development of this is the deployment of the Barangay Law the watershed. It will enhance coordination Enforcement Team (BLET). towards synergy. It is expected that the synergy created by IEM will inspire all the stakeholders, Creating more economic and livelihood including the Dumagat-Remontado Tribe, to opportunities. This is because the local natural vigorously participate in the development resources are clearly identified, including process. The anticipated long-term result is a their potentials for sustainable development better environment for concerted efforts for the and investment to benefit the present and the conservation and development of the Kanan- coming generations. The implementation of Agos River Watershed. the identified strategies with adequate support will help make this happen.

For more information, please contact: Department of Environment and Natural Resources Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Office DENR Compound, Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City Telefax: +632 926-2689; 928-0028; 926-2693