Tinagong Dagat Critical Habitat: Haven for Five Globally Threatened Species

The municipality of Lambu- Located on its upper stream is a block of nao in is a watershed- classified forestlands with an area of 8,725 has., dominated landscape which is about 36 percent of the total land area of the municipality (24,452 has). It includes the comprising four main river 2,318-hectare school reservation of the West systems, which form part of Visayas College of Agriculture and Forestry the Jalaur River System. (formerly the Iloilo National College of Agriculture or INCA). It is bordered by the municipalities of and Its high income and large population has Dueñas on the north, and placed Lambunao among the first class on the south, on municipalities in Iloilo province. Two of its the east, and Valderama, barangays ( Ilaya and Ilawod) are on the west. It is one of the 18 classified as urban centers where commerce forest-edge municipalities and trade are concentrated and are the most surrounding the Central thickly populated areas in Lambunao with Mountain Range (CPMR) and is more than 5,000 individuals. Lambunao has one of the Key Biodiversity Areas 10 upland barangays, of which seven are (KBAs) in . It is entirely or partially within the forest interiors also considered as one of the 117 of the CPMR KBA. The farthest is Important Bird Areas in the country Cabatangan, which can only be reached by foot by Birdlife International and and where the Tinagong Dagat Critical Habitat Haribon Foundation. (CH) is located and established. The Tinagong Dagat CH covers an Similar with other remaining forest area of 3,032.99 has. It harbors a areas in the country, the vicinity of freshwater lake of about five hectares Tinagong Dagat is highly threatened and that is surrounded by tropical lowland vulnerable due to unsustainable forest evergreen rainforests – an area that is management practices employed by a haven for five globally threatened forest-dependent communities and fami- species found in Panay Island (Big 5), lies living therein. Such practices include namely, the Visayan writhed-billed kaingin, timber poaching, wildlife hunting hornbill (Rhabdotorrhinus waldeni), for food and trade, and unregulated Rafflessia spp., mabitang (Varanus collection of non-timber forest products. mabitang), the Philippine spotted deer (Rusa alfredi), and the Visayan warty These unsustainable practices are pig (Sus cebifrons). due to the limited awareness and capacity of key stakeholders on biodiversity The presence of these highly conservation and forest governance and important threatened species in an are further aggravated by an increasing endangered forest ecosystem of human population thriving in the CPMR encouraged the LGU of uplands and encroaching into the forest Lambunao to collaborate with the areas for human settlements. Upland Department of Environment and settlers are concentrated in Sitios Igpatio, Natural Resources Regional Office 6 Igdagmay, and Tinagong Dagat and are (DENR R6) to establish Tinagong directly dependent on CPMR’s forest Dagat and its adjoining lowland forest resources for their livelihood and as a CH. survival. THREATENED SPECIES. Visayan warty pig (top left), the Visayan writhed- billed hornbill (top right), and (below left and right) the Speciosa and Lobato rafflesia species in Panay Island.

Conservation Objectives Resource ma- The CH establishment follows a framework on how nagement strategies different stakeholders such as the LGU, DENR, NGOs, cover technical, and POs, among others, collaborate and galvanize efforts institutional, and for the protection and conservation of valuable socio-economic ecosystems and the biodiversity living therein. Critical aspects necessary to habitats are established outside Protected Areas effect the implemen- enshrined in the National Integrated Protected Areas tation of CHMP. The System Law or Republic Act 7586. However, it is foundation of CHMP anchored on the Wildlife Resources Conservation Act and the develop- (9417) and follows DENR Memorandum Circular No. ment strategies were 2007-02 or the Guidelines on the Establishment and products of a Management of Critical Habitat. comprehensive analysis of the State, The CH Management Plan (CHMP) formulated for Pressure and Res- Tinagong Dagat and its environs covers a period of 5 years ponse of Tinagong (2014-2019) and is anchored on LGU Lambunao’s Dagat as a CH as approved Forest Land Use Plan (FLUP). Conservation perceived by the objectives are focused and targeted on the following local communities milestones: 1) secure and protect the CH area and its and key stakehol- buffer zone through an effective and efficient ders vis-à-vis its management system; 2) restore and rehabilitate open and interconnectivity degraded forests within the CH areas; 3) protect and and impact to the conserve biodiversity; 4) sustainably manage human adjacent and down- activities through community resource management; and stream areas of 5) regularly monitor and evaluate the declared CH. CPMR. Processes Undertaken in Creation of the Critical Habitat Establishing LCA Good Management Committee (CHMC). An Practice Executive Order was issued by the office of the Local Chief Executive (LCE) of Lambunao for the creation of CHMC to CH establishment could be craft the CHMP. CHMC is a multi- made either through a local stakeholder body headed by the LCE declaration by the LGU or a himself, key LGU department heads, national declaration by the DENR regional and local DENR representatives, through the office of the Secretary academe, NGOs, and POs that are following the procedures specified currently operating in the area. The under DENR Memorandum CHMC has formulated its own plan to Circular No. 2007-02 or the define and schedule the different phases Guidelines on the Establishment of the CH management planning process. and Management of Critical Habitat and the Wildlife Resources Members Conservation Act (RA 9417). Secondary data gathering. of the CHMC were given specific tasks on secondary data gathering. Majority In 2008, the LGU of Lambunao of the data is available at the LGU and DENR Region 6 forged a Municipal Environment and Natural Memorandum of Agreement for Resources Office (MENRO) and the proposed establishment of 203 Municipal Planning Office, the local has. of lowland forests in CPMR DENR, and the academe. The other data that harbor a small lake called were provided by German Development Tinagong Dagat. Cooperation (GIZ) – Forest and Climate Protection (ForClim) Panay Project from The following were the the various compilations of published processes undertaken by the LGU scientific papers and manuscripts related of Lambunao in collaboration with to the biodiversity of Central Panay. The key stakeholders in the CPMR for availability of information led the LGU the designation of Tinagong Dagat of Lambunao and GIZ-ForCLIM to and its environs as a CH for the Big design and administer the guide 5 species of Panay. questions for the ethno-bio survey. Biophysical assessment and community consultation in Tinagong Dagat.

Ethno-bio surveys. An ethno- Bio-physical survey. A bio-physical bio survey was primarily designed survey was conducted to gather baseline to determine and validate the information on the biodiversity in CPMR, information on the presence and particularly in Lambunao. The survey team distribution of the Big 5 globally was guided by the results of the secondary threatened species found in CPMR data gathering and ethno-bio surveys. and the socio-economic activities of Together with the representatives from the forest-dependent communities. local DENR, key staff of MENRO Lambunao, The survey was administered and GIZ-ForCLIM, the team decided to through key informant interviews conduct purposive surveys to validate the (KIIs) and focus group discussions presence and occurrence of the Big 5 species. (FGDs). They conducted an inventory of other The survey was conducted in flora and fauna species vis-à-vis the pre-listed the forest-edge barangay of inventory of flora and fauna made by the local Lambunao, particularly in communities during the conduct of the ethno- Cabatangan. The survey managed bio surveys, KIIs, and, FGDs. They also to come up with an initial list of the validated and documented the various threats various species of flora and fauna to CPMR’s forests and biodiversity as in CPMR as well as the threats to revealed by the local communities during the its forest and biodiversity. Ongoing FGDs and KIIs. The survey team analyzed and site conservation actions (e.g., interpreted the data and came up with a site socio-economic, cultural, among technical report. Survey results were used by others) undertaken by the LGU and the LGU of Lambunao as one of their bases to key stakeholders in CPMR were formulate their CHMP and to pass a municipal also arrived at. Through the resolution for CH declaration. The results project, the species distribution were also used to update their proposed map of the Big 5 threatened species FLUP. The survey followed the DENR- of Panay was established, which established protocol on resource inventory for guided the bio-physical survey CH establishment and management. The team to decide where to conduct biophysical survey and FGDs were conducted and establish their transects and from December 2011 to June 2012 together with observation plots for the flora and the forest-dependent communities of fauna inventory. Lambunao. CHMP formulation. The formulation of the CH establishment CHMP was spearheaded by the CHMC. A series of and declaration. On participatory planning workshops were conducted March 3, 2014, Resolution to craft the CHMP. Results of the ethno-bio and bio- No. 14-022 was enacted physical surveys and the draft of the municipal by the Sangguinang FLUP were the primary inputs in developing the Bayan of Lambunao for plan. The CMHC followed and accepted the the declaration of recommendations of the FLUP Steering Committee Tinagong Dagat and the to expand the coverage of the CH from the proposed surrounding lowland 203 has. to 3,032.99 has. The expansion of the CH forests as a CH, with a area was also due to the presence and existence of total area of 3,032.99 has. the Big 5 species of Panay substantiated by the An added layer of results of the purposive and ethno-bio surveys protection policy for the conducted by LGU Lambunao, DENR, and GIZ- forestlands was the ForCLIM. presence of highly threatened species of Community consultation and validation. plants and animals. Community consultations were conducted by the Tinagong Dagat and the committee to validate the various management entire area of remaining strategies and activities identified in the proposed natural forest in CHMP and to get the consensus of the community Barangay Cabatangan in on whether CH establishment would be acceptable Mt. Apog-Apog were or not in Lambunao. The CHMC also provided an assessed to be part of the overview on the process of CH declaration and on CH corridor of the the biodiversity of CPMR. A series of public CPMR, which includes consultations were conducted in November 2013 the provinces of , together with the LGU, DENR, and GIZ ForClim. Antique, and . Sustainability Mechanisms Forest restoration and rehabilitation. Anchored on their FLUP and CHMP, the Forest governance. The LGU of Lambunao targeted the municipal LGU of Lambunao just rehabilitation and restoration of open recently approved its FLUP, areas (e.g., grasslands) and residual forest incorporating the identified LCA as areas with indigenous and forest fruit a CH for the Big 5 species of Panay trees within the declared CH. Restoration with the support of a municipal of the 200-meter radius around Tinagong resolution passed by the Dagat using almaciga, agoho, and other . Annual available dipterocarp forest tree species appropriation to operationalize thriving in the area and the identification CHMP implementation is lodged in of various fruit-bearing trees and plants the office of the MENRO, including that would supplement the feeding funds to support operations of the requirement of the Big 5 species are the local forest protection and law major activities indicated in the plan. It enforcement groups – the Bantay includes the conversion and restoration Gubat. LGU Lambunao is currently of 6.19 has. of riceland within Tinagong working to integrate its FLUP with Dagat using rainforestation strategies. its municipal Comprehensive Land Through the Forest Management Project Use Plan. and in collaboration with DENR, the LGU of Lambunao plans to implement the Forest protection and law annual greening and nurturing of forest enforcement. The local DENR has restoration areas within the 200-meter limited field personnel to effectively radius and the adjacent forest areas by the monitor and enforce forestry laws in end of 2015. the area. Thus, direct involvement of the local community on forest Communication Education and protection activities is a must. Public Awareness (CEPA). Continuous Around 28 community volunteers conduct of CEPA on biodiversity were deputized by DENR R6 as conservation, forest governance, critical bantay gubat or Wildlife Enforcement habitat, and forest protection, among Officers (WEOs) to help both DENR others, will be conducted to increase and the LGU of Lambunao on forest peoples’ awareness and capacity on these protection and law enforcement. aspects. A series of pulong-pulong, Various capacity-building activities community meetings, assemblies, and were designed and facilitated by consultations using different communica- GIZ-ForCLIM for the WEOs. These tion mediums or channels will be utilized included Basic Ecology Orientation, in order to convey the importance and Paralegal and Meta-legal Training, benefits of forests and biodiversity. This and formulation of the WEO’s Forest strategy will support LGU Lambunao’s Protection and Law Enforcement relocation and resettlement program of Plan (FPLEP). The FPLEP was the immediate families living within the anchored in the Forest Protection newly declared CH. Campaign materials Strategies spelled out in the FLUP, on the importance of Tinagong Dagat CH which is currently supported by the illustrating the conservation plan to be DENR and the municipal LGU of implemented therein shall be produced Lambunao. The LGU of Lambuanao and distributed to the immediate and shelled out extra funds for the adjacent communities of the municipali- regular operations and honorarium ty. Billboards will be constructed in of the WEOs. Special Order No. strategic areas to ensure visibility and to 2012-533 was issued by DENR’s convey site conservation actions and Regional Director for the deputation messages complementing the reading of the WEOs. materials. Lessons Learned

Success Factors Limited awareness and capacity of key stakeholders, especially on Through the CH declaration, LGU biodiversity conservation and forest Lambunao formulated and defined its governance. The immediate communities vision, mission, and objectives for surrounding Tinagong Dagat must deeply Tinagong Dagat. Indicators were clearly understand both the importance and the defined to concretize each goal and to form significant benefits provided by a healthy the bases for the LGU’s CH implementa- forest and its biodiversity. Key stakehol- tion, monitoring, and evaluation. ders should realize that forest manage- ment is not purely for the sake of The entire CH area was classified as biodiversity conservation but is also for a Protection Zone based on Lambunao’s the sustainable livelihood of the local FLUP, which prohibits and controls people, especially the immediate commu- human activities. Forestry laws are strictly nities that are living around it. enforced in this area. For management purposes, it is divided into four sub-zones, Poor enforcement of forestry laws each with a prescribed management and other related laws. Environmental strategy for protection and conservation. protection is equivalent to the protection These four sub-zones are the protection of peoples’ lives and the lives of future zone, the restoration zone, the eco-tourism generations. However, poor enforcement zone, and the boundary delineation/ of forestry laws were noted and observed buffer zone. in CPMR due to the limited awareness and capacity of concerned LGUs in all The protection zone is a restricted levels of governance and local law zone but allows scientific research and enforcers. education-related activities. Forest protection and law enforcement will be Recommendations for Upscaling strictly implemented in this area. The restoration zone focuses on the The presence of these flora and fauna rehabilitation of open-degraded or species that are listed under various denuded areas using indigenous forest tree categories of threat is enough justification species, which would allow for natural to speed up the protection and regeneration and assisted natural conservation of their forest habitats in regeneration. The eco-tourism zone covers CPMR, particularly in the municipality of all water bodies and tributaries surround- Lambunao, to ensure their survival. ing Tinagong Dagat and allows biodiversi- Financing CHMP will be mainly underta- ty-friendly recreational activities. The ken by the municipal LGU, which will boundary delineation/buffer zone will include regular budget appropriation to serve as a buffer zone or transition zone operationalize the MENRO in their between the CH and the adjoining areas, Bottoms Up Budgeting Approach. But whether private or public. given the limits of local resources at their disposal, potential external funding Challenges and Issues partners were identified, including the means on how to establish linkages and Habitat loss. Unsustainable forest partnerships with these potential partners. management practices still exist in CPMR, which further increase the loss of habitat LGU-MENRO will source out of notable flora and fauna species, thus external funding for CH management by causing a decrease in the number of developing a proposal and submitting this wildlife in the remaining small and to external potential funders. Forging an fragmented forest areas. Timber poach- agreement with adjoining municipalities ing, forest conversion into agricultural and provinces to establish a Network of areas, and wildlife hunting are the main Critical Habitats in CPMR is another threats that further contribute to the phase of scaling-up that would broaden declining population of many endemic and galvanize the efforts of key species, especially those that are restricted stakeholders on conservation and to the Panay-Negros Faunal Region. development in CPMR.