FINAL REPORT for Fauna and Flora International UK OCTOBER 2014-AUGUST 2016 Saving the Almaciga Tree Project Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, the Philippines August 23, 2016 Karina May Reyes-Antonio Summary The Centre for Sustainability (CS) is proud to report on its Saving the Almaciga Tree project (execution October 2014- August 2016), as part of its efforts to establish the Cleopatra’s Needle Forest Reserve (CNFR). The Almaciga tree is the primary non-timber forest product of the forests of Cleopatra’s Needle – its high-value resin represents approximately 80% of the income of the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) who have lived in this area since time immemorial. This ancient coniferous tree used to dominate the forests of northern Palawan—over-harvesting, together with illegal activities, now threaten its existence. The indigenous communities in the area together with CS aim to ensure the future of the Almaciga tree, and thus livelihood and existence of the IPs, through research, reforestation, and education & training. Upon completion of this project in August, 2016, CS is proud to report that it has achieved all of its original objectives as per the initial proposal, namely: • Reforestation of the proposed CNFR with 5077 Almaciga seedlings propagated by Indigenous and local communities from the first-ever Almaciga cone-based propagation nurseries in the Philippines. • 3 ground-breaking scientific reports documenting a baseline survey of the population & health status of the Almaciga tree in the proposed CNFR; a baseline survey of the current overharvesting practices of the Almaciga tree occurring in the proposed CNFR; and a nursery protocol for Almaciga tree propagation. • Execution of community trainings and workshops, in Almaciga propagation & reforestation, sound resource management & planning, awareness-raising of current Almaciga tree status & sustainable harvesting techniques, and inter-IP exchange for better governance & resource management. • Execution of Environmental Education Program (EEP) in 11 elementary schools. These achievements were made by overcoming the following difficulties: • Philippine bureaucracy proved to be the primary challenge which affected all aspects of the project. The delays caused by the consultation & consent process to work with the IPs of the project area ultimately meant that only 1 of the 4 Indigenous communities could fully benefit from the project. In addition, research could only be carried out in 4 of the 7 Barangays of the project area. The delays caused by the consent process to work with the elementary schools also meant that 1 out of the 11 schools was not able to participate in the EEP. • The delay in initial release of funds for this project meant that we missed the cone collection season of 2014 (August-September, annually). We subsequently had to wait another 10 months after project commencement to start Almaciga propagation activities. • The weather conditions brought on by El Niño 2016 meant that Reforestation was further delayed by one month, further extending the project timescale. This project is made possible with the generous support of Fauna & Flora International United Kingdom (October 2014-August 2016) and the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation (PTFCF - July 2015-August 2016). Project aims Below, we outline the objectives of the project as per the initial outline, and explain any changes made to the original plan: 1. Increase the understanding of the role of Agathis philippinensis within the ecosystem. Although the Almaciga tree is one of the largest tree species in the forests of northern Palawan, very little is known about its life history and ecology. Until recently the classification of the species was even unclear. In order to create appropriate management strategies and to increase the effectiveness of our reforestation activities, a better understanding of the Almaciga tree and its role in the ecosystem is needed. 2. Increase understanding in the reproductive strategy of Agathis philippinensis. Almaciga trees only bear cones once a year, and only a number of trees will bare cones. Additionally it is believed that cones need to ripen for approximately 15 months before the seeds mature. A better understanding in the reproductive strategy of the species is needed as to determine when mature cones can be collected and to understand how to reach maximum germination and growth of the acquired seeds. Upon execution of this project we have confirmed that Almaciga reproduction in the project area indeed occurs once a year—cone bearing begins annually in May, the optimum time for collecting mature cones for propagation is during August and September, and the bearing season ends in October. 3. Raise awareness on the current overharvesting of Almaciga in the communities around Cleopatra’s Needle. The tribal communities around Cleopatra’s Needle do not all understand the link between the overharvesting of the trees and their eventual collapse. Especially the recently discovered link between the overharvesting of resin from trees resulting in a decreased fertility of the seeds, is still unknown to the tribes. As a preparation for the proposed creation of sustainable harvesting strategies with the local community of resin collectors, it is important to first enhance their knowledge about the subject through group discussions and other educational activities. Upon execution of this project we have since learnt that the majority of our IP community partners do already understand that overharvesting leads to Almaciga population decline. However, resource competition between outsiders and IPs fuels continuing overharvesting due to their dependence on this tree as a primary source of livelihood. Therefore, development of sound management planning and effective enforcement are the next critical steps to ensure the long-term success of this project. 4. Develop sustainable harvest strategies of Agathis philippinensis resin with the Indigenous People by enhancing their knowledge about the reproductive strategy of the species and by increasing their knowledge of different harvesting strategies. To ensure the future survival of the species, the future livelihood of the tribe and to ensure that viable seeds can be collected, sustainable harvesting strategies need to be developed. It is of vital importance that this management plan with sustainable harvest strategies for the Almaciga tree is developed by the local tribal communities for the local tribal communities. The role of our organization is to share with them the science behind the decrease in number of Almaciga trees and to assist them with our experience and knowledge in the creation of management plants, but the local communities need to feel ownership of the final management plan that will be created. 5. Reforest the area (around 30,000 hectares) around Cleopatra’s Needle with Agathis philippinensis seedlings from a to-be-constructed nursery at the area. To ensure the future survival of the Almaciga tree in Northern Palawan, it is our main objective to plant a large number of seedlings around Cleopatra’s Needle. These seedlings will be produced in a nursery that will be constructed at the largest IP village in the area. After the nursery stage (6–12 months depending on the growth rate) trees will be reforested covering the whole protected area. Comparatively, a larger number of trees will be planted in the vicinity of the tribal villages as for them to maintain the trees and to create a livelihood for the future. Upon execution of the project we decided to construct 3 experimental nurseries at various altitudes and locations to determine what are the optimal conditions for Almaciga propagation. 2 nurseries were indeed established in the area of the largest upland IP community of the project site at Sitio Kalakwasan (KLK), Barangay Tanabag, and another nursery in the lowlander community of Bgy. Binduyan. Finally reforestation was executed by local community members in these two Barangays, across approximately 3500 hectares. Project achievements Below, we list the activities of the project as per the initial proposal, and the results of these activities. We also explain how they have contributed in achieving the original objectives of this initiative: 1. Implement a research program to increase understanding of the role of this tree species and the ecosystem and how to best execute a reforestation program for this species. As previously reported, our Research Program has been ongoing since May 2015. As per our initial proposal, the Program was focussed on a baseline survey of Almaciga in the proposed CNFR, in particular to determine if current resin harvesting practices are the definite cause of the declining Almaciga population in the area. Dr. Lita Sopsop, Dean of the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Environmental Sciences at Western Philippines University (WPU), has lead the Program in official collaboration with CS (see our Memorandum of Agreement attached). Under our joint supervision, Kellie Bocxe and Lars Vermeer—Masters students interning at CS from Wageningen University (the Netherlands), together with local Philippine students conducted the field work between May- August 2015. As previously reported, the findings from this study were finalised as the following papers (see attached): • Effects of resin harvesting on reproduction and physical status of Agathis philippinensis, principal author Kellie Bocxe. • Towards the sustainable use of Agathis philippinensis in Cleopatra’s Needle Forest Reserve,