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Introduction Introduction 1. The Second National Conference on Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Conserved Areas and Territories (ICCA) was organized by the DENR Biodiversity Management Bureau and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) as co-chairs, with support from the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation (PTFCF), GIZ Protected Area Management Enhancement (PAME), the Foundation for Philippine Environment (FPE), the Philippine Association for Intercultural Development Inc. (PAFID), the Koalisyon ng Katutubong Samahan ng Pilipinas (KASAPI), the University of the Philippines-National College for Public Administration and Governance (UP- NCPAG), the New Conservation Areas in the Philippines Project (NewCAPP), and the Philippine ICCA Consortium to further advocate the role of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and their respective traditional practices in biodiversity conservation. This is drawn from the experiences of NewCAPP in seven (7) pilot sites and IP communities supported by PTCFC, FPE, and GIZ which are under the IP’s ancestral domain. These pilot sites demonstrated rich biodiversity which have been sustained by indigenous practices and traditions. 2. The Conference was organized to recognize the milestones realized since the First National ICCA Conference in 2012. It likewise served as a follow-up to the efforts and commitments made in the Manila Declaration. Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr., BMB Dir. Theresa Mundita Lim, DENR Usec. Demetrio Ignacio, and NCIP chairperson Leonor Quintayo during the 2nd ICCA conference exhibit opening at the Crowne Plaza in Ortigas on 21 Oct. 2014. 3. Similar to the First National ICCA Conference, the two-day Conference convened from 21-22 October 2014 was attended by IP leaders, government agencies, the private sector, civic and donor institutions, the academe, and members of the media. A total of 250 participants attended the event, a third of which were IP members from 40 tribes who represented the seven (7) ethno-geographic regions in the country. It is envisioned that the involvement of various sectors will provide a productive exchange and assessment of the status of ICCA in the country. It is also expected that the event will forge stronger partnerships to resolve concerns and produce strategies towards advocating ICCA as a governance mechanism for protected areas (PA). 4. With the theme, “PagpapahusaysaTradisyunalnaPamamahala ng LupaingNinuno at Pangangalaga ng Laksambuhay,” the conference program included opening and closing ceremonies, press briefing and ICCA material launching, workshop, networking hour and five (5) sessions which covered topics on the developments on ICCA, case studies on ICCA, Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development Protection Plan (ADSDPP), and Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). Opening Ceremony 5. The opening ceremony kicked-off with a morning ritual led by Mr. Carling Domogot of the Ayta, Botolan, Zambales; KaBadong of the Ayta in Maporac, Zambales; and Datu Johnny of the Talaandig tribe in Bukidnon. A video presentation of the morning ritual was likewise shown to emphasize the significance of the event to the IP community. 6. Seven (7) messages were delivered during the opening ceremony. These include Hon. Leonor Oralde-Quintayo, Chairperson of the NCIP; Atty. Antonio G.M. La Viña, Chairperson, PTFCF (represented by Atty. Jose Andres Cañivel); Atty. Rose Liza E. Osorio, Chairperson and CEO, FPE; Dr. Stephanie Schell-Faucon, Principal Advisor, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit Conflict Sensitive Resource and Asset Management Program (GIZ-COSERAM); Ms. Amelia Supetran, Team Leader, Energy and Environment, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); Hon. Demetrio L. Ignacio, Undersecretary, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and; Hon. Teodoro “Teddy” B. Baguilat Jr., Representative of Ifugao Province, Philippine House of Representatives. 7. NCIP Chairperson Leonor Oralde-Quintayo explained the status of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) at the national and international level and emphasized the country’s prominence in the CBD implementation. She recognized the role of IPs in biodiversity conservation and ensured NCIP’s efforts to restore denuded forests and ecological balance as well as observe the laws in upholding IP’s rights and ancestral domain. She stressed that active participation of IPs and their FPIC as well as efforts from partner institutions such as the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) remains critical. As NCIP Chairperson Oralde-Quintayo stated, “[Ito] ang magdadala sa atin sa maunlad at mapayapang pamayanan na nagangalaga sa kalikasan.” 8. Atty. Jose Andres Cañivel, representing Atty. Antonio G.M. La Viña of PTFCF, underscored the importance of the Conference. As he provided, “[with] this Conference, we look forward to learning from you and the time tested conservation approaches that you practice to develop partnerships that will bring about joint problems solving, knowledge integration, etc.” He further recognized the variety in approaches employed by IPs in managing their ancestral domain and its possible replication in government-led conservation programs and institutions which advocate environmental conservation. He stressed the possibility of knowledge integration, partnerships and collaborative efforts to resolve concerns on environmental management. 9. Atty. Rose Liza E. Osorio posed questions within the context of efforts made since the First National ICCA Conference such as: (1) In ICCA-declared and to-be-declared areas, do our indigenous communities feel that the threats to their culture, food, and water sources have been significantly reduced, if not eliminated? If yes or no, why?; (2) In ICCA-declared and to-be-declared areas, do our indigenous communities feel that the local and national government authorities give them primary decision-making powers in how they should use and benefit from the natural resources within their domain? If yes or no, why?; (3) In areas already declared as an ICCA, do the indigenous communities know exactly what to do to sustain their ICCA and do they have the means and support to do it? If yes or no, why? She explained that answers to such questions will provide a good assessment of the status of ICCA in the country. As Atty. Osorio provided that, “Of prime importance in the empowerment of IP community and sustainability of ICCA governance is the livelihood and market support for IP products. There has to be a mechanism to address extreme poverty that continues to be a challenge for indigenous communities.” Within this context, she emphasized that FPE is willing to support ICCA initiatives given its role as Grant Manager of the regular grants portfolio and the GEF-Small Grants Programme 5. Salvador ‘Ka Badong’ Dimain of the Ayta-Abellen tribe of Cabangan, Zambales hands out tokens to NCIP chair Leonor Quin- tayo and PTFCF executive director Jose Canivel. 10. According to Dr. Stephanie Schell-Faucon, “laws in the Philippines (regarding IP and local communities) are very progressive.” However, while recognizing the initiatives of the country in CBD, he stressed the need to pursue further knowledge on biodiversity conservation and in upholding IP rights and local communities. On the other hand, Ms. Amelia Supetran explained that the problems arising from natural resources management are drawn from Western-oriented legislations and their incompatibility with customary laws. She provided that developing the country’s natural resources is not directed nor strategically planned for wealth creation to resolve poverty. As she explained, “we have to be specific when laying down plans regarding the use of natural resources. The focus must be wealth creation from our resources.” Thus, she stressed that there is a need to recognize the value of traditional knowledge to generate substantial wealth for the country. 11. Usec. Demetrio L. Ignacio shared the efforts made by the DENR in addressing IP concerns and land tenure. These include the issuance of an administrative order to clarify land management concerns and facilitate dialogues among stakeholders and harmonization of the records among Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), DENR and NCIP. Usec. Ignacio further affirmed the commitment of DENR in the ICCA initiative. He asserted that, “dapat manaig ang karapatan ng katutubo (IPRA).” 12. Hon. Teodoro “Teddy” B. Baguilat, Jr. explained that, “the resilience and commitment of indigenous communities is enough reason to be inspired and encouraged. Now we must open our minds to the wisdom of our indigenous brothers and sisters.” Within this context, he shared that, as a legislator, he is exploring possible amendments to the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992 to be able to accommodate indigenous management systems. He recognized the value of the Conference especially in the exchange of the best practices, the learnings of which may prove useful in pursuing legislative amendments. Session 1: A Review on National and International Development on ICCA Recognition 13. The first session covers the developments on the initiatives made on ICCA at the local and global level. BMB Director Theresa Mundita S. Lim discussed the highlights of the First National Conference on ICCA and the status of the national recognition on ICCA which includes the ICCA registry, ADSDPP, FPIC and PA System Masterplan. International Policy Assistant of the ICCA Consortium-Global Ms. Holly Jonas shared the development of ICCA within a global context.
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