Protecting Biodiversity in the Philippines: A Community-based Sustainable Approach to the Use of Natural Resources

17.07.2019

SUBMITTING ORGANIZATION

Shumei International

DATE OF SUBMISSION

17 July 2019

REGION

Asia

COUNTRY

Philippines (Daraitan, Tanay, Rizal Province)

KEYWORDS

Ecological Agriculture, Indigenous Knowledge and Practices, Biodiversity Conservation, Community Development

AUTHORS

Alan Imai – Shumei International
Antonio De Castro – Shumei International Philippines
Elizabeth De Castro – Shumei International Philippines

Summary Sheet

The summary sheet for this case study is available here.

Abstract​

This project demonstrated the effectiveness of ecological agriculture and sustainable land management to improve the livelihoods of indigenous small-scale farmers and protect local ecosystems in the Sierra Madre rainforest in the Philippines. Beneficiaries received in-depth training on Natural Agriculture, which combines ecological farming techniques with traditional knowledge to cultivate crops from natural heirloom seeds without the use of agrochemicals or additives. The project provided technical support for the cultivation, processing and marketing of hibiscus (Roselle), a traditional herbal plant and its byproducts. Initially, the project was to include other crops, but the local community realized that Roselle had the most health benefits and was much better suited to the region and its climate. As a result, the project’s cost-effective ecological farming model provided a sustainable livelihood strategy for the indigenous people in the area (Dumagats) through the cultivation of a traditional plant that also protected the ecosystem by discouraging slash and burn practices, deforestation and the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Background

The Philippines is one of the world’s largest archipelago nations located in Southeast Asia in the Western Pacific Ocean. Its islands are classified into three main geographical areas – Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. With its topography consisting of mountainous terrains, dense forests, plains, and coastal areas and the presence of a wide variety of species, the Philippines is considered one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world.[1]

Its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire makes Philippines extremely vulnerable to natural disasters, especially earthquakes, cyclones, and volcanic hazards. Long-lasting armed conflict in Mindanao and other parts of the country in conjunction with the increasing negative effects of climate change continue to hinder sustainable development and intensify poverty.[2]

There are considerable disparities in income and quality of life across regions and sectors in the Philippines. Twenty-six percent of the total population lives below the poverty line, including 10 million women. While the country is abundant in natural resources, environmental assets remain unavailable to impoverished communities due to exclusion, insecure land tenure, lack of access to technologies or resource degradation. Social inequities impact indigenous people, fishing communities, women and the informal sector the most. Indigenous people account for approximately 15 percent of the population and occupy an estimated 17 percent of total land area. The struggle to secure land or ancestral domains is a leading cause of instability for indigenous communities. In the 2013 Human Development Report, the Philippines scored 0.418 in the Gender Inequality Index, reflecting inequalities in labor market participation, political representation, and access to health services.[3]

The Sierra Mountains have the last remaining primary rainforest areas in the Philippines. It is the home of many critically endangered Philippine fauna including the Philippine Eagle (Pithecophagajefferyi), the Golden Crowned Flying Fox-Bat (Äcedoronjubatus) and the Northern Sierra Madre Forest Monitor (Varanusbitatawa).[4] It is considered a biodiversity hotspot due to the richness of the biodiversity of flora and fauna found there and because it is critically threatened by illegal logging and expanding agriculture at its borders. It is also home to different indigenous groups such as the Aetas and Dumagat. In Daraitan, Tanay, Rizal, the Dumagat population have been awarded the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT).

The Natural Agriculture project site is located in Daraitan, Tanay, Rizal Province, approximately 16 kilometers (9.9 mi) east of Manila. Rizal is bordered by Metro Manila to the west, Bulacan to the north, Quezon to the east and Laguna to the southeast. The province lies on the northern shores of Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the country. Rizal is a mountainous province perched on the western slopes of the southern portion of the Sierra Madre mountain range, which serves as a natural shield against typhoons coming from the Pacific Ocean. It encompasses 68 protected areas, including national parks, watershed forest reserves, natural monuments, marine reserves, protected landscapes and seascapes.  The Sierra Madre comprises a number of watershed areas that support agriculture, irrigation systems and power plants that supply urban settlements, including Manila.[5]

The local communities are adversely affected by environmental degradation and deforestation due to slash and burn agricultural practices, illegal logging and the contamination of water tables due to the overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Agricultural productivity, a main source of income, is negatively affected due to soil erosion and poor water and soil quality. Small-scale farmers sell their agricultural produce unprocessed and immediately after harvest, which forces them to accept low prices or risk spoilage. As a result, they resort to other income generating activities such as charcoal making, which in turn increases environmental degradation.  Communities need alternative sources of income that boost the value of agricultural products.

[1]http://www.ph.undp.org/content/philippines/en/home/countryinfo/

[2] http://www.ph.undp.org/content/philippines/en/home/countryinfo/

[3]http://www.ph.undp.org/content/philippines/en/home/countryinfo/

[4] http://www.manilatimes.net/the-countrys-biggest-natural-forest/163462/

[5] http://www.forestfoundation.ph/sierra-madre/

The Approach

In 2017, Shumei International/Philippines partnered with the Earth Day Network Philippines, Inc. to introduce the cost-effective and ecological farming approach Natural Agriculture to the indigenous Dumagat community in Daraitan, Tanay, Rizal. Natural Agriculture builds on traditional knowledge and practices encourages minimum intervention in the growing process. It involves:

  • The use of indigenous seeds;
  • The practice of seed saving;
  • The cultivation of soil in its natural state without inputs, such as fertilizers or manure;
  • The understanding of the role of insects and weeds in the ecosystem and how to maintain their balance without the use of pesticides or herbicides.

The objective of the project was to improve the livelihoods of small-scale farmers and indigenous communities in the Philippines by promoting ecological agriculture and sustainable land management practices through Natural Agriculture. In addition, the project incorporated capacity building around food processing, packaging and marketing to create additional sources of income for the farmers. Specifically, the project aimed to protect the rich biodiversity of the Sierra Madre mountain range by promoting the sustainable use of natural resources by improving the cultivation and processing of local agricultural products as an income-generating activity among the Dumagat population.

Implementation

The project was a collaborative effort between local stakeholders in the Philippines and Natural Agriculture farmers from Japan. Shumei International provided technical training and support throughout the project and financial assistance for the construction of a processing facility. The Earth Day Network Philippines, Inc. (EDNPI) provided project management and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) provided financial assistance for organizing the Dumagat community, training and capacity building for the processing and marketing of the products and for the purchase of the necessary equipment. The University of Rizal, Sampaloc Campus, jointly with the provincial offices of Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Trade and Industry to deliver training on processing roselle into juice, jam and soap, as well as the necessary health and safety regulations. 

Partners and Key Responsibilities

Project activities included:

  • Technical Assistance and Training
    • Workshops on biodiversity conservation, natural resource conservation, and organic farming/Natural Agriculture approach and techniques
    • Workshops on roselle cultivation and harvesting
    • Workshops on jam manufacturing and product processing
    • Workshops on marketing and packaging

  • Implementation of the Natural Agriculture Approach
    • Planting of roselle, an indigenous crop species of the Hibiscus family (Hibiscus sabdariffa)
      • Roselle can be processed into a wide range of products, such as tea, jam or juice. The plant is rich in Vitamin C and anthocyanins.
    • Assessment of the viability of intercropping with other indigenous crop species
      • Initially, a peanut plant (Arachishypogaea), a legume crop was selected for the pilot project. However, local conditions were not ideal, so the Kakawate tree species was selected instead.
    • Planting of the local Kakawate tree species (Gliricidiasepium)
      • Kakawate can be used to provide shade for plantations or as live fencing to designate cultivation areas and extract from leaves can be used to make soap.

  • Improvements to the value chain
    • Construction of a processing center, where the workshops on roselle processing and packaging/marketing were held;
    • Packaging and marketing workshops, which helped to highlight the properties of roselle and create a brand for the community’s products.

  • Community outreach
    • Annual Roselle Harvest Festival
      • The 2017 Annual Roselle Harvest Festival was held on the 22nd of November as part of a joint biodiversity conservation project run by the UNDP-GEF and DENR.
      • The festival activities included a hike up to the roselle plantation to harvest some of the crop, Taiko drumming, interfaith prayers and cultural performances.
      • The 2017 Harvest Festival also saw the inauguration of the processing center, which was established in partnership between Shumei International, EDNPI and the UNDP-GEF project.

Results

In the first phase of the project, more than 30 Sucatan Dumagat community members and their families learned about the environmental and ecological damage caused by the use of harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and deforestation. They were trained on the Natural Agriculture approach and increased their knowledge of community-managed landscapes that integrated biodiversity conservation – particularly the protection of the soil biodiversity, contamination of aquafers, rivers and ocean. As a result, more than 6,500 roselle seedlings were planted and 9 hectares were cultivated through agroecological farming practices.

The cultivation area has been cleared and prepared for planting.

The roselle seedlings have been planted and are monitored closely throughout their growth cycle.

With the opening of a processing facility, project participants were also trained on how to harvest, preserve, process and market roselle and other products for urban market. By learning how to process roselle, project beneficiaries were able to increase the value of each harvest. Drying the roselle prolongs its shelf life from a few days to about two years. The dehydrated roselle calyx were processed into a range of products, such as jam, tea, juice, puree, candy, and soap. Participants also learned how to use kakawate (local tree variety) to create “living fences” in between their fields. The annual roselle festival provided an opportunity for the wider community to learn about the project, the Natural Agriculture approach and revive the demand for roselle, its byproducts and its many health benefits.

As part of the program, members of the community participated in an Environmental Governance workshop, which promoted comprehensive biodiversity conservation and management project implemented in the wider Lower Sierra Madre region. This helped participants learn from other community leaders and exchange ideas and best practice, thus providing vital capacity building opportunity.

Overall, the project contributed to poverty reduction, food security, sustainable livelihoods and local community development by helping farmers to plan effectively and introduce new sources of income. The communities were empowered by their new processing and marketing skills while also honoring their indigenous knowledge and practices to cultivate a traditional plant and promote its multiples uses and health benefits.

Roselle Harvest Festival (2017). Processing facility inauguration.

Once dried, roselle can be processed into a range of projects.

Project beneficiaries participated in a range of workshops, such as on how to make roselle jam.

Lessons Learned and Key Messages

  • Development of broad product portfolio

Project beneficiaries were inspired to explore the sustainable development of products made from their local natural resources. Community members learned how to add value to their natural resources instead of selling them as raw materials on the local market.

  • Climate change causes unpredictable weather patterns

Initially, the project planned multiple planting sessions for roselle. Due to the rainy season starting late, roselle could only be planted during the initial project launch, which impacted on crop yields. Severe weather events caused by climate change are increasing in terms of frequency and severity, including in Rizal. While Natural Agriculture can facilitate better planning, make crops more resilient and offer alternative sources of income, it does not represent a panacea in times of global climatic change.

  • Importance of packaging and marketing activities

Bringing the processed roselle products to market requires appealing packaging, compliance with health and safety regulations, and ongoing research into customers’ needs.

Conclusions

This project was an example of multi-stakeholder participation and collaboration in a project that that involved the cultivation, processing and marketing of local agricultural products to create a sustainable source of income for indigenous communities. The approach to agriculture ensured the responsible use of natural resources and protection of ecosystems and recognized the importance of the natural biodiversity and traditional knowledge of the Dumagat people in the Sierra Madre region. As a result, the project was able to contribute to improving the community resilience through poverty reduction, food security, a sustainable livelihood and community development.  

References

http://www.ph.undp.org/content/philippines/en/home/countryinfo/
http://www.forestfoundation.ph/sierra-madre/

Authors

Alan Imai

Alan Imai is the director of Shumei’s Natural Agriculture programs overseeing international projects. Alan has been working with farmers for more than 15 years focusing on seed saving, soil restoration, biodiversity preservation and sustainable land management. Alan holds a B.A. degree in Horticulture from Shimane University in Japan.


Antonio De Castro

Antonio De Castro is project director of Shumei Natural Agriculture Farm in Tanay, Rizal, Philippines. Prior to joining Shumei in 2011, he was Director of Conservation International (Philippines office) and Director of the Center for Renewal Resources and Energy Efficiency. Antonio holds a B.A. degree in Comparative Literature from University of California, San Diego and has completed Master’s degree coursework in Social Ecology at University of California, Irvine in the USA.


Elizabeth P. De Castro

Elizabeth P. De Castro, PhD is corporate secretary of Shumei Philippines. Together with her husband, Antonio De Castro, she developed and implemented the UNDP-GEF project. She also helped organize activities in the indigenous peoples’ communities. She is a retired Professor of Psychology at the University of the Philippines.