A Study on Ancestral Domain Recognition and Management Within and Around the Mt. Kitanglad Range National Park Vel J. Suminguit and Erlinda Burton Southeast Asia Policy Research Working Paper, No. 18 Acknowledgement This report is part of the ASB Project in Indonesia. The Asian Development Bank, under RETA 5711, financially supported this specific work. © Copyright ICRAF Southeast Asia Further information please contact: ICRAF SE-Asia Southeast Asian Regional Research Programme PO Box 161 Bogor 16001 Indonesia Tel: 62 251 625415, fax: 62 251 625416 Email:
[email protected] ICRAF Southeast Asia website: http://www.icraf.cgiar.org/sea Cover design: Dwiati N. Rini Illustration design: Wiyono Declaimer This text is a ‘working paper’ reflecting research results obtained in the framework of ICRAF Southeast Asia project. Full responsibility for the contents remains with the authors. A Study on Ancestral Domain Recognition and Management Within and Around the Mt. Kitanglad Range National Park1 By Vel J. Suminguit2 and Erlinda Burton3 Introduction The Philippine government recognizes the critical importance of protecting and maintaining biodiversity for the present and future generations. This recognition is formally articulated in Section 2 of Republic Act 7586, otherwise known as "The National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992" or NIPAS Act. At the same time, the Philippine government recognizes and promotes the rights of the Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) or Indigenous Peoples (IPs), who are mostly occupants of the protected areas. The State’s recognition of the ICCs/IP’s rights is embodied in the Philippine Constitution (Art. II, Sec. 22) and reiterated in Section 13 of the NIPAS Act.