Community dialogues, courtesy calls with mayors and farmers, and other opportunities to connect were important at the start of the project in 2017. These would plant the seeds for community-led conservation of forests in these areas.
*Learn more about the FOGOP project here.
Updates from the field
Coordination and meeting for the implementation of the Forest Governance Project (FoGoP) in the Mt. Siburan Important Bird Area (IBA).
Here Haribon Foundation COO Maria Belinda E. de la Paz speaks with Techical Officers from the Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR) Community Environment & Natural Resources Office of Sablayan and a representative from Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm (SPPF).
April 2017, Mt. Siburan Important Bird Area (IBA), Mindoro.
Signage and venue preparation before another stakeholders’ dialogue in the Siburan Important Bird Area (IBA).
May 2017, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro.
Environmental Governance Summit 2017
May 4, 2017, Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro
A view of Lanuza Bay from Mt. Hilong-Hilong where conservation efforts are now occurring with communities from both Mt. Hilong-Hilong and a marine protected area network in Lanuza Bay.
June 2017, Mt. Hilong-Hilong Important Bird Area (IBA), Surigao del Sur.
Stakeholders dialogue and project introduction of the Forest Governance Project Project in Mt. Irid-Angelo Important Bird Area (IBA), General Nakar, Quezon province.
July 2017, Mt. Irid-Angelo IBA, Quezon province.
After a year on hiatus, forest policies were deliberated in a recent congressional hearing.
Environmental advocates lobbied for an alternative forest management policy which will supersede the current 1975 Revised Forestry Code. For over two decades, bills on sustainable forest management have been pending at the lower house.
Known as the Forest Resources Bill (FRB), the “revitalized” policy seeks to ensure the continued and efficient use of Philippine forest resources for present and future generations.
July 2017, House of Representatives, Quezon City, Metro Manila.
An alliance of environmental network groups held a series of public activities to rally support for the Green Bills days leading up to Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 24, 2017.
The groups have also set up a public concert dubbed the State of the Environment Jam on July 21 in Quezon City and held an evening comedy show, Green Jokes on July 25.
July 2017, Quezon City, Metro Manila.
Members of the local government of Infanta, Quezon gathered in a training that teaches the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in disaster risk reduction and forest management.
August 29-30, 2017, Infanta, Quezon province
In a community dialogue, Siburan residents reported ongoing forest activities that threaten their forest home. This includes collection of firewood, rattan and bamboo from nearby forests, and snaring birds.
“To protect our watersheds and other endangered species like the Mindoro Bleeding-Heart pigeons and coucal birds, we are also covering Mount Siburan as part of the critical habitat,” said Fernando Dalangin, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer in Sablayan.
August 2017, Siburan, Mindoro
Members of the Lanuza OFW-Dependents Organic Farmers Association (LODOFA) told Haribon that they created the organization to lessen dependency on the remittances from their OFW family members.
Through communal unity or bayanihan, individual farmers share their land and labor in the production of organic vegetables. Around 7,500 square meters of agricultural land growing various vegetables are being maintained by the 22 members as their joint livelihood project.
The organic farming group has shown interest in joining upcoming forest restoration activities.
“Deforestation may affect our project in the lowland, especially during dry season,” said a LODOFA member.
“If the uplands will be denuded, we will suffer from water shortage which will greatly affect our farming.”
October 2017, Cantilan, Surigao del Sur
Sara Thomas of the Center for International Development and Training explains how giving, and getting, correct feedback is important in effective representation.
September 2017, Subic, Zambales.
A group photo of champions for our forests and watersheds.
Dr. Rex Victor Cruz (seated in pink polo), is professor at the Institute of Renewable Natural Resources in UPLB. He shared that there is a need to develop watershed management that goes beyond traditional political borders: activities must be synchronized from ridge to reef.
November 2017, Quezon City, Metro Manila
Various organizations from the Sierra Madre Network Alliance to government representatives were part of a round table discussion on how watersheds should be best managed.
November 2017, Quezon City, Metro Manila
Haribon Chief Operating Officer Maria Belinda de la Paz speaks to participants during a round table discussion on watershed management.
November 2017, Quezon City, Metro Manila
