1St Technical Report 2006
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Type of Report: First Technical Report Executing Sustainable Ecosystem International Agency: Corp. (SUSTEC) Ordinal Number: PD 167/02 Rev. 2 (F) Title of Project: Integration of Forest Management Units (FMU) into a Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) through Collaborative Forest Management in Surigao del Sur, The Philippines Period Covered: November 2004 – June 2006 Place and date of Quezon City, Philippines issue: June 31, 2006 KEY PROJECT STAFF Project Director: Ricardo M. Umali Assistant Project Director: Bernardo D. Agaloos, Jr. Field Coordinator: Feliciano T. Opeña Administrative / Finance Officer: Rhodora G. Padilla CONSULTANTS INVOLVED (THIS REPORT): Team Leader and NRM Specialist: Dr. J. Adolfo V. Revilla, Jr. Conservation Planning Specialist Dr. Emmanuel R. G. Abraham GIS / Remote Sensing Specialist Dr. Nathaniel C. Bantayan Forest Management Specialist Dr. Jeremias A. Canonizado Watershed Management Specialist Dr. Rex Victor O. Cruz Institutional/ Rural Development Specialist Prof. Rodegelio B. Caayupan Environmental Lawyer / Legal Specialist Atty. Eleno O. Peralta Natural Resource Economist Dr. Nicos D. Perez Sociologist / IEC Specialist Dr. Cleofe S. Torres Agro-forestry/ Livelihood Specialist Dr. Neptale Q. Zabala SUPPORT STAFF: GIS Technical Staff Angelito O. Arjona Administrative Assistant Brenda M. Caraan Technical Assistant Nieves C. Hibaya Messenger Alexander S. Recalde Sustainable Ecosystems International Corp. No. 19-A Matimtiman St., Teachers Village West, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines Tel: + (632) 434-2596 Fax: + (632) 436-3971 E-Mail: [email protected] ii COLLABORATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT IN THE EAST DIWATA SDU Table of Contents Page No. ABSTRACT 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION 2 1.1 Integrated Area Development Projects 2 1.2 The Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) Concept 3 - 4 1.3 Enabling Policy Framework 5 - 7 1.4 Integration of Forest Management Units into Sustainable Development Units 7 - 9 1.5 The total development system 10 - 11 2.0 MAIN REPORT 12 2.1 Presentation of Data 12 2.1.1 Scope 12 2.1.2 SDU Delineation and Profiling: The East Diwata SDU 12 - 25 2.1.3 Formulation and Acceptance of the SDU Collaborative Framework 25 - 37 2.1.4 Establishing SDU Collaborative Structures and Mechanisms: The East Diwata SDU Stakeholders Association (EDSSA) 37 - 47 2.1.5 The Medium Term Action Plan for SFM/SD: Brief Introduction 47 - 48 2.2 Analysis and Interpretation of Data 48 2.2.1 SDU Delineation and Profiling 48 - 50 2.2.2 Formulation and acceptance of the SDU Collaborative Framework 50 - 51 2.2.3 Establishing SDU Collaborative Structures and Mechanisms 51 - 52 3.0 CONCLUSIONS 52 - 53 4.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 53 - 54 ANNEXES 1. Key features of the Different Watersheds in the SDU 55 - 64 2. The Clothe Covenant and its Palm Prints 65 3. Matrix of Collaboration Between & Among Stakeholders in the SDU 66 - 97 4. Certificate / Articles of Inc. East Diwata SDU Stakeholders Association 98 - 104 5. By-Laws, East Diwata SDU Stakeholders Association (EDSSA, Surigao) 105 - 124 BIBLIOGRAPHY 125 iii ABSTRACT The aim of this project is to improve and accelerate sustainable forest management in the Philippines within an integrated sustainable development framework, thus addressing the factors that limit progress of the Philippines towards attaining ITTO Objective 2000. It will implement and showcase sustainable forest management within the context of a Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) over a 3-year period, highlighting how the tropical timber resource base can be improved and harnessed to contribute optimally & jointly with other sectors towards attainment of sustainable development at the SDU / local level. This report presents the definition and profiling of the first SDU in the Philippines—the East Diwata Sustainable Development Unit and the formulation of a collaborative framework that lead to an incorporated association of all types of stakeholder organizations within the SDU, viz. indigenous and local peoples organizations, forest management unit managers, local government units, national government agencies, non-government organizations, alliances, cooperatives, etc.—the East Diwata Stakeholders Association or EDSSA. The stakeholders’ collaborative framework for sustainable forest/natural resources management and sustainable development in the East Diwata SDU is the first of two major outputs of this Project. The other major output will be a Medium Term Action Plan (MTAP: 2006 - 2015) for Sustainable Forest Management/Sustainable Development to implement the agreed collaborative management and development framework. An in-depth review of the concepts and principles of sustainable development (SD) and of the failure of past and current development projects arrived at the inescapable conclusion that in order to successfully carry out SD on the ground, the setting of SD (the SDU) must be delineated so as to include adequate resources and opportunities to support the needs of concerned human communities on a continuing basis. A major part of the conclusion is that there is a need to integrate all ecosystems and sectors in the SDU; hence, also the need to integrate the stakeholders based on an agreed/acceptable collaborative framework. Moreover, the SDU boundaries must as much as possible follow watershed boundaries so that the impacts of SFM/SD activities and events therein can be effectively monitored and assessed. And, to top it all, SD on the ground must be locally driven (local initiative and based on local resources, capacity, needs, realities, priorities, practices and constraints). The work was carried out by looking at the defining features of past and current development projects with emphasis on why they have failed, e.g., they were nationally driven and externally funded, projects were not based on local capacity and resources, local stakeholders were not adequately involved nor united in support of the projects, local needs were not adequately addressed, etc. These have been used to identify and develop strategies to successfully implement SFM/SD on the ground. The SDU was delineated using watershed boundaries. Biophysical and socioeconomic data were collected and the corresponding profiles were prepared. All stakeholders were identified and grouped; a manageable number was short-listed and consulted as often as necessary until an acceptable collaborative framework for sustainable forest management/sustainable development was approved and formalized including the adoption, in principle, of a draft Medium Term Action Plan (for further refinement and additional details) to initially implement the agreed collaborative framework. The work accomplished thus far show that SDU concept is effective in allowing stakeholders to see themselves within a bigger biophysical-socioeconomic setting/perspective and appreciate the potential benefits of collaborating to ensure that forest- and natural resources-based benefits are sustained. This appreciation in turn, encourages and motivates stakeholders to work together and enhances locally driven sustainable development initiatives. 1 COLLABORATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT IN THE EAST DIWATA SDU 1.0 INTRODUCTION This technical report deals on the processes and results of formulating a collaborative framework amongst identified key stakeholders in the East Diwata SDU which encompass the completed year 1 activities for ITTO PD 167/02 Rev.2 (F) on “Integration of Forest Management Units (FMU) into a Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) through Collaborative Forest Management in Surigao del Sur, Philippines” The present Project is an offshoot of ITTO Project PD 35/96 Rev.2 (F); hence, it has been referred to as a follow-up to the Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) planning / biodiversity conservation project. This project is premised on the reality that the health, quality and what ultimately happen to the forest ecosystems depend to a large extent on the conditions and what transpire in the other ecosystems/watersheds in the “development setting” from the divides/mountains, lowlands, urban areas and the coastal zone. In other words, sustainable forest management also depends on the sustainability of the other ecosystems/sectors, hence, the need for integrated and collaborative development of all sectors. Clearly, this requires the collaboration of all stakeholders in the various development and conservation endeavors in the well-defined “development setting”. 1.1 Integrated Area Development Projects The formal beginnings of integrated area development in the Philippines can be traced to the 1970’s when several Integrated Area Development Projects (IADPs) all over the country were initiated by the defunct National Council for Integrated Development (NACIAD). A number of the IADPs were river basin-based (e.g., Bicol River Basin IADP), several were island-based (e.g., Palawan IADP and Mindoro IADP) at least one, the Aurora IADP was forest-based IADP. The unit base was diverse but the ultimate goal was the same for all IADPs, to attain sustainable development across physical, biological and socio-economic systems and sectors. The overarching idea was to promote coordination and synergism between and among the varying environmental protection and socioeconomic development agenda. Central to the IADPs was the dominant role of the different national agencies of the government in the pursuit of IADPs goals. In essence the IADPs provided the framework within which the various agencies of the government can work together to achieve common goals. The