DENR Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service Quarterly Project Status Report as of September 30,2020

I. Profile Project Title; Protect Wildlife Fund Sources: United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Contract No.: AID-492-TO-16-00002 Total Project Cost: US$ 24,498,177 Signing Date: Effectivity Date: June 2016 June 17,2016

Completion Date: Closing Date: Original: September, 2020 Original: December 11,2020 Revised: March 31,2021 Revised: March 31, 2021

Executing Agency: Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Implementing Agency: Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Implementing Partner (Lead Firm): Development Alternatives, Inc.

Sector/Sub-sector: Natural Resources and Biodiversity

Regions: Region III, Region IV-B, Region IX, Region XII and BARMM

Provinces: Bataan, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Palawan, Palawan, Sarangani and Tawi-tawi

Municipality(ies): Bagac, Mariveles, Baler, Ma. Aurora, Patayan, Quezon, Rizal, Bataraza, Brookes Point, Sofronio Espanola, City, General Santos City, Bongao, Languyan, Sibutu, Panglima Sugala, Sitangkay and Turtle Island, Beneficiaries: Estimated 500,000 hectares of biologically significant areas (Protected Areas, Local Conservation Areas, Marine Conservation Areas, CADT etc.) under improved natural resource management(NRM); about 100,000 people with improved economic benefits derived from sustainable NRM and/or biodiversity conservation; 4,500 people trained in sustainable NRM and/or biodiversity conservation; and 50 laws, policies, or regulations that address biodiversity conservation and/or other environmental themes officially proposed, adopted, or implemented

Objectives: Reduce threats to Philippine biodiversity, such as poaching and the illegal trade of wildlife products and improve ecosystem goods and services.

Description: Protect Wildlife project will provide focused effort and resources to align conservation policy with on-the-ground action and enforcement. It is designed to contribute to the reduction of threats to biodiversity and of poaching and use of illegally harvested wildlife and wildlife products. It adopts a multipronged and integrated ecosystems management approach that in the long term will improve ecosystem services and redound to increased wildlife conservation and human well-being.

The project will focus on at least three pilot areas: the province of Palawan, including Tubbataha Reef; the Sulu Archipelago, including and Tawi-Tawi; and Sarangani Province. The

Page | 1 project strategy for achieving success and ensuring that the project's impact is sustained is built on an eeosystem approach. This approach seeks to address threats to biodiversity while enabling rigorous integration of conservation outcomes with development objectives, supporting strong local ownership and ensuring that lessons learned are applied at scale.

Protect Wildlife has five mutually reinforcing Strategic Approaches (SAs) to address the diverse drivers and threats to biodiversity, which include: poaching, smuggling, and trafficking of wildlife species, and habitat loss from expanding settlements, agriculture, ecotourism activities, urbanization, and mining. These SAs are:

SA 1: Improve attitudes and behavior toward biodiversity and its conservation in target areas SA 2: Intensify private and public sector involvement in biodiversity conservation and conservation financing SA 3: Improve biodiversity conservation competencies of local government units (LGUs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) SA 4: Enhance capacities of universities to advance biodiversity conservation education, research, monitoring and innovation SA S: Enhance competencies of national government agencies in enforcing biodiversity conservation- related laws and policies

n. PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE

With a time elapsed of 90% (including the extension period of 6 months), the project has achieved an overall/eumulative physical accomplishment of 91% as of September 30, 2020. The project was expecting to complete all deliverables by September 2020 if not for the lockdowns due to COVID-19 which have severely affected the project's schedule/timetable. A no-cost extension of six (6) months for the project implementation has been granted by USAID and approved by the Project Steering Committee (PSC).

Out of fifteen (15) indicators, nine (9) has been completed, four (4) are on-schedule and two (2) are behind schedule but can be achieved within the extended life of the project.

III. FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

The latest reported fund utilization is as of March 31, 2020 where a total of US$ 16.47 million has been utilized out of the total contract budget of US$ 22.498 million or 73% fund utilization. During the Project Manager's Meeting held on September 9,2020, Ms. Rebecca Paz, the Project's Chief of Party, informed that, as of August 31,2020, they have utilized about 80% of their total budget but did not provide financial figure.

IV. HIGHLIGHTS OF PHYSICAL ACCOMPLISHMENT

The following are the major outputs as of the reporting period achieved within each Strategic Approach.

It should be noted that some of the physical accomplishments for this quarter are preliminary and may still change to reflect the latest/additional developments from the field to some activities/indicators. Data on PES revenue collection, deputation of trained Local Government Unit (LGU) staff as Wildlife Enforcement Officers (WEOs) and enforcement actions are sourced from implementing partners and are usually obtained after the end of the quarter.

Page | 2 The major accomplishments of the project as of this quarter is shown in the table below:

TARGETS ACCOMPLISHMENTS (Details attached as Annex A) STRATEGIC APPROACH 1: IMPROVE ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR TOWARD BIODIVERSITY AND ITS CONSERVATION IN TARGET AREAS Indicator 1.1. 100 people trained to lead Completed. 101 people (101%) have been trained behavior change campaigns (BCC) to lead behavior change campaigns (BCC).

On Schedule. 24 BCCs (88%) implemented at site Indicator 1.2. 25 behavior change level and one (1) at national level.. campaigns (BCC) implemented Completed. 442,101 people reached by site-level Indicator 1.3. 300,000 people reached by campaigns (>100%) from 210,932 people reached behavior change campaigns last quarter.

STRATEGIC APPROACH 2: INTENSIFY PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR INVOLVEMENT IN CONSERVING AND FINANCING BIODIVERSITY INITIATIVES Indicator 2.1. US$ 500,000 revenue Completed. US$ 609,278 (>100%) total revenue generated from the sale of ecosystem has been generated from sale of ecosystem services in target sites sale of ecosystem services. services in target sites

Indicator 2.2. 100 payment for ecosystem Completed. 147 PES, PES-related and tourism services (PES) or tourism initiatives initiatives (>100%) have been supported. supported in target sites

Indicator 2.3. US$ 5 Million public and Completed. US$ 7,544,421 (>100%) investments private partnership investments in Protect has been generated. Wildlife anti-poaching and trafficking efforts

STRATEGIC APPROACH 3:IMPROVE BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION COMPETENCIES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS AND CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS THAT INCLUDE ON-SITE LAND AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT UNITS Indicator 3.1. 200 LGU staff trained in On schedule. 196 LGU staff (98%) have been participatory planning for integrated trained. conservation and development participatory planning for integrated conservation and development

Indicator 3.2. 2,500 community members On Schedule. 2,099 community members (84%) trained in planning and implementation of have been trained. This activity was severely integrated conservation and development affected by the lockdown since the project could not conduct field activities but target is achievable within the remaining life of the project.

For Indicators 3.1 and 3.2, plans and training programs have been prepared to ensure achieving the targets.

Page | 3 Indicator 3.3. 200 LGU staff trained, Behind Schedule. Delayed due to quarantine certified and formally deputized as Wildlife restrictions. 80 LGU staff (40%) trained, certified Enforcement Officers (WEOs) by and deputized as WEOs which is the same reported government agencies number last quarter.

Indicator 3.4. 500 community members Behind Schedule. Delayed due to quarantine trained and certified as Wildlife restrictions. 367 persons (73%) trained and Enforcement Officers (WEOs) by certified as WEOs. government agencies To catch-up with the target for Indicator 3.4, the project conducted Integrated Conservation and Development (ICD) for upland communities in South Cotabato, reaching more than 600 community members.

For indicators 3.3 and 3.4 many of those trained are still waiting to be deputized/certified by DENR and LGUs as WEOs. Deputation as WEOs have been delayed due to limitations/restrictions to DENR and LGU staff due to COVID-19.

STRATEGIC APPROACH 4: ENHANCE CAPACITIES OF UNIVERSITIES TO ADVANCE BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION EDUCATION, RESEARCH, MONITORING AND INNOVATION, Indicator 4.1. 25 university-supported Completed. 11 university-research initiatives research initiatives implemented in target (108%) implemented. sites

^ndicator 4.2. 10 universities developing Completed. Fourteen (14) universities (>100%) conservation curricula with support from have developed conservation curricula. Protect Wildlife

STRATEGIC APPROACH 5: ENHANCE COMPETENCIES OF NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN ENFORCING BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION-RELATED LAWS AND POLICIES Indicator 5.1. 1,000 government staff Completed. 1,458 government staff (>100%) have trained in combating wildlife and been trained. environmental crime

Indicator 5.2. 50 new or revised laws and Completed. 51 new or revised laws and regulations regulations adopted to combat wildlife have been adopted (>100%). crimes

Indicator 5.3. 1,000 confiscations, seizures On Schedule. 828 confiscation, seizures and and arrests resulting from capacity-building arrests (83%) resulting from capacity-building provided by Protect Wildlife provided. These are, however, just preliminary data and more could have been accomplished. The project is being limited in the collection and validation of data on enforcement actions due to limited field activities.

Page | 4 V^ OBSERVATIONS^ CHALLENGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The following are the major challenges encountered by the Project this quarter, mostly due to the impact of COVID-19 on implementation, which could affect timely attainment of project targets:

CHALLENGES ACTIONS BEING TAKEN/ TO BE TAKEN Delays in other activities due to As a catch-up activity, the project has intensified the COVID-19 particularly on training activities on integrated conservation and Indicators 3.3 and 3.4 under development (IDP) such as the training of upland Strategic Approach 3: communities in South Cotabato reaching more than 600 Conservation Competencies, community members. Such training is required for which are necessary to achieve deputation/certification of community members as project deliverables. Wildlife Enforcement Officer (WEO).

The project will continue the intensified ICD trainings for LGU staff and communities and assistance for their deputation/certification as WEOs. Delayed/rescheduled/deferred The project will implement the following activities in provinces/LGUs that strategies/adjustments in order to continue important declare lockdowns or require 14- activities to ensure attainment of intended result: day quarantine or limited number ofp articipants and venues. • Readjustment of schedules (e.g. teams are being deployed ahead of scheduled lockdowns to stay there Most affected Regions are Regions during the lockdown duration to carry-out the 3 and 12. Most affected Provinces/ necessary activities) Municipalities are Aurora Province, South Cotabato and General Santos City.

Most affected activities are: • Redesign of activities: • On-site training activities - use online/virtual training sessions and • Field research, including teleconferencing especially in urban areas; student research and validation - reduction of number of participants to comply activities, with social distancing rules; • On-site enforcement activities - more on-site training for LGUs and communities • Procurement/delivery of with limited/reduced number ofp articipants. materials and equipment • Develop and use local resource persons/organizations to reduce travel of staff. • Establish partnerships with local NGOs and government resource organizations who can sustain support to POs after project phase-out

VI. UPCOMING ACTIVITIES (October to December 2020)

1. Close out of Palawan and General Santo City offices on November 30. Various closeout events are programmed for the quarter;

Page | 5 '. 2. For Strategic Approach 1: a.Deployment of School-In-A-Bag conservation education outreach campaign with local DENR. b.Opening of the Mind Museum travelling exhibit and PCSD Biodiversity Resource Center Jin November. This was supposed to open earlier but was delayed due to the lockdown. 13. For Strategic Approach 2: a^ Turnover of post-harvest and processing facilities to assisted PO enterprises (floating seaweed dryers, coffee depulpers, abaca stripping machines, turmeric sheers and dryers, etc.). b. Finalization of PES schemes that have been started in the different regions. 4.For Strategic Approach 3: ja. Review/finalization/refinements of national policies and guidelines (DAOs, Memo |Orders, technical bulletins) that have been drafted for BMB and FMB. jb. Completion ofElNido integrated FLUP-CLUP. jc. Completion of Mt. Busa Local Conservation Area (LCA) management plan. d.Pilot training of PA Academy. e.Completion of seedling and seeds distribution in Southern Palawan from Davao. ft Completion of pilot delineation and marking of management zones of Natural jPark and Sta. Cruz Islands. Ig. Completion of integrated conservation and development and enforcement training for LGUs and communities. 5.For Strategic Approach 4: Ia. Completion of students and university researches (thesis and dissertations) by 15 masteral and Ph.D. students; research presentations to DENR, PAMBs, others. 6.For Strategic Approach 5: a.Training of Trainers (TOT) for DOJ prosecutors, enforcers, fire management teams. b.Training and equipment support for WRC staff, enforcers, task forces. c.Roll out of BRAIN, WildAlert, WildBase; finalization of Users' Manuals. These apps will be turned-over to. appropriate offices such as BMB, FMB and PCSD. d.Turnover of wildlife ambulance to National Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center (NWRRC). e.Completion of engineering design for NWRRC. ft Finalization of knowledge and other legacy products. g. TOT on use of manuals and other products. h. End-of-project assessments with partners. i. Preparation of final report. j. Design of close-out events. k. Disposal of assets/commodities.

Prepared by:Noted by:

artoloEdg&fi. Abugan, Jr. ation Officer IIChief, FASPS-PMD

Page | 6 ANNEXA

DETAILS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS (MILESTONES)/OUTPUTS AS OF THIRD (3rd) QUARTER, CY 2020

STRATEGIC APPROACH 1: IMPROVE ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR TOWARD BIODIVERSITY AND ITS CONSERVATION IN TARGET AREAS

•The design and pre-test of conservation education materials for the School-In-A-Bag outreach campaign in partnership with SMART Communication has been completed. This will involve the distribution of 20 big bags to 20 schools within the target protected areas. Each bag contains a laptop, 10 tablets, TV monitor, solar panel and internet loads for schools with no internet connection. Included also are learning materials on biodiversity such as flashcards, learning materials and story books. •Completion of the design of remaining materials for selected protected areas (PAs). It also includes installation of signages with behavior change messages. •For Region 3, since the project aborted their Wild and Alive Campaigns at Clark Airport, the project converted it into a social media campaign.

STRATEGIC APPROACH 2: INTENSIFY PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR INVOLVEMENT IN CONSERVING AND FINANCING BIODIVERSITY INITIATIVES

•Provided assistance to DENR in the refinement of their PES policies and to the Provinces of Palawan and South Cotabato for the finalization of their PES ordinances, •An ongoing PES Training of Trainers (Modules 1 and 2) is being conducted in DENR Region 12 and LGUs of South Cotabato. •New POs are being supported by the project on livelihood and community enterprise: >A women's organization on turmeric production in AMNP; >2 POs on coffee and cacao production in Pasonanca Natural Park; >An Indigenous PO on abaca production in Mt. Busa Local Conservation Area (LCA). Funds used for these activities are from private and public sector contribution. •Provided organizational development training (bookkeeping and financial management, strategic planning) for 12 POs across project sites.

STRATEGIC APPROACH 3: IMPROVE BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION COMPETENCIES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS AND CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS THAT INCLUDE ON-SITE LAND AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT UNITS

Most of the activities this quarter are from requests of DENR (mainly from BMB and FMB) for technical assistance.

•Submitted a draft Department Administrative Order (DAO) on almaciga tapping to improve the permitting process and to make it cover a longer period rather than the annual renewal of permits. •Refined the Technical Bulleting (TB) on the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP) localization. The project provided exercises in the field to apply the framework the project developed with the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) Project for the localization of BSAP. It is based in this experience that the project made refinement to the TB and developed the BSAP Manual. •Refined the Carbon Accounting, Verification, and Certification System (CAVCS) Manuals. This Manual was actually started by another project in FMB which Protect Wildlife helped to finalize. Page | 7 • • The project also assisted FMB in the development of modules for the training of National Greening Program (NGP) extension officers. •For BMB, the project is developing the Protected Area (PA) Academy curriculum and has just completed the Paining needs assessment (TNA). •Preparing for the turn-over of computer servers for FMB's Satellite Land Monitoring Laboratory for Forest Reference Emission Level (FREL). •For both FMB and BMB, the drafting of Forest and Grassland Fire Suppression and Management Manual is ongoing. The project has completed drone image processing and analysis training during the previous quarters and this time, it is for DENR staff of Regions 3 and 9 (online training). •Currently ongoing is the delineation survey of pilot zones of Pasonanca Natural Park.

Technical assistance to LGUs and Communities.

•The project provided technical assistance for the approval of the Cleopatra's Needed Critical Habitat (CNCFI) draft management plan by the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of Puerto Princesa City. The management plan has been approved by IMC. •The FLUP of Isabela city has been approved by the City Development Council through assistance from the project. •The project also provided technical assistance In the drafting and eventual approval of the Aurora Bamboo Industry Roadmap by the Provincial Bamboo Industry Council. •Validation of land uses in upland barangays for the preparation of the Mt. Busan (Sarangani) local conservation area (LCA) management plan. •Signing of the MOU among DENR and LGUs for the establishment of Mt. Mingan as critical habitat of the , •Despite travel restriction, conducted an onsite assessment of marine turtle nesting sites and hatcheries in Mariveles, Bataan, and training (partly online and partly in person) on handling marine turtle eggs and hatchlings with BMB. •Conduct of ongoing training on integrated conservation and development for upland communities in South Cotabato, reaching more than 600 community members. This is part of the project's catch-up activity to meet their target in Strategic Approaches 3.3 and 3.4. •Training of more than 1,500 upland farmers in Southern Palawan on conservation agriculture and agroforestry. This is to prepare them for the distribution of more than 30,000 lanzones seedlings and vegetable seeds.

STRATEGIC APPROACH 4: ENHANCE CAPACITIES OF UNIVERSITIES TO ADVANCE BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION EDUCATION, RESEARCH, MONITORING AND INNOVATION

•Completion of the Philippine eagle study in Pasonanca Natural Park. The project is currently reviewing/enhancing the final report. •In the process of finalizing the coastal resource assessment study in 11 Islands by the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST) to the City Government of Zamboanga and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). •Submission to the President of the Pampanga State Agricultural University the framework for enhancing selected subjects under its BS Agroforestry curriculum. This is a continuing activity for the improvement of teaching and learning materials for partner universities. •Enhancement of teaching and learning laboratory exercises for marine biology and related programs, of the Western University.

Page | 8 STRATEGIC APPROACH 5: ENHANCE COMPETENCIES OF NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN ENFORCING BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION-RELATED LAWS AND POLICIES

•The project has been involved in the drafting of draft bill on creation of the Environmental Protection and Enforcement Bureau (EPEB). A draft bill was submitted to the DENR Office of the Undersecretary for Enforcement. A communication plan was also developed to generate support to the bill. •Presentation of WildALERT mobile app. The mobile app will allow enforcement officials to correctly identify commonly trafficked species and report incidents of wildlife crime. This mobile app is now ready for roll-out; •Turn-over of ultrasound machine to National Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center (NWRRC) of BMB. An X-ray machine has also been turned over last March and staff of the rescue center have undergone training on the use of the machine.

Technical Assistance to Pas, LGUs and other Partners:

•The project further refined the PCSDS Biodiversity Resources Access Information Network (BRAINX and the roll-out of the "Sumhong" feature of the system. This is a continuing assistance to PCSDS. •Developed enforcement protocols for Aurora Memorial National Park (AMNP), Mt. Mantalingahan Protected Landscape (MMPL) Palawan and PPUR and provided trainings on enforcement database management and data analysis. •The project helped in the drafting of Protected Area (PA) bills for 4 PAs in Palawan that may be submitted to Congress.

IMPLEMENTATION INITIATIVES PER PROTECTED AREA

The project presented their accomplishments in four (4) selected Protected Areas. Project document requires the project to assist protected areas to complete their management plans hut actual activities actually extended up to implementation of these management plans as shown below:

Mount Mantalingahan Protected Lanscape and Surrounding Forestlands

•Agroforestry: 1,561 upland farmers in production zones trained on conservation agriculture and agroforestry; distribution of high-value fruit trees and vegetable seeds •Micro-enterprises: 8 upland POs on ube production in partnership with Sunlight Foods Corp. •Financing: 4 LGU with PES ordinances; 2 LGUs with PES collections and watershed reinvestment schemes; microfinancing scheme through ECLOF •Behavior change campaigns: Kagubatan ay Kinbukasan or "The Forest is Our Future" •Flagship species: 3 LGUs with ordinances; 1 LGU with pride campaign for the blue-naped parrot •Enforcement: WEO training, operations plan and protocols •Research: 45-day camera trapping for Wildlife Insights •Draft PA Bill

Pasonanca Natural Park

•Enforcement: WEO training and deputation of forest guards of ZCWD, enforcement operations plan •Financing: establishment of IPAF for ecotourism revenues; PAMB recognition of the protection budget of the ZCWD as a form of PES Page | 9 • • Research: Philippine eagle, with Philippine Eagle Foundation •Delineation and demarcation: Pilot delineation of SPZ and MUZ in buffer barangays, and installation of markers and signages •Flagship species: PAMB resolution adopting the Philippine eagle as flagship species •Micro-enterprise: training of two POs in the buffer zone on cacao (NGP product) and coffee production, with support from DENR, private sector and local CSO

Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape

•Enforcement: creation and training of multi-agency Sarangani Bay Law Enforcement Group, enforcement protocol handbook; community Bantay Dagat training •Policies: draft schedule of administrative fines •Marine species conservation: training on marine turtle handling and nesting site protection, and marine mammal stranding response; local protocols for marine turtle protection and establishment of marine turtle hatcheries, •Flagship species: PAMB and 1 LGU adopted dugong; 2 LGUs adopted marine turtles. •Behavior change campaign: travelling Perya Para Sa Konserbasyon; billboards and comics on marine turtle conservation; community learning center •Micro-enterprise: OD training offish cage operators assn with DENR-BMB (Biodiversity Friendly Enterprises Program) •Delineation and demarcation of MPAs (proposed) •Research: university-led research agenda for SBPS

Aurora Memorial National Park

•Enforcement: creation of PAMB Law Enforcement Committee, drafting of AMNP Law Enforcement Protocol, enforcement training •Flagship species: PAMB and LGU adoption of Philippine eagle and Raffiesia lagascae •Behavior change campaign: training, development of material and billboards for communities and schools •Micro-enterprise: support to a women's organization that is cultivating turmeric within the production zone of the PA; assessment of sites for other investments •Financing: drafting of a policy establishing rates and fees for various land and resource uses within AMNP

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