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Mitigating
the Impact of Climate
Change,
Reducing Human Vulnerabilities in the
Indigenous
Peoples’ Ecosystems and Upholds Food Security
Development Context
State of the Philippine Forests
When the
Spaniards came in 1521, the Philippines had 27 million hectares of forest
covering 90% of its total land area. In
1900, this had decreased to 21 million hectares or 70%, and by the year 1950,
only 49% of the forest cover was left.
Deforestation has been estimated at 172,000 has./yr., reaching as much
as 300,000 has./yr. in the 1980s (J. Pulihim
2002).
In the year
2000, there were only about 5.4 million (18%) hectares of forests left: 3.5% is dipterocarp forest; of which 805,000 is old growth,
while 2.7 million hectares are residual forest.
The rest or approximately 10.6 million hectares are deforested lands many of which are cultivated
(EMB1998).
The
country’s ecosystems (both upland and lowland) have been severely jeopardized
by the deforestation which resulted in serious ecological imbalance. We have lost large green portions of the
archipelago which serve as coolants yet we continue to engage in heavy
industrialization which destroys our ecosystems.
Erosion,
land degradation, siltation of dams, reservoirs and irrigation facilities,
destruction of habitats, coral reefs and loss of biodiversity, impairment of
hydrologic functions, and water stresses are the major environmental effects of
losing our forests. To maintain ecological balance, our country needs 54% of
its total land area to be forest. At
present, we only have less than 18% forest cover.
Threats from Mining
The Indigenous Cultural Communities are good site for mining. This has been made easier especially after
massive logging that started as early as 1900s.
Denuded forests and barren mountains were explored for minerals.
The Philippines possesses the third largest gold
reserves, fourth largest copper and sixth largest chromite endowment (ESSC-BBC
1999). The operations of large and
medium scale mining companies, aided by the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, have
added to our problems in environmental protection. Republic Act 7942 - Philippine Mining Act of
1995 has increased the area under mineral exploration in this country,
particularly in Mindanao and specifically in Region XI. It is unfortunate that
the previous government of the Arroyo administration was promoting mining as a
priority investment area.
The Indigenous Peoples Habitat: Upland, Lowland and
Coastal Ecosystems
“It has to be
reiterated that indigenous peoples have contributed the least to climate
change. This is mainly caused by actions taken by those who perpetuate and
benefit from the dominant development model characterized by unsustainable
production and consumption, extreme individualism, increasing concentration of
wealth and power in the fewer hands, etc. Climate change is a major consequence
of this unsustainable development paradigm. Indigenous peoples are among those
who suffer the most adverse consequences of climate change.” (Tebtebba, 2009)
The
impact of climate change brought about by global warming is more severe for Indigenous
Peoples communities throughout the country.
The rise in temperature affects growth and life of the ecosystems’ flora
and fauna; changes agricultural cycle, and thereby affects the cultural
integrity of the indigenous communities.
Biodiversity
– being at the vortex of indigenous environmental management, life and
livelihood is continually eroding at an alarming pace. We are living in a decaying environment which
threatens our very own existence and the survival of our race. Weather
extremities characterized by massive floods, strong typhoons, extreme cold
spells and long droughts have led to destructions which wrought havoc claiming
huge values of lives and properties.
Indigenous
peoples communities becoming environmental refugees because lands had gone
underwater or destroyed by landslides.
The remaining ancestral
domains are still threatened by large scale projects especially those hugely
destructive extraction industries like mining. It is a major threat because of
the conflicting government policies on IPRA and the Philippine Mining Act of
1995.
The
continuing loss of freshwater supplies has contributed to the increase of
various types of diseases. Health problems
worsen and affecting young children.
Women bear most of the burdens.
Socio-cultural
impact mainly features changes in traditional ways of life, loss of indigenous
knowledge systems, and the loss of sources of income and economic opportunities
in the ancestral domains.
Indigenous
communities are the least contributors to global warming, yet they are the
first to be affected by its effects.
Thus, bear the burdens of its devastating impact.
Worst
events are still yet to happen if nothing is done. The Indigenous Cultural Communities need to
stand for what is right. Time is running
out.
Indigenous Cultural Communities face huge
challenges being stewards of the forests and its ecosystems. On their shoulders are laid the
responsibilities to take care and maintain biodiversity. Indigenous Peoples communities are a
significant life force in mitigating the impacts of climate change. Indigenous Knowledge Systems and practices are important in sustaining and managing
the environment. Traditional knowledge
systems should be harnessed and integrated with other adaptation strategies
such as disaster preparedness, proper land use, and others.
Conservation,
Restoration and Protection Value of the Proposed Sites.
Restoration
of denuded mountains, destroyed watersheds, conservation and protection of the
forest and watersheds ecosystem has the biggest value to save the
grassroots level from environmental destructions. As we know, Iligan City
and Cagayan de Oro CIty is in danger, environmental calamities through flooding
and landslides claimed thousands of lives. Conversely, ecosystem services
for restoration and protection are highly needed to have great impact as
to the social welfare and existence of the animals, fishes, birds and human
beings from the immeasurable destruction of nature.
As
reflected on the image:
1. The
red circle is the approximated area in Kalatungan and Kitanglad ranges where
heavy Sendong rains fell. It is also the approximated areas where logging is
rampant e.g. Vicmar Development Corporation and Bualan Cooperative which was
exempted by the DENR in April 2011 from EO-23 or the PNoy Logban.
2. The
two red lines to Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City is the water flowed out
from the denuded forests.
3.
This would show the source of the flood waters that hit simultaneously Cagayan
de Oro City and Iligan City, and sparing the coastal municipalities in between
the two cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro. Heavy rains brought by typhoon
Sendong fell in the Kalatungan ranges. If you observe the light green-brownish
color, it indicates thin vegetation. This is where massive logging is happening
for the last 30 years. If you notice it drains straight to Cagayan de Oro City.
If you go to the left of the map, down Kalatungan is Kapai of Lanao del Sur and
Mandulog of Iligan City, this is where the part that drains to the city of
Iligan. There are ridges and gorges there that feed directly to the Mandulog
river.
Key Problem Areas:
1. Ecological imbalance within the Indigenous Peoples
ecosystems
2. Continuing depletion of forests (IP habitat)
3. Worsening vulnerabilities of Indigenous Peoples
communities to the impact of climate change
The
Philippines is not considered as carbon-emitting country like those heavily
industrialized countries in Europe and America.
Addressing the problems of climate change will bring the following
benefits to the indigenous peoples and non- indigenous peoples communities
alike:
1. Improved ecological balance
a. Regained biodiversity in the watersheds and
mini-watersheds
b. Decreased vulnerabilities in the downstream watersheds
and coastal communities
2. Increased forest covers
a. Enhanced carbon absorption
b. Increased volume of clean air
c. Increased environmental resilience to weather
extremities brought about by climate change
3. Reduced human vulnerabilities especially in the
Indigenous Peoples communities
a. Increased Indigenous Peoples communities ’resilience
to disasters and weather extremities
b. Improved living conditions through CLEAN
(community-led environmental sanitation)
c. Reduced poverty
incidence through “zero carbon footprint”
technologies in livelihood (both farm and off farm)
The Targets by 2020
Ecological
balance negates climate change. To maintain ecological balance, the Philippines
need 54% of its total land area to be forest off various types depending on
watersheds and mini-watersheds. At
present, we only have less than 18% forest cover. Hence, we should make sure that our
development initiatives’ approaches and technologies will “do no harm” to these
remaining ecosystems and the Indigenous Cultural Communities.
On top of its continuing works in helping the Indigenous Cultural Communities secure their
ancestral domains through CADTs, Advocacy of Tribal Organizations and Networks,
Inc. will continue to support the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) through
the preparation and development of models of implementation of Ancestral Domains
Sustainable Development and Protection Plans (ADSDPPs) in the light of climate
change impact mitigation and adaptation. Central to the assistance to
Indigenous Peoples is capacity building on leadership and the management of
ancestral domains coupled with harnessing and enhancing Indigenous Knowledge
Systems and Practices (IKSP) in addressing issues, problems and challenges
affecting their very existence and survival as people within their respective ecosystems.
This intervention continues to address poverty
and security of Indigenous Peoples’ communities in the regions served by the
Advocacy of Tribal Organizations and Networks, Inc.; increased capacity for
Indigenous Peoples communities in self-governance and management of their
resources with clearly formulated “watershed-based” ADSDPPs in the context of
climate change and disaster risk reduction, with the participation of
traditional leaders, elders and representatives from their women and youth.
Advocacy of Tribal Organizations and Networks,
Inc. sets targets of accomplishments by 2020.
This lays out specific deliverables contributing towards the attainment
of desired objectives over specific period, example, yearly. These objectives are laid-out according to
their corresponding key problem areas.
Proposed Program
Components
I.
Advocacy and Policy Monitoring
The program promotes and enhances partnerships
with government and other stakeholders to achieve some degree of ecological
balance among the Indigenous Peoples (IP) ecosystems by
2020. It will advocate the climate change impact mitigation and adaptation, and
engage government institutions, civil society, business and private sectors.
This translates to policies, plans, budget and partnership strategies to meet
targets.
Advocacy of Tribal Organizations and Networks,
Inc. will also support regular regional needs assessments, analyze capacity and
technical constraints, help monitor precise trends and gaps and update targets.
Additional efforts in capacity building of IPs coupled with the strengthening
convergence efforts and addressing the impacts of climate change in the IP
communities and ecosystems.
On advocacy, ATONI supports interventions that
include:
·
Networking for a strong mass movement to rally around
the discourse of climate change, and to generate national and public awareness
and policy dialogues for the climate change and pro-IP environmental
policies;
·
Influence
government development frameworks to “zero
carbon footprints” in development initiatives and service delivery to the
marginalize sector, the Indigenous Peoples or the so-called Indigenous Cultural
Communities;
·
IP rights-based approach in development interventions;
·
Needs assessments and dialogues on the policy
environment related to the projected trends in achieving targets e.g.
watersheds placed under protected areas, recognition and integration of the
ADSDPPs in the SEDPs/CLUPs among host LGUs (municipal and province).
In terms of monitoring the climate change, Advocacy
of Tribal Organizations and Networks, Inc. supports the building of capacities
of IP registered organizations and other relevant mechanisms in monitoring the
climate mitigation targets through: active participation in organizing policy
dialogues and exchange towards enhancing statistical comparability across the
regions to measure progress for each specific climate change target; and,
monitoring and reporting relative to the defined climate change related
development objectives.
Other strategies to be employed under this
component include: multi-stakeholder approach, unity and convergence in
targeted areas, capacity building, strengthening of institutional mechanisms;
asset reform and effective asset utilization; mobilizing private-sector
support; advocacy for internal and external resource mobilization to scale up
investments and interventions to achieve climate change targets; and social protection for IP
communities being the most vulnerable group in the ecosystems.
II.
Climate Change-Based
Poverty Reduction
ATONI’s approach in reducing human poverty and
vulnerability in the Indigenous Peoples communities is to promote sustainable resource utilization and
management that upholds food security and adequacy of resources necessary to
support life forms within the IP ecosystems. As a strategic start-up, ATONI will support
the Indigenous Peoples communities in mobilizing for climate change-based
poverty reduction initiatives.
And in furtherance to sustainability, ATONI
extends assistance or support to relative social industries development.
·
Support to the Propagation of Drought-Resistant and Typhoon-Proof Crops
in the IP ecosystems
o IP-based agricultural
technology research and development
§ Inventory of and research
on indigenous food crops
§ Tissue culture
§ Establishment of nurseries
and green houses
·
Support Zero Carbon Footprint in Diversified and
Intensified Farming System
o Farm-based and
Household-based crop production and animal agriculture (livestock raising) –
agricultural production (Bayanihan System)
§ Organic land preparation
and land care
§ Organic fertilizers
manufacture
§ Organic growing of crops
§ Organic animal farming
·
Agro-Forestry in a form of Bayanihan System
o Orchard farming utilizing indigenous fruit tree
species
o Propagation and
regeneration of indigenous wild crops (survival food)
o Propagation and Money Tree
Growing (Chestnut)
III.
Indigenous Peoples
Entrepreneurship Development
Indigenous
Peoples (IP) entrepreneurship development responds to promote and increase the
access of IPs to productive resources for enterprise growth and build on trade
opportunities with the help of relevant NGOs and government institutions. This
promotes the creation of opportunities to facilitate transition of informal IP
entrepreneurs towards formality, recognition and larger participation in local
economies.
Crucial to this intervention is human resource
development geared towards enterprise building.
Critical part of which is character building necessary for
sustainability. This is progressively pursued towards business mentality and
management acumen (which starts from their respective positive values and IKSP).
·
Agro-Forest Based Livelihood Development (small-medium scale
enterprise)
o IP-based food technology
§ Preservation
§ Processing
o Market Development
§ Market research and network
o Financial Literacy
o Business Management Skills
IV.
Strengthening Institutional
Mechanisms for Effective Meaningful Participation and Mainstreaming of Indigenous
Peoples Environmental Protection
Advocacy of Tribal Organizations and Networks,
Inc. will help strengthen institutional capacities to formulate, implement and
monitor climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives in the IP
ecosystems.
·
Organizational Development and Project Management
(ODPM)
·
IP-led Campaigns on Environment and Climate Change
(e.g. mining, logging, and all forms of business encroachment in the IP
territories)
·
IP-based Constituency Building
V. Creating
Greener and Disaster-free Environment thru Innovative Sustainable Watershed
Management
Every
living thing on earth depends on water.
Humans, plants and animals, even microscopic creatures, need water to
survive. Forests and its watershed area
serve as a life support system of communities all over the world. However, the
wanton destruction and clearing of our significant forests proves fatal as
manifested in the occurrence of natural hazard events such as flashflood,
siltation and landslide which caused biodiversity lose and diminishing of the
lifeline of local communities like potable water source and livelihood.
Development and other human activities such as mining, geothermal power plants,
bio-fuels, illegal logging and domestic activities has exacerbate global
warming and climate change which in turn weaken the carrying capacity of our
forests and watershed areas to withstand its alarming impacts which puts local
communities in vulnerable conditions.
All over the Philippines, protected areas and
natural parks fall prey to development activities initiated by both government
and private corporations amidst landmark law and declarations protecting it. So
called “forest crimes” are still prevalent and intensive which put our
environmental policy and its implementation in a challenge. Many of our
watersheds today suffer
from severe soil erosion,
erratic stream flow, diminishing groundwater resource,
and declining land productivity. In
addition, it will be necessary to address the following issues and concerns: (1) Deforestation continues to threaten
the remaining forest cover; (2) Increasing population, increasing demand for
water; (3) Lack of awareness of the general public to environmental issues and
protection; (4) Climate change bringing more changes; (5) Absence of both
appropriate watershed resources valuation system and land use and management
plan; and (6) Existing political and institutional environment is not
adequately supportive of watershed management. These issues if not addressed
could possibly lead to web of concerns, if we lose our water, we lose our
living, we lose our lives.
In Iligan City, Mt. Amulongan, Kiadangkigan,
Busawon, Danaw, Bando, Masaw, Disu-an, Butay, Pusud de Olowa, Ligi, Gabunan and
Limunsudan serve as the last forest bastion and critical watershed areas of its
localities and people. Mt. Gabunan and the stated watershed areas covers an
area of 115,200 hectares of which niether of them are protected nor declared to
have a buffer zone. Most of the mountain
ranges are located near the Municipality
of Lanao del Norte. They are considered to be the only largest remaining
rainforest of Iligan City with dipterocarp forest containing high diversity of
flora and fauna. Among its significance includes source of water supply for
irrigation and potable water to the entire city of Iligan; Open laboratory for
both flora and fauna species; Potential for ecotourism and recreational
services; Center of history of the city of Iligan; Source of local food and
medicine of the local populace who are hardly reached by government services
due to inaccessibility of the place and conflict issues.
VI. INDIGENOUS
CULTURAL COMMUNITIES CAVE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
The
Indigenous Cultural Communities of Iligan City is endowed with karst landscapes
dotted by caves and cave systems. Caves are naturally occurring void, cavity,
recess or system of interconnected passages beneath the surface of the earth or
within a cliff or ledge, large enough to permit an individual to enter. Caves
are enriched with important scientific, economic, educational, cultural,
historical and aesthetic values. They are also home to specialized mineral
formations, as well as unique and diverse flora and fauna.
As
of today, over 1,500 caves have been recorded by the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR) since the start of its implementation of the Caves
Management and Conservation Program (CMCP) in 1994, with still a significant
number of caves yet to be discovered and mapped across indigenous cultural
communities. Four caves were already proclaimed under the National Integrated
Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act with the category Protected landscape. These
are: Peñablanca Protected Landscape (Tuguegarao, Cagayan), Pamitinan Protected
Landscape (Rodriguez, Rizal) Calbiga Protected Landscape (Northern Samar) and
Banahaw San Cristobal Protected Landscape (Quezon and Laguna).
Continuously,
various efforts are being conducted for the protection of our caves. There are
also various policies issued in support of RA 9072, otherwise known as the
National Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection Act of 2001.
They include the: Cave Act Implementing Rules and Regulations (DAO
2003-29); Cave Classification Guidelines and Manual (DMC 2007-04) and
Guidelines in Treasure Hunting in Caves (DAO 2007-34). Draft policies on Cave
Ecotourism and Edible Birds Nest Collection are also being reviewed jointly
with other cave coordinating agencies.
To
further support the cave management and protection, a National Cave Committee
was formed chaired by the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) with Cave
Coordinating Agencies such as National Museum (NM), National Historical
Institute (NHI), Department of Tourism (DOT),
Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG), Leagues of Municipalities (LM), University of the
Philippines-National Institute of Geological Science (UP-NIGS) and Gaia
Exploration Club (GEC), Mines and GeoSciences Bureau (MGB) and Palawan Council
for Sustainable Development (PCSD) as members. PCSD leads the implementation of
the Cave Act in the Province of Palawan.
In
the Regional Field Offices, there are eleven regions which have reactivated
their Regional Cave Committees while the rest are in various stages of
reactivation. They all embarked on detailed assessment of caves based on
prescribed cave assessment forms under DMC 2007-04. Based on submitted reports
received by PAWB in 2008, only Region 6 and Region 10 have completed the full
process prescribed in the said DMC. Region 6 was able to classify 35 caves
as of December 2008 with the full participation of Mines Sector, National
Museum (NM), Western Visayas Caving Association (WVCA), Iloilo Mountaineering
Club and Friends of the Flying Foxes. It is also supported by the
concerned Local Government Units of all levels and the Protected Area
Management Board (PAMB) of the government. The classified caves are both
within and outside protected areas using the prescribed forms under the said
DMC.
Currently,
Iligan City of Region 10 was able to classify 42 caves as of September 2011 with
the full participation of the Advocacy of Tribal Organizations and Networks,
Inc., Hinterland Barangay and Tribal Councils, Indigenous Peoples Youth Science
Enthusiasts of Mindanao Organization and Friends of the Save Iligan. The tribal
communities of Iligan City has still a significant thousands of caves yet to be
discovered and mapped
Other
Regions have also started cave classification process. The target for CY
2009 is one (1) cave per Region. Eleven out of 15 Regions reported that
MOA have been/are being forged with local government units/non-government
organizations/private landowners (DENR-CAR, DENR Region Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4B, 6,8,
9, 10, 11,and 12).
Research
activities related to climate change were also being undertaken by Drs.
Fernando Siringan of UP-MSI and Bayani Cardenas of University of Texas in
Austin entitled: Changes in precipitation in the Philippines and the
Evaluation of the East Asia Monsoon Inferred from Stalagmites Geochemical
Record and Paleoclimate data from Chemical and Isotopic Composition of the
Stalagmites to collaborate modern climate data with water samples and mineral
samples from activity growing speleothems, respectively.
The DENR also participates in the yearly National Caving
Congress organized by the Philippine Speleological Society Incorporated (PSSI)
with its partner’s organizations. The Cave Congress has proven to be an
important medium for sharing of ideas and information exchange between
governmental and non-governmental organizations involved in cave conservation
and management.
VII.
Culture of Peace with the Environment
A
cross-cutting theme on peace and development in the context of climate change
is the nurturing of a culture of peace in sustaining the gains of projects and related
initiatives. This primarily aims to
disorient people from environmental violence, and call to “live in harmony with
nature”.
As a
start, ATONI may develop seminar-training courses revolving around the four
commoners’ laws of ecology. A customized
modular education and training approach may also help produce some literature
that can be used to educate both the settler and the Indigenous Peoples
populations about the subject.
…………………………………………………..………………
Please refere to Matrix
on KRAs and Deliverables (M&E Context)
PROJECT IMPLEMENTOR
ATTY PINKY GRACE P.
PABELIC
Regional
Director – NCIP Region X
National
Commission on Indigenous Peoples
BUDDY P. LANDONG
Provincial Officer/DMO V
National Commission on Indigenous Peoples
Provincial Officer/DMO V
National Commission on Indigenous Peoples
REY P. SO-ONG
Administrative
Officer IV
Climate Change and National
Climate Change and National
Greening Programme Coordinator
National
Commission on Indigenous Peoples
National Commission on Indigenous Peoples
DEMALIE A. COMONOG
Community Affairs Officer I
OIC-Rogongon Service Center
PIDTA
M. COMONOG
Chairperson, Advocacy
of Tribal
Organizations and
Networks, Inc.
ENGR. USMAN M. SARIP
Civil Engineer Construction/Supervisor Engineer
Advocacy of Tribal Organizations and
Networks, Inc.
LORNA E. FLORES
Director, IPDM
Director, IPDM
Commissioner
on Language
Partner
Partner
PROF. DARWIN J. MANUBAG
College of Arts and Social Sciences
Partner
ROSELYN LABALAN
Executive Director
Kagsabuwa, Inc.
MARIA GITTEL J. SAQUILABON
Executive Director
Kagsabuwa, Inc.
MARIA GITTEL J. SAQUILABON
Sumpay
Mindanao, Inc.
Partner
ADONA G. ORQUILLAS
RDRRAC, Inc.
Partner
ADONA G. ORQUILLAS
RDRRAC, Inc.
Partner
NANETTE ANTEQUISA
Director,
ECOWEB
Partner
ATTY. MARLENE L. YOUNG
City Councilor/Local Counterpart
Partner
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
CITY ENVIRONMENT AND MANAGEMENT OFFICE
and OTHERS CONCERNED...
WEB DEVELOPER
PARTNERS
JOVENNE NALDREY B.
SAPUAY DJAY I. JANGAD
Professor/Instructor President
Picardal
Institute of Science and Technology IP
Youth Science Enthusiasts of Mindanao
Bonifacio
St., Tibanga, Iligan City Organization
