Supplemental Guidelines on Mainstreaming Sustainable Land Management in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan Copyright 2019 Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board Bureau of Soils and Water Management United Nations Development Programme Global Environment Facility All rights reserved. Any part of this book may be used or reproduced provided proper acknowledgement is made. Published by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board Bureau of Soils and Water Management United Nations Development Programme Global Environment Facility For Inquiries, please contact: Policy Development Group, Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board Sunnymede IT Center, 1614 Quezon Ave, Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines Telephone Numbers: (+63-2) 929-7798 Email: [email protected] Supplemental Guidelines for Mainstreaming SLM in the CLUP Supplemental Guidelines Mainstreaming Sustainable Land Management in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan II Supplemental Guidelines for Mainstreaming SLM in the CLUP III Supplemental Guidelines for Mainstreaming SLM in the CLUP MESSAGE OF CHAIRPERSON EDUARDO D. DEL ROSARIO In living up to its commitment to averting land degradation and boosting land productivity, the government had carried out key measures, including the introduction of guidelines for sustainable agriculture and forestry development. As such, the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board’s approval of the “Supplemental Guidelines for Mainstreaming Sustainable Land Management in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan” would definitely be a boon to government-led efforts in addressing land degradation woes across the country, as well as further enhance national food security. The guidebook is also expected to become an effective tool that local government units, as well as related agencies, could use in further integrating sustainable land management into their respective Comprehensive Land Use Plan. A concerted effort among LGUs and government departments is an important step in promoting sustainable land management nationwide. The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development’s push for its National Shelter Program through its BALAI (Building Adequate, Livable, Affordable and Inclusive) Filipino Communities and is likewise slated to streamline HLURB’s thrusts in promoting tenable land utilization into its policies under the department’s new mandate. I encourage relevant government agencies, as well as the private to join forces with us in achieving our goals, especially in attaining optimum land utilization without undermining land productivity. I am optimistic and expect nothing less than the success of the guideline’s future implementation with regards to adherence to government policies meant to ensure sustainable land use and long-term food security. EDUARDO D. DEL ROSARIO Chairperson v Supplemental Guidelines for Mainstreaming SLM in the CLUP MESSAGE OF SECRETARY WILLIAM D. DAR The Department of Agriculture as the mandated agency in ensuring the productivity and sustainability of the agriculture sector in the country is now on its path of achieving a new paradigm: “A food-secure Philippines with prosperous Farmers and Fisherfolks”. In the country’s journey towards Masaganang ANI and Mataas na KITA or prosperous harvest and high income, it is evident that the achievement of such would be thru the sustenance of soil health. Soil health is greatly affected by both of the natural occurrences such as the eroding of the soil as well as human induced practices like the excessive use of chemical fertilizers which could aggravate the conditions of the soil. Relative to maintaining the soil health is the challenge on addressing land degradation. According to the Global Environment Facility, land degradation is one of the world’s most pressing environmental problems that imposes serious threat to the world’s entire population through food insecurity, increased food prices, climate change, environmental hazards, and the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. In the Philippines, soil erosion and nutrient depletion are two primary forms of land degradation that plague the sustainability and viability of the country’s agriculture and forest sectors. When these happen, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, two types of greenhouse gases, are released into the atmosphere and contributes to global warming and climate change. In addition, unsustainable agricultural practices decrease the fertility of the soil that is directly related to the growing population which means increasing demand for food and other agricultural products worldwide. Land degradation has significant consequence to the country’s sustained economic growth. With half of the country’s population dependent on natural resources for their livelihood and income, those living below the poverty threshold level—where 60% are comprised of small farmers and fisherfolks—are the most vulnerable to the effects of land degradation. The project Implementation of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) Practices to Address Land Degradation and Mitigate Effects of Drought primarily focuses on the systemic and institutional levels, strengthening the enabling regulatory, institutional, and financial framework that would govern efforts to address land degradation in the Philippines. Part of its objective is the mainstreaming of SLM practices into the policies, plans and programs of the Department of Agriculture, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, and National Economic and Development Authority, to strengthen the complementation and collaboration of concerned institutions in addressing land degradation primarily in vulnerable ecosystems in the country. The creation of the Supplemental Guidelines for Mainstreaming Sustainable Land Management Practices in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) is one of the Guidebook produced by the project that aims to assist predominantly agriculture-based localities in the assessment and monitoring of their agriculture and agro-forestry ecosystems. The Department of Agriculture reaffirms its commitment to addressing the challenge on land degradation and improving the overall socio-economic well-being of small farmers in vi Supplemental Guidelines for Mainstreaming SLM in the CLUP the Philippines. I also want to vouch the Department’s commitment in assisting the HLURB in whatever technical capacity it can provide in the implementation of the supplemental guideline. Lastly, I want to take this opportunity to express my gratitude and congratulations to the Bureau of Soils and Water Management through its Project Management Office and the leadership of Dr. Gina P. Nilo as the National Focal Person for successfully spearheading the implementation of the SLM Project. The BSWM as well as to other government agencies, private institutions, civil society organizations, state universities and colleges and the local government units as responsible partners who showed their unwavering commitment in strengthening and improving the capacities of local government units to respond effectively to new challenges. WILLIAM DOLLENTE DAR, Ph.D. Secretary vii Supplemental Guidelines for Mainstreaming SLM in the CLUP MESSAGE OF COMMISSIONER MELZAR P. GALICIA Land degradation, which includes soil erosion, soil nutrient depletion and the conversion of productive agricultural lands into other land uses, is an important issue that Local Government Units (LGUs) must consider in land resources management. This is one of the functions that has been devolved to them under Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991. It is therefore imperative that LGUs should be given support in the area of sustainable land management (SLM). In line with this, these supplemental guidelines in mainstreaming SLM in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) were developed to help in the planning, decision- making and policy-formulation of LGUS in addressing land degradation that would lead to sustainable agricultural and agro-forestry development. The Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) is very pleased with another successful collaboration with our various partners in this SLM Project and generously expresses its gratitude. The HLURB prides itself with being receptive and accommodating in such worthwhile projects as it has done in the past and will continue to do so in the future. The devolution of various services and functions especially the determination of the optimal or highest and best land use has been a continuing challenge for LGUs. It is hoped that these guidelines will provide them with the necessary tools and strategies in responsible and sustainable land resources management and prove valuable in the fulfillment of their mandate. Sunnymede IT Center, 1614 Quezon Ave., Brgy. South Triangle, Quezon City www.hlurb.gov.ph viii Supplemental Guidelines for Mainstreaming SLM in the CLUP Department of Agriculture Bureau of Soils and Water Management SRDC Bldg., Elliptical Road corner Visayas Avenue Diliman, Quezon City FOREWORD Land degradation in the Philippines is largely caused by the susceptibility of its soils to erosion due to the country’s hilly and mountainous terrain. Unregulated agricultural practices coupled with illegal and often unmitigated conversion of forest lands have made bare soils highly vulnerable to accelerated erosion and depletion of fertile soils due to heavy rainfall and consequential water runoff likewise, monocropping, inappropriate use of fertilizers and chemicals and other unsustainable cropping