The Wetland Biodiversity Component for Ligawasan Marsh Study A Project of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) supported with a grant from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and the World Bank, with supervision of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) PROPOSED LIGAWASAN MARSH PROTECTED AREA INVESTMENT PROGRAM Volume II Project Setting, Description, and Analysis and Justification December 2004 Investment Program (2006-2010) Page i PREFACE The Ligawasan Marsh (LM) Development Master Plan (1999-2025), formulated by Region XII of NEDA in 1998, recommended the inclusion of Ligawasan as a protected area (PA) under the National Integrated Protected Area System (NIPAS). However, there were not enough scientific bases to support the recommendation. The Government, with the support of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF)- World Bank-United Nations Development Programme, has now undertaken two studies: (i) the Protected Area Suitability Assessment (PASA) Study, completed in 2001, and (ii) the Wetland Biodiversity Component for Ligawasan Marsh Study, completed in 2004, which gathered the required scientific information. These studies have also completed the required stakeholder consultations at various levels. There was a strong consensus among the stakeholders that LM should be proclaimed as a PA under the NIPAS Act. This report (Volume II) contains the detailed investment activities, for a five-year period between 2006 and 2010, promoting community-based conservation efforts, providing alternative, conservation-friendly livelihood interventions, and supporting social and rural infrastructure. The program contains the Project Setting, Description, and Analysis and Justification. The project setting describes the biophysical condition, the socioeconomic and institutional settings, the natural resources and threat analyses, and past and current development programs. The description lays out the overall framework; vision, goal, and objectives; project components, management and implementation strategies, project cost and financing, and project sustainability plan. The analysis and justification provides the socio-institutional and market analyses, economic and financial considerations, environmental and organizational analyses, and conclusions and recommendations. The program will facilitate the process of proclaiming the Ligawasan Marsh as a protected area (PA), empower the community and all the stakeholders on conserving and managing the valuable wetland with its unique and diverse wildlife, and reduce poverty by providing conservation-friendly livelihood support to reduce the pressure on the unsustainable utilization of the natural resources of the marsh. The proposed program are only indicative plans which might be further revised during the project implementation phase when there will be more intensive consultations with stakeholders of the Marsh. WETLAND BIODIVERSITY COMPONENT FOR LIGAWASAN MARSH PROJECT Winrock International • SUSTEC and • Minsupala Foundation Winrock Philippines • Maguindanaoan Foundation Investment Program (2006-2010) Page ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface i Table of Contents ii Acknowledgments iv Abbreviations v List of Appendices vi List of Annexes vii List of Tables in the Main Text viii List of Figures ix Executive Summary 1 Chapter 1 Introduction 3 A. Project Background 3 B. Methodology 4 1. First Stakeholder Consultation Workshop 4 2. Socioeconomic Survey 5 3. Second Stakeholder Consultation Workshop 5 4. Barangay Consultation Workshops 5 5. Pre-Feasibility Assessment by Consultants 6 6. Third Stakeholder Consultation Workshop 6 Chapter 2 Project Setting 8 A. Geographic Location 8 B. Development Setting 8 1. Biophysical Condition 8 Climate and Precipitation 8 Topography and Slope 9 Soil 9 Hydrology and Drainage 9 Mangrove Swamp 10 Land Use 10 Development Constraints 11 2. Socioeconomic Situation 12 3. Institutional Setting 14 C. Natural Resources Condition 16 1. Wetland Habitat Classification 16 2. Flora of the Marsh 18 3. Fauna of the Marsh 23 a. Birds, Mammals, Amphibians, and Reptiles 23 b. Fish and Aquatic Biodiversity 24 i. Fishes 24 ii. Mollusks and Crustacean Biodiversity 25 iii. Plankton Diversity 26 4. Productivity of the Marshes 26 D. Threat Analysis and Proposed Interventions 26 1. Linkage between Threats and Recommended Prescriptions 27 E. Related Programs and Projects 29 1. Description of Past and Current Interventions 30 2. Remaining Gaps 30 3. Relevance of the Proposed Investment Program to Local Development 32 WETLAND BIODIVERSITY COMPONENT FOR LIGAWASAN MARSH PROJECT Winrock International • SUSTEC and • Minsupala Foundation Winrock Philippines • Maguindanaoan Foundation Investment Program (2006-2010) Page iii Chapter 3 Project Description 34 A. Overall Project Framework 34 B. Vision, Goal and Objectives 35 1. Vision 35 2. Goal and Objectives 35 C. Project Area 35 D. Project Components 36 1. Ecosystems Management and Protection 36 2. Institutional Development and Capacity-Building 49 3. Support for Environment-friendly Livelihood Activities 52 4. Environment-friendly Small Rural Infrastructure 57 5. Monitoring and Evaluation System for Wetland Biodiversity 61 Conservation E. Project Management 62 1. Organizational Structure 62 2. Manpower Training Support Plan 64 F. Implementation Strategies 68 1. Project Mobilization and Planning 68 2. Community Organizing and Mobilization 69 3. Project Implementation vis-à-vis Work Plan 70 4. Support Mechanism and Institutional Support 71 5. Procurement Plan 72 G. Project Cost and Financing 75 1. Project Cost and Financing Schemes 75 2. Schedule of Fund Releases 75 3. Fund Management System and Policies 75 4. Fund Disbursement Method 84 5. Fund Collection System 84 6. Provision on Sustainable Financing and Cost Recovery 86 H. Project Sustainability Plan 86 1. Sustainability Plan 86 2. Phase-Out Plan 87 3. Sustainability Risks and Constraint Assessment 87 Chapter 4 Project Analysis and Justification 89 A. Socio-Institutional Considerations 89 B. Market Analysis 90 C. Economic and Financial Considerations 94 D. Economic and Financial Analysis 100 E. Environmental Considerations 102 F. Organizational Feasibility Analysis 103 G. Analysis of Project Externalities 105 H. Conclusions and Recommendations 107 APPENDICES 108 ANNEXES 158 BIBLIOGRAPHIES 259 WETLAND BIODIVERSITY COMPONENT FOR LIGAWASAN MARSH PROJECT Winrock International • SUSTEC and • Minsupala Foundation Winrock Philippines • Maguindanaoan Foundation Investment Program (2006-2010) Page iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We wish to acknowledge the great contributions and heartfelt support extended to the team of consultants by many people and institutions in Ligawasan Marsh during the conduct of the Wetland Biodiversity Study and the formulation of the Ligawasan Marsh Management Plan and the Investment Program. We gratefully acknowledge the full support we received during the field visits and barangay consultations from the following: • The more than 4,200 key stakeholders (farmers, fisherfolks, women groups, youth leaders, traditional leaders, religious leaders, teachers, and businessmen) from ten municipalities in the Ligawasan Marsh Proper; and • The Honorable Mayors and their Municipal Planning and Development Officers (MPDO) and numerous barangay chairmen and members from these municipalities We are also very grateful for the full unstinting support and expert advice we received, during the series of field visits and consultations, from the following Government officials and partners: • Mr. Jim Sampulna, DENR RED • Secretary Emblawa Kabuntalan, Al Haj, DENR – ARMM • Director Romeo A. Manzan, DENR-PAWB, ARMM • Mr. Ali M. Hadjinasser, DENR Region XII-PAWB Our appreciation is also extended to the following DENR officials for their expert advice and support: • Mr. Rafael E. Camat, Jr., Assistant Secretary, DENR - FASPO • Ms. Ma. Lourdes Ferrer, Chief, Project Evaluation Division, FASPO, DENR; Ms. Socorro Mallare; and Ms. Josephine Q. Natividad, • Ms. Theresa Mundita S. Lim, Director, PAWB • Ms. Norma Molinyawe, Chief, Biodiversity Division, PAWB, and Ms. Teresita Blastique • Ms. Marlene Mendoza and Mr. Carlo Custodio , PAWB We also commend the special participation and support extended to us by the following World Bank and UNDP officials: • Mr. Gilbert Braganza, World Bank, Manila Office • Ms. Angie Cunanan, UNDP Director • Ms. Clarissa Arida and Ms. Jennifer Navarro, UNDP To the entire community of Ligawasan Marsh, for welcoming us during the conduct of the socioeconomic surveys, the information drive, and barangay consultations, we gratefully acknowledge your kind support. Thank you. WETLAND BIODIVERSITY COMPONENT FOR LIGAWASAN MARSH PROJECT Winrock International • SUSTEC and • Minsupala Foundation Winrock Philippines • Maguindanaoan Foundation Investment Program (2006-2010) Page v ABBREVIATIONS ANR Assisted natural regeneration ARMM Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao BCR Benefit Cost Ration BFZ buffer zone reforestation CBRMP Community-Based Resource Management Project CLUP Comprehensive Land Use Plan CO Community Organizing GEF Global Environmental Facility GIS Geographic Information System DA Department of Agriculture DENR Department of Environment and Natural Resources DOF Department of Finance EIRR Economic Internal Rate of Return FASPO Foreign Assisted Special Projects Office IEC Information, Education, and Communications IPRA Indigenous People’s Rights Act LGU Local Government Unit LM Ligawasan Marsh M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MENRO Municipal Environment and Natural