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ABOUT THE COVER PHOTO Bantay Kalikasan volunteers get a better view of the Polillo Group of Islands where

they conduct regular patrolling and biodiversity monitoring of the declared Local Conservation Areas (LCAs), one of the remaining strongholds for Polillos important and unique flora and fauna. (PIBCFI/Virtito Natural). ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors would like to thank the following institutions for providing support for the development of this case study: Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PIBCFI), Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PBCFI), Global Environment FacilitySmall Grants Project-United Nations Development Programme, North of England Zoological Society (Chester Zoo), DENR-PAWB National, Regional and CENRO Offices, Municipal and Barangay Local Government Units of Polillo, Burdeos, Panukulan, Patnanungan and Jomalig, Samahan ng Bantay Kalikasan ng Polillo (SABAKAP), Burdeos Bantay Kalikasan Brigade (BBKB), Panukulan Bantay Kalikasan Association (PABAKA), ISLA Berde, Patnanugan Bantay Kalikasan, and Jomalig Bantay Kalikasan Association (JOBAKA).

SCALING-UP LOCAL CONSERVATION INITIATIVES


STORIES FROM POLILLO ISLANDS

APRIL 2013 Prepared by the Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PIBCFI) for the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) under the Up-Scaling Forest Restoration Efforts in Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) project. DISCLAIMER This publication is made possible through the generous support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the case study writerss and PIBCFI, and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, the United States

MESSAGE FROM

DENR

In this emerging era of climate change, environment and natural resources (ENR) around the globe are threatened with destruction to an extent rarely seen in earths history. The mitigation of the pernicious effects of climate change compels government, particularly us in the DENR, to adapt an integrated approach to ENR planning and decision making. Constructive engagement, international partnerships, and collaboration with the different sectors of society are forged not only to brace up our limited resources, but more so to create an enabling policy environment that would enhance institutional and regulatory capacities. It is in this complicated and complex task of building partnerships with key stakeholders that we appreciate the role played by the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE). A catalyst for cooperation, the FPE blazes trails in efforts to promote and encourage international and local cooperation among NGOs, business groups, and communities towards developing good policies and effective programs on biodiversity and sustainable management. The case studies presented in this publication bear testament to FPEs leading role in facilitating collaborations for sustainable development. Without the foundations assistance and effort to involve key stakeholders cooperation, appropriate assessments regarding the current conditions and trends of eight key biodiversity areas in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao would not have been made. Our success, hence, in establishing reliable bases for developing goals and strategies for future biodiversity and sustainable management interventions in these areas can only be ensured with support from the Foundation for the Philippine Environment.

RAMON J. P. PAJE
DENR Secretary

MESSAGE FROM

USAID

The realization of our shared vision of broad-based and inclusive growth is greatly aided by enhancing environmental resilience and ensuring that the countrys bountiful natural resources and life-giving ecosystems services are sustainably managed while reducing the risk of disasters. The U.S. Government holds firm to its commitment to help the Government of the Philippines to achieve this goal. Expanding the network of environmental stakeholders and providing continued support to local governments and communities on proper natural resource management are crucial strategies to achieve this goal. With these in mind, our partnership with the Government of the Philippines has yielded a large network of partners that engages local communities and groups in biodiversity conservation and natural resource management. We have helped empower our partners to be more involved in decision-making leading to better management and protection of natural resources that they depend on. This publication captures the key strategies applied through the years that Up-scaling Forest Restoration Project attempted to scale up in the last two years in eight key forest areas of the country. Eight case studies feature committed forest guard volunteers, lessons from science-based forest restoration efforts with indigenous peoples, and partnership building among government, communities, and the private sector to restore forest habitats and watersheds. This collection of stories is a testament to the hard work of our partners, led by the Foundation for the Philippine Environment, which collaboratively worked with local stakeholders to ensure that the approaches employed, milestones achieved, and lessons learned from our forest restoration efforts are carefully documented. It is our hope that knowledge sharing through publications like this will become a staple element in how we sustain our efforts in forest management. There is wisdom from the grassroots, as we have valuably learned through our initiatives, which have significant impact at the national level. I invite you to read these stories and share them with your network and other organizations working towards biodiversity conservation and environmental resilience.

GLORIA D. STEELE

Mission Director, USAID/Philippines

MESSAGE FROM

FPE

FPEs twenty-one years of working with partners to save forests and sustain life have borne fruit. Eight (8) case studies documenting the progress and challenges in expanding forest governance in key biodiversity areas (KBAs) are now available to the public. The cases relate, among others, how our partner in Negros Occidental transformed a silent subsistence community to active forest protectors; how planting native tree species revived dying forests and earned income for farmers in Leyte; how synergistic partnerships among various agencies accelerated watershed rehabilitation in Davao City; and how the concept of social fencing in the provinces of Quezon and Laguna deepened the communities' collective resolve and shared responsibility in guarding their forests for life. These are testaments of progress in FPEs conservation support. But the mission of the foundation is none more relevant than today, as scarcity of natural resources worsens hunger, climate change brings collateral damage to conservation investments, and unbridled population growth threatens the carrying capacity of our remaining forests. In almost all USAID-FPE USAID-FPE Project sites, our partners continue to face the challenges of poverty, unsustainable economic development, and fragmented or uncoordinated conservation initiatives. Notably, this is the first time in many years that our long-time partners in conservation took the initiative of assessing and documenting what strategies worked and what could still work to sustainably protect our forests in KBAs. This is a conscious attempt to create tools and platforms for knowledge access and sharing. All these interesting case studies constitute the second set of Kalikasan (Kaalamang Likas Yaman) Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development series, one of FPE's regular publications. The first set describes the results of resource and socio-economic assessments in selected KBAs. This second set combines best practices and lessons learned in forest restoration efforts under the USAID-FPE Up-Scaling Project. All Kalikasan BCSD series are packed with knowledge from projects and field experiences. FPE does not stop at merely making beautiful publications, but endeavors to translate knowledge into action towards improving our work and contribution to BCSD. Allow me to congratulate our project partners, local government units in project sites and USAID for making the case studies of the Up-Scaling Project possible. We hope our readers distill the lessons to guide future actions for more effective forest restoration and hunger alleviation.

NESTOR R. CARBONERA
Chair and CEO

MESSAGE FROM

PIBCFI

The Polillo Group of Islands is one of the Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) in the country. Literally named to mean a beautiful Island with plenty of food, the Polillo archipelago supports a diverse species of flora, fauna, and other natural resources. It is recognized as one of the globally important conservation priority sites. It supports several unique and threatened species that need urgent protection and conservation because of the continuing destruction of their habitats. For almost a decade now, the Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. (PIBCFI) has been in the forefront in implementing biodiversity conservation projects in the Polillos. Through the years, we are very much thankful for the support provided to us by various institutions. We are also grateful for the support provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) for our project on Up-Scaling Restoration Efforts in Key Biodiversity Areas. This initiative has provided us with opportunity to showcase the feasibility of the habitat restoration while providing additional income to participating communities. Our appreciation also to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the solidarity and support it extended in our quest to make a difference in conserving the amazing biodiversity of Polillo Islands. More importantly, we would like to express our deepest appreciation to local governments and communities in making all our conservation efforts feasible and meaningful. This case study is the culmination of almost a decade of experiences in working for biodiversity conservation in Polillo archipelago and we are glad to share our simple stories.

NYMPHA P. SANTOS
President

The BCSD Knowledge Series of FPE


Kaalamang Likas Yaman or simply, KALIKASAN, is the publication series of the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development (BCSD). Kaalaman is the Filipino term for knowledge while Likas Yaman is the term for nature or natural resources. Kaalamang Likas Yaman literally means knowledge of nature. As FPEs main thrust is
BCSD in key biodiversity areas of the Philippines, this series is essential in presenting and promoting valuable theories, case studies, site assessments and best practices and other learning materials. As Atty. Danny N. Valenzuela, FPE Chair and CEO (2010-2012), explains, That the work of the Foundation for the Philippine Environment on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development has gone a long way in the past twenty years cannot be overemphasized. In fact, it has become imperative for FPE to embark into an appropriate, meaningful and innovative knowledge management systems in order to preserve and properly utilize the significant learnings out of its various collaborations with partners in key biodiversity areas all over the country. As a major repository of the knowledge base of FPE and its partners, KALIKASAN will serve as a series of dynamic and enriching resource materials that will educate the readers, in particular those involved in the environmental protection of key biodiversity areas, and equip them with both theoretical and practical knowledge. Kaalamang Likas Yaman may also refer to the richness (yaman) of natural or intuitive knowledge (kaalamang likas). This is in recognition of the a priori knowledge of the people of local communities in FPE areas of operation and concern, especially among the grassroots communities and indigenous peoples, in environmental protection and conservation. KALIKASAN seeks to serve as a comprehensive BCSD reference and research source while tapping and augmenting the existing knowledge base of its partners, beneficiaries and communities. This is the legacy of the current FPE leadership to the next generation of Filipino environmentalists who will continue and further develop the current advocacies and endeavours of FPE and its partners.

KALIKASAN

USAID-FPE PROJECT
Up-Scaling Forest Restoration Efforts in Key Biodiversity Areas
For more than two decades, FPE has been at the forefront of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in the Philippines. FPE operates as a catalyst for cooperation, fund facilitator, and grant maker in order to save species, conserve sites, and sustain communities. Capitalizing on previous and existing forest restoration initiatives of its local site partners, FPE, in partnership with USAID, implemented the Up-Scaling Forest Restoration Efforts in Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) project from 2011 to 2013. This project seeks to address the decline of the Philippine forests by strengthening the protection of approximately 170,000 hectares of forest habitats and reforesting a total of 480 hectares within 8 sites in the bioregions of Cebu, Negros, Leyte (Eastern Visayas), Luzon and Mindanao. The project has also instituted mechanisms to sustain conservation efforts and continuously affect a macrolevel of consciousness among stakeholders. FPE supports its partners on sites in drawing lessons from projects and sharing results of research and experiences. FPE considers the knowledge gathered and lessons learned by the forest resource managers peoples organizations (POs), indigenous peoples organization (IPOs), forest guards and wardens, and the communities themselves as one of its strategic assets in improving methodologies, practices and systems toward BCSD. In the Islands of Polillo, from Quezon province in Luzon, forest conservation has been integrated in an island-wide environmental code, through the efforts of the Polillo Island Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PIBCFI). Forest wardens have also been instituted through the support of their municipal governments to protect remaining forests and flagship species. The USAID-FPE project helped PIBCFI expand the scope of their on-ground implementation, where there was a critical shift in protection efforts from LGU to community level. This case study contains PIBCFIs efforts in improving initiatives in their local conservation areas, leading to more concrete policies and programs for sustainability.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACRONYMS BEAUTIFUL ISLAND WITH PLENTY OF FOOD BIODIVERSITY VALUES REVEALED BIODIVERSITY IN PERIL BIODIVERSITY IMPORTANCE RECOGNIZED BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION TRAILBLAZING MOBILIZING MORE SUPPORT FOR CONSERVATION The Pioneering Local Conservation Area Building Local Capacities to Manage LCAs Consolidating and Expanding Conservation Momentum SCALING UP CONSERVATION INITIATIVES Mainstreaming Habitat Restoration in the Conservation Agenda Habitat Restoration as an Opportunity for Organizational Strengthening Demonstrating the Feasibility of Habitat Restoration Habitat Restoration as a Source of Additional Income Biodiversity Summit: The 1 of Its Kind
st

ii 2 2 5 7 7 8 9 12 12 13 14 17 19 20 21 23 23 25 29

Knowledge Sharing Testimonies from the Field LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCES AND WAY FORWARD REFERENCES

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Scaling-Up Local Conservation Initiatives Stories from Polillo Islands

ACRONYMS
A&D AgF ANR BBKB BK CENRO CLOA DENR DENRO DOLE FFI FPE H/FRes KBA LCA LGC LGU MENRO MOA NewCAPP NGO PABAKA PAWB PBCFI PBCP PESP PIBCFI PTFCF SABAKAP SGP UNDP-GEF USAID Alienable & Disposable Agroforestry Assisted Natural Regeneration Burdeos Bantay Kalikasan Brigade Bantay Kalikasan Community Environment and Natural Resources Office Certificate of Land Ownership Award Department of Environment and Natural Resources Deputy Environment and Natural Resources Officer Department of Labor and Employment Flora and Fauna International Foundation for the Philippine Environment Habitat/Forest Restoration Sites Key Biodiversity Area Local Conservation Area Local Government Code Local Government Unit Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer Memorandum of Agreement New Conservation Areas in the Philippines Project Non-Government Organization Panukulan Bantay Kalikasan Association Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Incorporated Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Programme Polillo Islands Stewardship Project Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Incorporated Philippines Tropical Forestry Conservation Foundation Samahan ng Bantay Kalikasan ng Polillo Small Grants Programme United Nations Development Programme-Global Environment Facility United States Agency for International Development

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Scaling-Up Local Conservation Initiatives Stories from Polillo Islands

BEAUTIFUL ISLAND WITH PLENTY OF FOOD


Mention the word Polillo and many would associate it as a pathway of incoming and outgoing typhoons in the Philippines. Located in the central east coast of Luzon mainland and facing the Pacific Ocean, is now creating a different reputation of its own - that is a group of islands where success stories on biodiversity conservation are noteworthy. Arne Jensen, an international expert on biodiversity monitoring has this to say about the place, Polillo biodiversity management appears to be one of the few monitoring sunshine events we have in the country, both in terms of sustainability, involvement and conservation action progress. The term Polillo is derived from Chinese word Pu li lu, which means a beautiful island with plenty of food. Yes, it is indeed a lovely island, because it is gifted with bounties of nature, some of which could not be found elsewhere in the world. Polillo is composed of 27 small islands and islets, the reason why it is commonly called as the Polillo Group of Islands, or also popularly known as the Polillo Islands. Others call it as the Polillos or Polillo Archipelago. Five political units divide Polillo Islands in Quezon province. The mainland, the Polillo Island, is the biggest in the archipelago and comprised of Polillo, Burdeos, and Panukulan municipalities. The second and third largest islands are the insular municipalities of Patnanungan and Jomalig. Polillo and Patnanungan Islands are characterized by low elevations with gradual slopes and interconnected river systems. Mount Malulod, about 350 meters above sea level, is the highest point in Polillo Islands, whereas Jomalig Island is essentially a flat land. The total land area of the Polillos is estimated at 82,617.30 hectares. The location map of Polillo Islands is presented in Figure 1.

BIODIVERSITY VALUES REVEALED


The Polillo Group of Islands is now getting known as one of the natural wonders of the Philippines, because it harbors diverse species of flora and fauna that are unique to the Philippines and to this island group, in particular. A number of biological Scaling-Up Local Conservation Initiatives Stories from Polillo Islands

Figure 1. Location Map of Polillo Group of Islands

researches had been initiated by individuals and institutions who saw the potential of Polillo Islands in terms of biological resources. Results of these studies have confirmed the importance of the Polillo Group of Islands as one of the priority conservation areas in the Philippines. One of the major features of Polillo Islands is its remaining forests that are entirely classified as lowland evergreen forests. The natural landscapes and seascapes of Polillo Islands are composed of several ecosystems and habitats, from lowland evergreen and mangrove forests, to aquatic and marine ecosystems, including unique limestone forests and unspoiled islets and smaller islands (Figure 2). These habitats are refuge to several endemic species of plants and animals. Several interesting species are named after the place, having been first discovered and recorded in Polillo Islands. These species include the tiny Polillo forest frog (Platymantis polilloensis) and the colorful Polillo greenscaled gecko (Pseudogekko smaragdinus). In addition, numerous other sub-species are

Source: Gonzalez, J.C.T. and PCBCPI (2005) Preliminary Report on the Fauna Inventory of Priority Sites in the Polillo Islands, Philippines (Mount Malulod, Macnit and Aluyon Forests)

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Scaling-Up Local Conservation Initiatives Stories from Polillo Islands

Figure 2. The Landscape and Seascape of Polillo Islands (PIBCFI file photo)
4

Figure.3 Philippine dwarf kingfisher, a threatened spices found in the Polillo Group of Islands (PIBCFI/Virtito Natural, Jr.)

known to exist only in this group of island, such as the Polillo tarictic hornbill (Penelopides manillae subnigra), Blue-naped parrot (Tanygnathus lucionensis hybridus), Blue-backed parrot (Tanygnathus sumatranus freeri), Crested goshawk (Accipiter trivirgatus castroi), Polillo trogon (Harpactes ardens minor), Polillo greater flameback (Chrysocolaptes lucidus grandis), and the Polillo white-browned Shama (Copsychus luzoniensis parvimaculatus). Some important genera of plants are Pandanus, Canarium, Grewia and Gnetum. Figures 3 shows one of the species found in the Polillos.

BIODIVERSITY IN PERIL
Unfortunately some species listed in Polillo Islands are now at the brink of extinction in the wild, since they are already classified as threatened species under the Red List of Threatened Species of the IUCN-World Conservation Union. These species are the Philippine cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia), Blue-naped parrot (Tanygnathus lucionensis), Luzon bleeding-heart (Gallicolumba luzonica), Red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus), Butaan monitor lizard (Varanus olivaceus), Polillo forest frog (Platymantis polilloensis), Philippine brown deer (Cervus mariannus), Philippine warty pig (Sus philippensis),

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Scaling-Up Local Conservation Initiatives Stories from Polillo Islands

Long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis), Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), and Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata). The Polillo Islands were thickly forested before, and its mangrove and coral reefs were quite extensive in the early 1900s. However, massive commercial logging between the 1950s and 1980s has reduced the forest cover of the group of islands. Roughly, only about 19% of the Polillo Islands total land area remains forested today. Much of the forests found in the area are already fragmented. These forest fragments and their undergrowth are clustered into blocks, particularly found in northern, central and southern of Polillo mainland and Patnanungan Island. The Polillo municipality accounts for about 46% of the total forest cover of Polillo Islands, the largest across all municipalities, followed by Burdeos and Patnanungan, each with almost 18% of the total. Mangroves are situated along the coastlines of five municipalities and the most extensive is found in Burdeos, due to a number of islands in its jurisdiction. Marshes or wetlands, covered with grassy vegetation, can also be found in Jomalig. Most formerly forested areas in Polillo Islands have since been converted into human settlement and permanent agriculture, particularly coconut plantations, while most of the few remaining forests are secondary, fragmented, and otherwise disturbed. Almost 54% of the Polillos total land area is already devoted to coconut plantation and 13% is cultivated with assorted crops. The continued attrition

of these forest fragments, through slash-and-burn cultivation, coupled with unregulated cutting of trees, hunting, and other unsustainable extraction of forest products, poses further severe threats to the biologically important species and habitats in Polillo Islands, especially the lowland forest. Residents in Polillo Islands are still relying on the remaining natural forest for timber and fuel wood requirements. Table 1 presents the different land cover types of Polillo Islands.

LAND COVER TYPES


Clouds Shadows Water bodies Coastal habitats Mangroves Marshes Grassland/ Bare soil Cultivated areas Forests Coconut plantations TOTAL

POLILLO
46.7 31 0.6 91.4 816.6 0 766.7 3,192.90 7,384.60 15,933.70 28,264.30

BURDEOS
324.8 152.7 5.4 216.2 1,989.10 0 641.8 3,166.60 2,845.10 10,939.60 20,281.30

PANUKULAN
24 29.8 5.1 153.4 1,227.10 0 426.5 2,379.50 2,075.30 12,715.50 19,036.20

PATNANUNGAN
0 0 0.8 140.1 994.6 0 863.2 1,438.80 2,837.90 3,439.10 9,714.50

JOMALIG
0 0 7.6 106.5 91.2 144.2 2,543.30 378.8 795.6 1,253.90 5,321.10

TOTAL
395.5 213.5 19.5 707.6 5,118.60 144.2 5,241.50 10,556.60 15,938.50 44,281.80 82,617.30

Table 1. Land Cover Types of the Polillo Groups of Islands by Municipality The economic activities in Polillo Islands are basically resource-based. Farming and fishing are main sources of income of most of the residents. Some residents also resort to harvesting of forest products to augment their meager income, especially when farming and fishing are not feasible, particularly during October, November, January, and February. Freshwater and mangrove resources also provide additional livelihood. Some mangrove forests are converted to establish nipa plantation for lambanog production. Prior to the implementation of some conservation initiatives in the area, the insufficiency of available resources and support, lack of capacity and technical expertise, and absence of appropriate institutional arrangements to effectively protect and manage the remaining forests seriously aggravated the situation. Awareness on the biodiversity importance of Polillos was very low then, and local governments were not also fully engaged in implementing conservation measures.

Source: De Alban, Jose Don T. (2007). Spatial Profile of Local Conservation Areas in the Municipality of Polillo, Quezon Province, Philippines: A Final Report. Pioneering Community-based Conservation Sites in the Polillo Islands Project. Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. Unpublished PAGE 7 Scaling-Up Local Conservation Initiatives Stories from Polillo Islands

Figure 4. Location Map of Polillo and Panukulan Watershed Reservation (Source: DENR Re-

BIODIVERSITY IMPORTANCE RECOGNIZED


No less than the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recognized the biodiversity significance of the Polillo Group of Islands. In a priority setting, this island group has been included in PAWBs List of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) of the Philippines. On the other hand, the Haribon Foundation, with Birdlife International, also included the Polillo Islands as one of the Key Conservation Sites and Endemic Bird Area in the Philippines. However, because of its isolation from the mainland Luzon, the Polillo Group of Islands seemed to be left out from the attention

Source: De Alban, Jose Don T. (2007). Spatial Profile of Local Conservation Areas in the Municipality of Jomalig, Quezon Province, Philippines: A Final Report. Pioneering Community-based Conservation Sites in the Polillo Islands Project. Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. Unpublished 8

Figure 6. The declared Local Conservation Areas (LCAs) within mainland Polillo

Source

Figure 5. Annual Tarictic Festival (Liza Dans/PIBCFI) PAGE 9 Scaling-Up Local Conservation Initiatives Stories from Polillo Islands

and priority of concerned national government agencies in terms of environment and natural resources management in the past, in spite the declaration of three sites as supposedly protected areas. The forest reserves declared in Polillo Island are t he two watershed reservations (Figure 4) in Polillo and Panukulan municipalities and the Minasawa Island Game Refuge and Birds Sanctuary in Burdeos. These three sites have no clear institutional arrangements in place for their effective management.

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION TRAILBLAZING


The significance and associated threats to the biodiversity of Polillo Islands have prompted the Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Programme (PBCP), formerly administered by the Flora and Fauna International (FFI) and now by the Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PBCFI), to launch the Polillo Islands Stewardship Project (PESP). The PESP was conceived in the late 1990s as a practical approach in implementing wildlife and habitat protection in the area, when wildlife hunting and trade were rampant. With funding support from the Chester Zoo, the PESP was also designed to increase local awareness activities, and assist research on key species and habitats. The initiation of the PESP gained broader interest on the biological worth of the Polillos, and later on attracted the attention of other local and international researches and conservationists, including a series of expeditions jointly conducted by the University of the Philippines Los Baos and Oxford University, survey on the distribution and status of the Polillo tarictic hornbill, field studies on Butaan monitor lizard, long-term monitoring of the Philippine cockatoo and other biological surveys and initiatives. The PESP mobilized some community volunteers to implement biodiversity monitoring and protection in the municipality of Polillo. It also carried out numerous conservation awareness activities, using the available scientific data in informing local governments and communities on how important the Polillo Islands is in biodiversity conservation, especially with the presence of endemic species in the islands. Highlighting local species in conservation awareness gained the support of stakeholders, which eventually led to the adaption by the Polillo municipality of the Annual Tarictic Festival (Figure 5). The implementation of the PESP has led to the development of the Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Programme, and eventually the organization of the Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PIBCFI), which was primarily aimed in instituting a more structured delivery of conservation outcomes in the Polillo Islands. It should be noted that prior to the formation of PIBCFI in 2003, no single organization was focusing on biodiversity conservation in the Polillos, particularly on terrestrial ecosystems. The PESP later evolved as the Polillo Islands Biodiversity Protection and Monitoring Project with continuing support from the Chester Zoo. Figure 6 presents the different conservation initiatives implemented in Polillo Islands.

MOBILIZING MORE SUPPORT FOR CONSERVATION


The urgent need to respond to conservation to conservation challenges in Polillo Islands has motivated the PIBCFI, in partnership with PBCFI, to mobilize broader support to implement conservation projects. One of the key concerns then was the development of institutional mechanism that would ensure the effective management of biologically important sites in the island group, since most of these sites were open access. It was by this account that PIBCFI explored alternative management modality that wou ld provide more responsibility to local governments in responding to conservation issues and concerns.

THE PIONEERING LOCAL CONSERVATION AREA


A major project, entitled Pioneering Community-Based Conservation Sites in the Polillo Islands, was developed and implemented in 2005 to 2008, with funding support from the Darwin Initiative, through FFI and PBCFI. The project enabled and facilitated the implementation of what is now popularly known as the Local Conservation Areas (LCAs). The LCA concept was coined by the principal author of this paper, who was then providing technical assistance in the 10

Figure 6. Timeline on projects implemented by PIBCFI since 2003

Pioneering Community Based Conservations Sites in the Polillo Islands Project funded by Darwin Initiatives (2005-2008) Supported by Darwin Initiative in collaboration with Flora and Fauna International

Date Started
Oxford-UPLB Research within the Polillo Group of Islands gives sparked further interest on biodiversity of the Polillo Group of Islands

Pior to 2003
Polillo Ecology Stewardship Project funded by North of England Zoological Society, Chester Zoo (1998-2008)

2005

PESP Phase 2: Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation and Monitoring Programme with funding support from the North of England Zoological Society (NEZS)

2008

COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS Butaan Research Project with Dr. Daniel Bennett Original research on Grays monitor (Varanus olivaceous) in Sibulan Watershed in Polillo Island, especially its role in the survival and dispersal of Pandanus, Canarium, Grewia and Gnetum seeds (1999-2009) Philippine Cockatoo Monitoring with Katala Foundation, Inc (2005 to present)

Aquatic Survey in Burdeos Municip North of England Zo Society, Chester Zoo 2008)

Integrated Support for the Lowland Forest Conservation (ISLAND) Project funded by Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation (20082009)

Enhancing Community Participation in Habitat Protection and Restoration in the Polillo Group of Islands (ECPHPRPGI) Project with funding support from Global Environment FacilitySmall Grants Programme-United Nations Development Programme (GEF-SGPUNDP)

2009

2010
New Conservation Areas in the Philippines funded by United Nations Development Programme and Global Environmental Facility in cooperation with Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (2010-2012)

2012

2012
Up-Scaling Forest Restoration Efforts in Key Biodiversity Areas with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE)

vey in Polillo and unicipalities with nd Zoological er Zoo (2006-

Polillo Islands Biodiversity Surveys with UPLB Museum of Natural History (2006-2008)

Coral Reef Resource Assessment and Management Recommendations, Polillo Islands, Philippines with Coral Cay Conservation (2006)

Figure 7. The 10 declared LCAs within mainland Polillo implementation of the Darwin supported project, as an alternative scheme to nationally-driven management system of natural resources. It should be noted that while three sites in Polillo Island have been nationally declared as reservations, they still lack effective protection measures from destructive activities. The opportunity accorded by the Local Government Code (LGC) had been maximized by the project to facilitate in setting up the first ever network of LCAs, identified and agreed in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders and managed by concerned local governments. This project has facilitated the declaration of 10 separate LCAs, totaling about 7,000 hectares (Figure 7). The LCA scheme was formally initiated in November 2007 via the concurrent issuance of local government ordinances by all three municipalities in the mainland Polillo. The numerous studies conducted in the Polillos became the basis in identifying potential sites to be declared as LCAs. The declaration of these sites followed a consultative process involving affected communities. The LCA Ordinances issued PAGE 13 by the three municipalities in Polillo Island have been affirmed and approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Quezon province. Figure 8 presents the procedures implemented in the declaration of LCAs. The major contribution of LCA was the development of an innovative and far more localized system of natural resources management. The LCA offers more ownership to local stakeholders and thus increases the prospects of effective enactments of agreed conservation management priorities. The establishment of LCAs provided a likely longer-term sustainability of these interventions, through key funding mechanisms and other provisions of the covering municipal government ordinances, specifically tailored to address priority concerns identified and agreed during prior consultative processes. The salient features of the LCA included the following: Delineation of sites declared as LCAs with specific technical descriptions; Acceptance and incorporation of any prior right

Scaling-Up Local Conservation Initiatives Stories from Polillo Islands

(i.e. areas within LCAs covered by existing legal private land titles, stewardship contracts and other valid and legitimate resource use rights), while nonetheless also requiring that all activities in these areas conform to the management plan prepared for each site through creating formal partnership agreements with prior rights holders designed to enable the cooperative management and protection of the tenured areas; Formal establishment of LCA Management Council in each municipality to serve as the requisite (but previously non-existent) local management authority; each of which councils are co-chaired by the municipal mayor and DENR officer, but must also include council member representatives from all relevant local NGOs and POs; Development and implementation of detailed management plan for each declared LCA and which also define any necessary management zones, like the strict protection or core areas any other limited use areas per essential for local community livelihood requirements and land tenure agreements; Definition of prohibited activities and corresponding penalties and policing mechanisms; and Establishment of relevant financing mechanisms, like annual LGU budgetary allocations. Even more importantly, and almost certainly uniquely in the Philippine context, the identification and subsequent declaration of these LCAs was firmly centered on both regionwide and site-based biodiversity surveys, led by the most experienced local field research biologists. The new LCA network was not only established on the basis of sound scientific criteria, but was also designed to optimize local social acceptability and stakeholder ownership. The declaration of LCAs also resulted in the rapidly expanding number of Bantay Kalikasan members who were actively engaged and trained for forest protection, restoration, and biodiversity monitoring in the three municipalities. All of these operations were not only fully supported by the three LGUs, but also supported by other counterpart funds raised by PBCFI and PIBCFI from various institutions.

BUILDING LOCAL CAPACITIES TO MANAGE LCAS


The Philippine Tropical Forestry Conservation Foundationsupported Integrated Support for the Lowland Forest Conservation (ISLAND Project) has further enhanced conservation initiatives in the Polillos. Through this project, which was implemented from October 2008 to December 2009, some provisions of the ordinances declaring the LCAs were implemented, especially the formation and capacity building of each LCA Management Council in the municipalities of Polillo, Burdeos, and Panukulan. The ISLAND Project further supported the initial operations of the Management Councils, including the formulation of their manual of operations and strategic action plans. Moreover, the PTFCF-funded project reached out to the members of the Bantay Kalikasan and has assisted them to be organized in the three mainland municipalities. These BK organizations are the Samahan ng Bantay Kalikasan in Polillo (SABAKAP), Burdeos Bantay Kalikasan Brigade (BBKB) and Panukulan Bantay Kalikasan (PABAKA).

CONSOLIDATING AND EXPANDING CONSERVATION MOMENTUM


The momentum achieved in biodiversity conservation in Polillo Islands has further attracted the attention of other institutions. In 2010, the Polillo Group of Islands has been identified as one of the pilot sites for the implementation of the project known as the Expanding and Diversifying the National System of Terrestrial Protected Areas in the Philippines Project of the DENR, through the PAWB, with funding support from the United Nations Development Programme Global Environment Facility (UNDP-GEF). The project, which was later on renamed as the New Conservation in the Philippines Project (NewCAPP), was designed to explore various modalities in managing the different KBAs of the country. One of the most important contributions of the NewCAPP was the establishment of conservation landmarks through the boundary delineation of the declared LCAs in the Polillo

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Figure 8. Process declaration of Local Conservation Areas (LCAS)

mainland and the expansion of three additional LCAs in the municipalities of Patnanungan and Jomalig. The project further enhanced the management capacities of LGUs in ensuring the management sustainability of LCAs, while providing support to the institutionalization of community-based biodiversity protection and monitoring. The NewCAPP has developed and implemented another pioneering effort in the Polillos, with the introduction of EvidencedBased Biodiversity Monitoring. This monitoring scheme involves local communities who are trained to establish monitoring stations and to implement protection activities in the different LCAs. Figure 9 shows the different steps being undertaken by the BKs in monitoring destructive forest activities in Polillo Islands. Another complimentary effort was introduced in 2012, through the Enhancing Community Participation in Habitat Protection and Restoration in the Polillo Group of Islands Project, with support from the UNDP-GEF Small Grant Programme. The project enabled the expansion of community-based biodiversity protection system in Patnanungan and Jomalig. To date, there are more than 50 volunteers in the two municipalities and are already active in implementing forest protection measures. The three Bantay Kalikasan groups in Polillo mainland have moved forward to become Peoples Organizations with complete set of officers and operational systems and procedures. These BK members were trained and deputized as Environment and Natural Resources Officers (ENROs) of the DENR.

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Scaling-Up Local Conservation Initiatives Stories from Polillo Islands

To ensure coordination of the different community volunteers from five municipalities, the UNDP-GEF-SGP project facilitated the formation of an island-wide coordinating body of the Bantay Kalikasan. This coordinating body ensures that activities of the BKs are within the scope of authority provided with them as DENROs. The operations of these BK groups are also supported by local governments, through provision of modest monthly honorarium and operational funds. The BKs are conducting regular monitoring of the different declared LCAs.

SCALING UP CONSERVATION INITIATIVES


The conservation initiatives in the Polillo Islands have scaled up with the introduction of a project that would implement direct forest and habitat restoration, while providing additional income to local communities. One of the key concerns in the Polillos is the fragmentation of the remaining forest. In addition, agricultural development in the area is intensive and therefore it necessitates the demonstration of technologies that would balance agriculture and forestry or popularly known as agro-forestry. With funding support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through the Foundation for the

16

Figure 9 Steps undertaken by the BKs in monitoring destructive forest activities in Polillo Islands (Alex P. Acuna/Virtito Natural, Jr., PIBCFI) Philippine Environment (FPE), PIBCFI has again embarked in a milestone that further scaled up conservation initiatives in the Polillo Group of Islands.

Monitoring

MAINSTREAMING HABITAT RESTORATION IN THE CONSERVATION AGENDA


The main objective of the Up-Scaling Forest Restoration Efforts in Key Biodiversity Areas is the establishment of forest and habitat restoration, and PIBCFI mainstreamed this activity to the over-all conservation agenda in the Polillo Group of Islands, as presented in the Habitat Restoration Framework (Figure 11). It should be noted that the establishment of LCAs in Polillo Island served as the main backdraft of all other conservation efforts. Aside from protecting the remaining habitats and species, there is also a need to rehabilitate the denuded portions of the declared LCAs. Therefore, it necessitates the form ati on of groups that will ensure the longterm protection and restoration of forest habitats in the area. The different Bantay Kalikasan groups have been mobilized for this purpose. USAID-FPE project provided the necessary capacity building, not PAGE 17 Scaling-Up Local Conservation Initiatives Stories from Polillo Islands

Documentation

Reporting

only on technical aspects, but including the management and financial considerations for habitat restoration. During the training on habitat restoration (Figure 10), the BKs prepared their action plan and developed criteria for the selection of cooperators for the establishment of restoration sites. The project has adopted two major approaches in the implementation of the habitat restoration, and these are the Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) and agro-forestry technologies. The ANR was the preferred approach in habitat restoration since most of the sites intended for rehabilitation were already secondary growth and sparsely vegetated. On the other hand, agro-forestry was designed to demonstrate the feasibility of combining both forestry and agriculture in upland development. To implement the agro-forestry component of the project, PIBCFI, in consultation with BK groups, came out with sets of criteria for the selection of farmer-cooperators. The farmercooperators should have valid land tenure over the area they actually cultivate, the first criterion identified by the project. It should be noted that some portions of the declared LCAs are covered with Certificate of Stewardship Contracts (CSCs) under the Integrated Social Forestry Program (ISFP) of the DENR, which was devolved to the provincial government. The criterion on land tenure is very essential so that the farmercooperators will have ownership of the established agro-forestry and they would be eligible for sustainable harvesting. The two other criteria in agro-forestry development are the willingness of farmer-cooperators to engage in the project and must belong to the low-income bracket One of the purposes of the project was also to augment the income of farmer-cooperators.

Establishment of Local Conservation Area

Formation of Bantay Kalikasan Association

Registration as a Peoples Organization

Capacity building on Habitat Restoration Establishment (FRes)

Selection process for farmer cooperators

Selection of Habitat/ Forest Restoration Sites (FRes)


Figure 10. The Habitat Restoration Framework

HABITAT RESTORATION AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ORGANIZATIONAL STRENGTHENING

There are three established Bantay Kalikasan organizations in the Polillo mainland and these are the Samahan ng Bantay Kalikasan ng Polillo, Burdeos Bantay Kalikasan Brigade and Panukulan Bantay Kalikasan Association (PABAKA). At the end of 2012, there are 60 BKs in mainland Polillo, 45 of them have been deputized as Deputy Environment and Natural Resource Officers by the DENR. The BK groups are spread out in the 23 barangays where the different LCAs are located. They are monitoring the more than 7,000 hectares of lowland dipterocarp forest. Additional 50 BKs for the neighboring municipalities of Patnanungan and Jomalig are also applying as DENROs. The USAID-FPE Project has provided the necessary equipment and materials to support the operations of the Bantay Kalikasan members. 18

The habitat restoration further provided sense of organizational belonging to each of the BK association in the three municipalities of Polillo mainland. The project has provided opportunities to BK members in collective planning, implementation and monitoring of the different activities, especially so that habitat restoration has two major components Assisted Natural Regeneration and Agro-Forestry. To ensure the effective implementation of the habitat restoration, the project provided relevant trainings to the members of the BK. It should be noted that these trainings did not only provide technical skills on habitat restoration but also included aspects related to project management. During the training, each of the BK groups prepared an action plan on how to deliver the required outputs and developed operational systems in project management, including proper financial administration. The three BK groups in the Polillo mainland are already recognized by local government units.

DEMONSTRATING THE FEASIBILITY OF HABITAT RESTORATION


The implementation of this project has demonstrated a systematic approach in habitat restoration using ANR and agroforestry technologies. It should be noted that prior to this project, tree planting activities have been carried out in different areas of Polillo Islands, but they were implemented sporadically and no long-term sustainability mechanisms were in place, resulting to the low survival of planted trees. The different BK associations were mobilized to implement the habitat restoration of the USAID-FPE Project. The project implementation commenced with the development of habitat restoration action plan by each BK group in Polillo mainland. One of the innovative approaches implemented by the project was the conduct of suitability assessment in targeted areas for ANR. Sites selected for this purpose were abandoned kaingins, denuded portions of watersheds and sparsely vegetated areas. The suitability assessment was first carried out to determine the species requirements of selected sites. This is to ensure that the species planted in habitat restoration sites are those thriving in the area. The species selection was done through inventory of available species in the targeted site and its adjacent areas. On the process of species inventory, the BK groups also identified sources of planting materials. Another component of suitability assessment was the selection of forest nursery site where water

plan

source is readily available. Species selection for habitat restoration did consider a variety of species to be planted, including food plants for wildlife. List of available species was prepared by each BK association. The main idea of habitat restoration under this project in Polillo is to bring back what the forest looked like before in selected sites. Each BK group in three municipalities of Polillo Island established forest trees nursery where growth chambers (Figure 11) for seedlings were also constructed. Only native and indigenous tree species were produced for ANR. Each BK association further constructed a bunk house adjacent to their forest trees nursery, which not only helps them in habitat restoration activities but also serves as venue for organizational activities such as trainings and meetings. The local government unit of Polillo, Burdeos and Panukulan provided a counterpart fund for the construction of these bunk houses. By the end of 2012, BK members in the Polillo mainland municipalities were able to establish the pioneering ANR for a total area of 36 hectares, exceeding the target 30 hectares. Thirteen farmer-cooperators were also selected to implement agro-forestry and they were able to establish a total of 31 hectares of demonstration sites. The farmer-cooperators have been trained and assisted by BK members in the establishment of agro-forestry sites. Each cooperator has executed a partnership agreement with PIBCFI and the concerned BK association for the establishment, maintenance and monitoring of agro-forestry demonstration sites.

HABITAT RESTORATION AS A SOURCE OF ADDITIONAL INCOME


The USAID-FPE Project further demonstrated that habitat restoration is indeed a potential source of additional income for communities. Although the project only covered 60 hectares, it already showed its potential of providing direct economic benefits to project participants. It can only be assumed that more individuals will be given additional incentives if the area covered by the project shall be extended. Figure.11 Growth chambers constructed to house indigenous tree species as planting materials for the habitat restoration establishments (Rosalie Pasibe/ FPE) A total of 46 Bantay Kalikasan members have been

Monthly income in Php 500.00-1,399.00 1400.00-2,299.00 2,300.00-3,199.00 3,200.00-4,299.00 4,300.00-5,198.00 Total

Frequency 7 7 26 4 2 46

involved in production of planting materials and establishment of habitat restoration sites. Their baseline income for the month ranges from Php 500, being the lowest, to Php 5,000, as the highest (Table 2 and Figure 12). These BKs are volunteers who receive monthly honorarium of Php 150 to Php 500 from the local governments. Majority of Bantay Kalikasan (BK) members, with a total of 26 individuals, have a monthly income ranging from Php 2,300.00 to Php 3,199.00, accounting to 57% of the total participating BKs, while seven BK members fall between the income ranges of Php 500.00 to Php 1,399.00. Additional seven participating BKs have a monthly income from Php 1,400.00 to Php 2,299.00 and four others have monthly income from Php 3,200 to Php 4,299.00. Only two BKs have a monthly income from Php 4,300.00 to Php 5,198.00. Following the establishment of habitat restoration activities, there was a noticeable increased income among 46 participating BKs, as shown in Table 3 and Figure 22

% Increase Number of BK Percentage

28-151 7 19.44%

152-275 20 55.56%

276-399 4 11.11%

400-523 4 11.11%

524-647 0 0.00%

648-771 1 2.78%

Source: Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Incorporated. (2012). Up-Scaling Forest Restoration Efforts in Key Biodiversity Areas Project Fourth Quarter Report. Unpublished

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Scaling-Up Local Conservation Initiatives Stories from Polillo Islands

Majority of BKs have increase of 152-275% on monthly income. On the average, each BK has an income increase of 183%.

BIODIVERSITY SUMMIT: THE 1ST OF ITS KIND

One significant event that occurred during the implementation of the USAID-FPE project was the holding of the 1st Polillo Group of Islands Biodiversity Summit. The affair maybe considered as one historic event in Polillo Islands since it was the first time that representatives of key stakeholders convened to discuss biodiversity initiatives, challenges and directions. The delegations comprised of representatives from LGUs, NGOs, POs and concerned national agencies. Leading the participants to the biodiversity summit were none other than the local chief executives of the five municipalities municipalities of Polillo Group of Islands. The summit provided a venue for the different stakeholders to discuss challenges and the associated recommendations (Table 4) on biodiversity for each of the municipality. During the event, participants came up with a mutually agreed framework of cooperation and coordination in addressing biodiversity issues and concerns. In particular, the summit was able to achieve the following: (a) Presented the biodiversity importance of the Polillo Group of Islands as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA); (b) Identified issues and concerns that needs to be addressed in terms of biodiversity conservation and management; (c) Provided a venue for the sharing of various conservation strategies, models, experiences, and lessons learned within the Polillo Group of Islands; (d) Discussed opportunity for funding on conservation initiatives within the PGI; and (e) Drafted the Polillo Group of Islands Biodiversity Conservation Strategic Action Plan (PGIBCSAP). Another significant achievement of the summit was the agreement to organize the Polillo Group of Islands Environment and Natural Resources Management Council, which will bind together the five LGUs and other relevant stakeholders in one management body primarily to focus on the biodiversity conservation of this group

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Table 4. Issues and recommendations during the summits planning workshop ISSUES IDENTIFIED/REFLECTIONS DAY 1 1. Insufficient IRA INITIAL RECOMMENDATION(S)/ INPUTS/ COMMITMENTS Recognition of assistance from the NGO/PO partners of LGUs LGUs to strategize on having additional income as reinforcement to IRA Pursuance of environmental advocacy agenda Prioritize discussion to include ENR data in AIPs of LGUs LGUs should do analysis projection on resource use for the next years (secure resources: CLUP to CDP to AIP) Include all sectors (participatory) LGUs should not only focus on preparing CLUPs for A & D lands but also in Public Lands (to include ENR side) Look at HLURBs guidelines (inclusion of hazard zones in the map) Include ancestral domains Practice riparian rights Prioritize protection and conservation of ENR Include in the 3D map location of major fish sanctuaries (mangroves, seaweeds, corals) Establish zoning of non-negotiable areas with corresponding ordinance about its use (alignments of land uses in zoning) Have data on biodiversity index and also include this in CLUP preparation With huge potential on tourism, LGUs to also put priority on resolving property rights issues through zoning LGUs to submit request for amendment regarding the new mining law to the Office of the President LGUs can look and review PD 1586 (Environmental Impact Statement process) and LGU Code (right and social responsibility of LGUs to protect public welfare) Non-negotiable areas: Five mayors can have a unified ordinance, NGOs support LGU efforts, and Provincial Government can issue an ordinance declaring nonnegotiable areas A MOA between LGUs and DENR re non-negotiable areas can also be executed Prepare map of the watershed and attach this to LGUs ordinance regarding LCAs

2. Priority on inclusion and use of ENR data in preparation of CLUP Concentration of most LGUs development plans is in infrastructure projects Comprehensive water use plan (i.e. Sanctuaries) 3. Strategy of CLUP preparation

Use of 3-D map data and information

Conflicting interests of Philippine environmental laws and policies i.e. E.O. 79

Lack of belief of individuals in proposed watershed despite LCA ordinance

On23 volume of ground water and its Initiatives Stories PGI from has no water resources assessment yet. The results PAGE Scaling-Up Local Conservation Polillo Islands capacity to supply of the assessment should be also included in the CLUP.

ISSUES IDENTIFIED/REFLECTIONS DAY 1 contiunation Panukulan, Polillo, and Burdeos to prepare an Integrated CLUP On legal battles regarding boundary dispute of LGUs Abuses on establishment of salvage zones (conflicting with PD 1067 Water Code)

INITIAL RECOMMENDATION(S)/ INPUTS/ COMMITMENTS

DAY 2 On informal settler families in salvage zones

To date, there is no existing mechanism to do integrated CLUP. Summit hopes to be the vehicle for everybody to discuss and identify appropriate mechanism On-going negotiations among concerned barangays/ municipalities LGUs to issue resolution to DENR for LGU to have participation in issuance of fishpond lease agreement (FLA) Coastal resource management plans be also included in CLUP Declaration of municipalities to unite and preparation of guidelines how to prepare CLUP DENR and LGU should jointly prepare FLUP With FLUP, LGUs should also have good maps particularly land classification, boundary, and tenure maps Mandate to relocate is in LGU but DENR can assist in relocation i.e. ISFs in timberland, DENR can identify safe resettlement areas (outside geo-hazard areas for resettlement) National Anti-poverty Commission conducted a meeting to discuss guidelines of informal settler families in coastal areas The authority to resolve conflicts on boundaries is no longer within DENRs jurisdiction as it has been devolved to LGUs LGU can resolve the problem by: Conduct of proper research on the boundary markers of area/lot involved Proclamation of barangay boundary of the area Attach technical description in the proclamation If technical descriptions are still conflicting, the barangay/ municipal council can settle the issue through agreement on the boundaries. If still unsettled, DENR will just indicate in the cadastral survey that the subject area is a conflict area (individual survey will still push through) Land surveys done before can also be applied by concerned citizen for nullification. Correction surveys can also be applied for by concerned citizens RTD Hernandez committed to relay to RTD of Lands in DENR IV-A the intention to follow-up the municipals resolution regarding the conflicting barangay boundaries in Panukulan, Quezon Reclassification of timberland is not allowed in virtue of the Agrarian Reform Law not unless it has Congressional approval Regarding the case of Burdeos and Panukulan, RTD Hernandez accepted the suggestion that Mayors of the two municipalities hold the dialogue re conflicting municipal boundaries in DENR Region IV-A office. 24 Suggestion for Provincial Governor to talk with Mayors and

Correction of the cadastral survey done before by DENR resulting to conflicting boundaries of barangays and municipalities

ISSUES IDENTIFIED/REFLECTIONS DAY 2 continuation On status of Integrated Social Forestry (ISF) holders On National Greening Program (NGP) issue On titling of mangrove areas On decision to push through for LCA or PA status in areas in Polillo Group of Islands of island.

INITIAL RECOMMENDATION(S)/ INPUTS/ COMMITMENTS

If application for renewal is not approved by DENR, products in the area should be paid by the government to the farmer Provincial govt representative committed to follow-up status of payment (for resolution) for IPs involved in NGP Not allowed since it is also classified as timberland Can be applied for CBFM and establish aqua-silviculture for livelihood Decision will depend on the Local Chief Executives and the Municipal Council

KNOWLEDGE SHARING
There have been numerous biodiversity studies conducted in the Polillo Islands and this USAID-FPE project has facilitated the collation of these studies to establish a systematic database and facilitate easy retrieval of these materials for purposes of knowledge sharing. The PIBCFI website (www.pibcfi.org) where biodiversity information is readily available, is now online. Through the USAID-FPE project, a digital 3D map was also produced, featuring the different bio-physical features of the Polillo Group of Islands. To assist the LGUs in updating their Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP), the project also made possible the

Way back when I was not yet a Bantay Kalikasan, I usually disregard these things, but because of my experiences and learning, I think about what would happen to the coming generations if there are no concerned people who will help in the conservation and protection of our environment. Norberto Brias Chairman, Samahan ng Bantay Kalikasan ng Polillo collation of different studies on the biodiversity status per municipality of the Polillo Islands.

TESTIMONIES FROM THE FIELD


From Ordinary Folk to Community Leader
I was just an ordinary folk before and I do not have any position in our barangay. I worked as a coconut farmer or magkokopra and also helped in the transport of coconut products using a horse. The income Im receiving during that time was just enough to support my family. Life was hard, but I persevered so that I can send my children to school. Then I got involved in biodiversity conservation and protection through PIBCFI with the help of Lea-Jim Villanueva and our barangay officials in Languyin. Way back in 2008, our Barangay Captain, Isarme Acuavera, talked to me about appointing me as a Bantay Kalikasan in our place. As a BK, I am conducting information and education campaigns about the different environmental laws, like P.D. 705 or the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines, which I learned from the trainings and seminars I attended from PIBCFI and other organizations working on biodiversity conservation and protection. I also explain to some people the importance of our wildlife species and their habitat. As chairman of Samahan ng Bantay Kalikasan ng Polillo, it is my duty to lead activities related to biodiversity conservation and protection in the municipality of Polillo, Quezon. Also, as president of the newly-formed Bantay Kalikasan Coordinating Body for Polillo Group of Islands, it is my duty to coordinate with the four other chairman of Bantay Kalikasan in the municipalities of Burdeos, Panukulan, Patnanungan, and Jomalig about the different issues and concerns related to the environment. I grew up with some people who benefited from unsustainable extraction of our natural resources, and that is the reason why I know how important our environment is. Whenever I encounter a resident who does an illegal activity, I directly coordinate with our barangay and other institutions, like PIBCFI and DENR so that they will be enlightened about the importance of our natural resources. Way back when I was not yet a Bantay Kalikasan, I usually disregard these things, but because of my experiences and learning, I realized that what would happen to the coming generations if there are no concerned people who will help in the conservation and protection of our environment. In my opinion, there is a huge change after Bantay Kalikasans were appointed in every barangay. Before, locals just extract forest products anytime because they were not informed of our regulations. By the time we have Bantay Kalikasan volunteers, several locals started to stop doing illegal activities and some of them helped in the advocacy to protect and conserve our natural resources. I can really say that the Bantay Kalikasan volunteers have been very effective.

I attended trainings and seminars organized by PIBCFI and other institutions and organizations to acquire additional information about the protection and conservation of our biodiversity. By: Diony Boragay Chairman, Panukulan Bantay Kalikasan Association (PABAKA) importance of our environment.

D e l i v e r i n g Conservation Messages
Before I became a BK member, I was just a rice and coconut farmer, w ho sometimes work with other farmers to get additional income.I also gained additional income by fishing in nearby waters in our village. I got engaged in biodiversity conservation when I became a member of Panukulan Bantay Kalikasan Association (PABAKA). Through the association, I learned about the different projects, like forest restoration and agroforestry system, which we are currently doing with assistance from PIBCFI , FPE and USAID. As a volunteer Bantay Kalikasan, I help in sharing information about the different environmental laws. I also teach my family for them to become a role model and also share to other people the importance of our wildlife species and their habitat. I attended trainings and seminars organized by PIBCFI and other institutions and organizations to acquire additional information about biodiversity protection and conservation. It is really a great opportunity to be involved in the association because I really felt and knew that we should really give importance to our environment and we should utilize it in the right way for the next generations to also benefit and experience the rich biodiversity we have. Also, I felt good working with different people in conserving our resources. As a father, I am also very happy to impart with my family the importance of our environment and its need for protection and conservation. I also noticed that because of the different environmental projects, people easily got aware about the

The Transformation of a Logger


Im a farmer who was already serving as a Bantay Gubat or

Bantay Kalikasan when PIBCFI came. There was a time when PIBCFI called for a meeting in our barangay where there had
been presentations and discussions on the importance of wildlife species and their habitat. I was also part of the survey team, headed by Mr. JC Gonzales on their study about the different wildlife species of Polillo Islands. Because of the projects of Sir JC Gonzales, I was appointed as Bantay Gubat in our barangay and couldnt object because I cared about our environment. Being involved before with logging companies, I got familiar with the different species of trees and fauna in my municipality as well as some areas in Polillo Group of Islands. As a BK volunteer I attended the trainings and seminars organized or co-organized by PIBCFI and other organizations so that Ill be able to gain additional knowledge on biodiversity. It is also my duty to monitor the illegal activities in the forest and submit a report about it. Because of our presence, wildlife hunters in the area had decreased.. I am focusing in observing illegal activities, especially on wildlife hunting and poaching. Whenever I encounter an offender, I talk to him or her and explain about the importance of our wildlife species and that the fact that they should be protected instead of being harmed or hunted or made as a food or pet. I also see to it that the species is released back into the wild. Because of the different efforts, there had been lots of changes in the group of islands. The widespread wildlife hunting and poaching and illegal cutting/logging which are being transported in mainland Luzon is already lessen. Also, slash and burn practices have been controlled because of the continuous monitoring and patrolling. Im grateful to PIBCFI for their concern and support to us Bantay Kalikasan volunteers.

It is also my duty to monitor the illegal activities in the forest and submit a report about it. Because of our presence, wildlife hunters in the area have decreased. Dionesio Leynes, Chairman, Burdeos Bantay Kalikasan Brigade (BBKB)

Bantay Kalikasan initiative with the support from the Local Government Units and other stakeholders for effective community based forest restoration and protection has been proven helpful and effective. Alex Acua Program Officer for Habitat Restoration & Protection, PIBCFI

extinction as they can still be found in the forest. They cannot be easily seen by locals before, probably driven away from local settlements sensing the threat from the community, however, now, they can be easily seen even in areas where there are communities present. The forest destruction caused by kaingin farming or slash and burn practice and other illegal activities is lessened due to the effective information, education and communication campaigns and the monitoring and patrolling activities conducted by the Bantay Kalikasan volunteers. The Bantay Kalikasan initiative, with the support from the Local Government Units and other stakeholders for effective community based forest restoration and protection, has been proven helpful and effective. In the past, exotic species are used as planting materials however, starting with the advocacy lead by PIBCFI and the Bantay Kalikasan groups, the use of indigenous tree species had been prioritized. There was even an incident when a local farmer signified his desire to clear and cut the mahogany trees from their coconut plantation due to possible allelopathic effect it will cause. among the residents of Polillo Islands. Emphasizing the uniqueness of the landscapes and seascapes of the area is another factor that contributed to the high awareness of locals on biodiversity conservation. Formation of a customized organization to ensure the implementation of conservation agenda is essential. This is particularly true in Polillo Islands where initial efforts focused on implementing a project to address issues on wildlife hunting and trading and forest degradation. However, since there was a need to develop more comprehensive and structured conservation measures, PIBCFI was formed and is now at the forefront of working with LGUs and other stakeholders in implementing biodiversity projects. PIBCFI, locally known as biodiversity, is already a recognized institution when it comes to biodiversity conservation in the Polillo Group of Islands. Prior to the formation of PIBCFI, no single organization was primarily catering on biodiversity conservation in the area. The development and execution of conservation projects should not be driven by funding availability, but must be dictated by biodiversity requirements and needs and be implemented by phases. This is clearly illustrated in the various stages of project development and implementation in Polillo Islands. Conservation initiatives started with baseline scenario building and followed by establishment of conservation sites, development of institutional mechanisms for the management of biologically important sites and capacity building.

Making A Difference in Conservation


Bantay Kalikasan contributed a lot of changes in the mainland municipalities of Polillo in conserving and protecting its fauna and flora since the time they were organized. For instance, the Polillo tarictic hornbill, as well as the different avian and wildlife species, are now protected from the threats and

LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCES AND WAY FORWARD


A decade of conservation work in the Polillo Group of Island has offered numerous insights and lessons learned that are worth highlighting as basis in future actions and directions. While the task of truly conserving the biodiversity of this group of islands is still far from over, some indicators are already available to claim that past and current conservation efforts are making good progress. Sound scientific basis is one of the key elements in developing and implementing appropriate and effective sitefocused conservation initiatives. Biological studies conducted by seasoned and known biologists and conservationists became the effective ammunitions in ensuring the inclusion of Polillo Islands as a priority and important biodiversity conservation area in the Philippines. Results of these studies were further utilized in developing long-term conservation agenda for the group of island. Translating technical information to popular forms of communication materials is important in enhancing the awareness of communities, local governments and other local stakeholders on biodiversity conservation. Highlighting species that are endemic to the locality created a sense of pride

Conservation initiatives further scaled up with the implementation of direct and on-site conservation actions, which are demonstrated in biodiversity protection and monitoring and habitat restoration. Providing opportunities to local authorities in managing their natural resources is essential if we want to advance our conservation efforts. This is very important, especially in an island ecosystem where access to concerned national agencies is quite difficult. It should be noted that communities in isolated and far-flung areas are looking to local government as the central and focal point in governance and therefore, LGUs should be capacitated and empowered in natural resources management by exploring and invoking the provisions of the Philippines Local Government Code. The declaration of Local Conservation Areas by LGUs in Polillo Islands provides example on how LGUs would be able to actively participate in natural resources management. LGUs in this group of islands have already passed numerous resolutions and ordinances and implemented projects on conservation. Support from national and international institutions, both from government and nongovernment institutions, is crucial in laying down the foundation in conservation work and in ensuring long -term conservation outcomes. For instance, conservation measures were implemented because of the support provided to PIBCFI by DENR, Chester Zoo, UNDP-GEF, FPE, PTFCF, Darwin Initiatives, FFI and PBCFI. Because of these support mechanisms, gaps on locally available resources were filled in. However, since these were time-bounded projects, it is necessary to ensure sustainability strategies. One of the desirable facts in sustainability was the mainstreaming of conservation initiatives to the program thrusts of local governments. In all these funding supports, local governments were providing counterpart fund and other resources, including yearly allocation of budget for conservation. Delivering excellent project results also capture additional funding support. Local governments can provide institutional mechanisms and arrangement in the management of biologically important sites, but the fact remains that local communities are the direct agents of conservation. For communities to be engaged, it does not follow that they should be first organized as a Peoples Organization. In fact, the formation of PO should come when communities felt the need of it and circumstances are already favorable for such an action. In Polillo Islands, individual volunteers started to participate in PAGE 29

conservation after they internalized the biodiversity importance of their localities. The primary motivation was for them to help protect the environment without expecting any return. However, the initiatives of these volunteers (Bantay Kaalikasan) captured the attention of local governments and they provided the BKs with modest honorarium and operational funds. Since they were already engaged in forest protection, the DENR clothed these volunteers with authority as Deputized Environment and Natural Resources Officers. These individual volunteers realized that they need to coordinate and consolidate their efforts to become more effective in biodiversity protection and monitoring and they decided to form an association. To date, BK organizations are already establish and operational in each municipality covering the Polillo Group of Islands. The recognition provided by the DENR and the support extended by LGUs provided authority and legitimacy to the existence and operations of the different BK associations. They are also earning the respect of the communities where they are actively operating. The presence of BKs in the different barangays deters the commission of destructive forest activities. These positive outcomes to BKs become their inspiration to continue working for biodiversity conservation and maintain the credibility they have already established. Habitat restoration is an example of a conservation initiative that provides economic benefits to communities. For instance, the implementation of agro-forestry provides immediate cash crops and long-term crops, such as coffee and trees intended for production. It showcased that agricultural development can go along with forest restoration. The establishment of ANR augmented the income of participating BKs, through provision of labor in the production of planting materials and establishment, maintenance and monitoring of habitat restoration sites. It can only be assumed that more benefits and a larger number of communities may be able to avail benefits once a much wider area shall be devoted to habitat restoration. The experience in Polillo Islands provides an example on community-LGU partnership in biodiversity conservation. However, it is also important that credible individuals and institutions are providing technical assistance to make this partnership operational. PIBCFI is currently populated with committed local staff who viewed their engagement in the institution not only on the basis of purely professional engagements but also their modest contributions in the overall biodiversity conservation of the place they call their very own

Scaling-Up Local Conservation Initiatives Stories from Polillo Islands

REFERENCES
Coral Cay Conservation. 2006. Coral Reef Resource Assessment and Management Recommendations, Polillo Islands, Philippines Daniel Bennet. 2007. Polillo Butaan Project: A Progress Report De Alban, Jose Don T. (2007). Spatial Profile of Local Conservation Areas in the Municipality of Polillo, Quezon Province, Philippines: A Final Report. Pioneering Community-based Conservation Sites in the Polillo Islands Project. Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. Unpublished De Alban, Jose Don T. (2007). Spatial Profile of Local Conservation Areas in the Municipality of Burdeos, Quezon Province, Philippines: A Final Report. Pioneering Community-based Conservation Sites in the Polillo Islands Project. Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. Unpublished De Alban, Jose Don T. (2007). Spatial Profile of Local Conservation Areas in the Municipality of Panukulan, Quezon Province, Philippines: A Final Report. Pioneering Community-based Conservation Sites in the Polillo Islands Project. Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. Unpublished De Alban, Jose Don T. (2007). Spatial Profile of Local Conservation Areas in the Municipality of Patnanungan, Quezon Province, Philippines: A Final Report. Pioneering Community-based Conservation Sites in the Polillo Islands Project. Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. Unpublished De Alban, Jose Don T. (2007). Spatial Profile of Local Conservation Areas in the Municipality of Jomalig, Quezon Province, Philippines: A Final Report. Pioneering Community-based Conservation Sites in the Polillo Islands Project. Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. Unpublished Gatumbato, E.A., et. al. 2012. Developing Local Conservation Areas: The Polillo Group of Islands Experience. New Conservation Areas in the Philippines Project. UNDP-GEF, DENR-PAWB, PBCFI, PIBCFI (unpublished). Gatumbato, E.A., Oliver, W. 2008. Final Project Report. Pioneering Community Based Conservation Sites in the Polillo Islands Project. Darwin Initiative, FFI, PIBCFI. Gonzales, Juan Carlos T. (2007). Technical Report on the Biodiversity Survey of Priority Sites in the Municipality of Polillo. Unpublished Gonzales, Juan Carlos T. (2007). Technical Report on the Biodiversity Survey of Priority Sites in the Municipality of Burdeos. Unpublished Gonzales, Juan Carlos T. (2007). Technical Report on the Biodiversity Survey of Priority Sites in the Municipality of Panukulan. Unpublished Gonzales, Juan Carlos T. (2007). Technical Report on the Biodiversity Survey of Priority Sites in the Municipality of Patnanungan. Unpublished Gonzales, Juan Carlos T. (2007). Technical Report on the Biodiversity Survey of Priority Sites in the Municipality of Jomalig. Unpublished Gonzalez, J.C. (1997). The Ecology and Distribution of Birds In the Polillo Islands, Philippines. Masters Thesis. Unpublished. UPLB. Gonzalez, J.C.T. and Dans, A.T.L. 1998. Status of Minasawa Island Bird Sanctuary and Game refuge and the conservation of Polillo islands, Philippines. Proceedings of the 4th Annual Meeting of the Wildlife Conservation Society of the Philippines. Sylvatrop, the technical journal of Philippine ecosystems and natural resources Vol. 7, Nos 1 & 2 January-December 1997. Scaling-Up Local Conservation Initiatives Stories from Polillo Islands ANNEX

Gonzalez, J.C.T. and PCBCPI (2005) Preliminary Report on the Fauna Inventory of Ppriority Sites in the Polillo Islands, Philippines (Mount Malulod, Macnit and Aluyon Forests). Unpublished Gonzalez, J.C.T. and PCBCPI (2006) Preliminary Report on the Fauna Inventory of Ppriority Sites in the Polillo Islands, Philippines (Anibawan and Lipata Forests). Unpublished Paguntalan, L.M., Gatumbato, E.A., Dans L. 2011. An Annotated Bibliography of the Studies Conducted in Polillo Islands, Philippines.New Conservation Areas in the Philippines Project. UNDP-GEF, DENR-PAWB, PBCFI, PIBCFI. Unpublished. Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Incorporated. (2012). Up-Scaling Forest Restoration Efforts in Key Biodiversity Areas Project Fourth Quarter Report. Unpublished Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Incorporated. (2012). Enhancing Community Participation in Habitat Restoration and Protection in the Polillo Group of Islands Project Annual Report. Unpublished Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Incorporated. (2011). Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Project Annual Report. Unpublished

ANNEX

Scaling-Up Local Conservation Initiatives Stories from Polillo Islands

CASE STUDY WRITERSS


ERROL A. GATUMBATO is one of the leading protected area management experts in the Philippines. He has extensive experience in environment and natural resources management for over 20 years. He is currently the Vice President and Managing Director of the Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. and has worked as the Chief Ecosystems Management Specialist and Protected Area Superintendent of the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park in Negros Island. He is also providing technical assistance to Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. and Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. He was the consultant in the management planning of Samar Island Natural Park and Mt. Apo Natural Park. He is a seasoned team leader for process evaluations and impacts assessments on community-based resources management projects of the Foundation for the Philippine Environment and for resource and socio-economic profiling as contracted by the Resources Environment and Economics Center for Studies, Inc. He led the team of experts in delivering conservation outputs for the Polillo Group of Islands in Quezon province, where the first ever network of 10 conservation sites in the Philippines was declared as LCAs. He has shared his expertise and experiences in conservation planning, designing and management on various projects supported by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, European Commision, World Bank, United Nations Development Programme Global Environment Facility and United States Agency for International Development, among others.

LEA-JIM A. VILLANUEVA is a graduate from Southern Luzon State University, Lucban campus, with Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science major in Resource Management in 2005 where she graduated cum laude. After her graduation, she immediately engaged in conservation work in Polillo Islands. She served as a designated Municipal Environment and Natural Resource Officer (MENRO) of Polillo in 2009. She taught as a part-time instructor at SLSU, Polillo campus teaching environmental science and chemistry subjects. Currently, she is the Programme Manager of the Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PIBCFI). Contributors include William Oliver, Alex P. Acua, and Virtito Natural, Jr.

32

FPE MANAGEMENT TEAM


Godofredo T. Villapando, Jr. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Liza M. Vida OIC-MANAGER, PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT UNIT Fernando M. Ramirez MANAGER, LUZON REGIONAL UNIT Myrissa L. Tabao MANAGER, VISAYAS REGIONAL UNIT Armando C. Pacudan MANAGER, MINDANAO REGIONAL UNIT Mary Ann B. Leones MANAGER, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS UNIT Jay Carmela C. Ciriaco MANAGER, FINANCE UNIT Doreen A. Erasga OFFICER, HUMAN RESOURCE UNIT Pearl C. Vivar OFFICER, GENERAL SERVICES UNIT

USAID-FPE PROJECT TEAM


Maria Felda S. Domingo NATIONAL PROJECT COORDINATOR Rosalie G. Pasibe LUZON REGIONAL COORDINATOR June Arthur P. Banagodos VISAYAS REGIONAL COORDINATOR Joseph Thaddeus R. Rabang MINDANAO REGIONAL COORDINATOR/ NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST Cherylon A. Herzano NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST (Sept 2011-June 2012) Michelle D. Alejado PARTNERSHIP BUILDING SPECIALIST Ma. Rhodora C. Veloso KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST (Feb-Sept 2012) Florence C. Baula KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST Constancia S. Bacolod PROJECT ASSISTANT Carina Dacillo/ Charity Marces/ Anita T. Tungala BOOKKEEPER

The American people, through the United States Agency for International Development, have provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for over 50 years. In the Philippines, USAID works in partnership with the national government in creating a more stable, prosperous and well-governed country through programs that promote broadbased and inclusive economic growth, increase peace and stability in Mindanao, and reduce risks from natural disasters. For more information about USAIDs programs in the Philippines, visit http://philippines.usaid.gov.

FPE is the first and largest grant-making organization for civil society environmental initiatives in the Philippines. Its support went primarily to protecting local conservation sites and strengthening community and grassroots-led environmental efforts in more than 65 critical sites through more than 1,300 projects grants. The establishment of FPE on January 15, 1992 was meant to abate the destruction of the countrys own natural resources. As many as 334 NGOs and grassroots organizations, along with 24 academic institutions, helped set its course through a process of nationwide consultations. Subsequently, Philippine and United States government agencies and NGOs raised the foundations initial $21.8-million endowment through an innovative debt-for-nature swap. Today, FPE remains committed in fulfilling its roles as a catalyst for cooperation, grant maker, and fund facilitator for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. For more information about FPE, visit www.fpe.ph

Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PIBCFI) is a non-government organization committed to work in partnership with different stakeholders in conserving the biodiversity of the Polillo Group of Islands. It envisions Polilleans to enjoy the sustainable use of natural resources and ecological benefits from effective management of the islands. The organization is working to secure Polillos unique biological diversity and its associated ecological services from threats and deterioration, in partnership with local stakeholders. PIBCFI is also involved in building partnerships and increasing awareness of stakeholders regarding the biological importance of the Polillo Group of islands. For more information about PIBCFI, visit www.pibcfi.org

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)/ Philippines


Annex 2 Building U.S. Embassy 1201 Roxas Boulevard 1000 Ermita, Manila Philippines Fax: (632) 301 6213

Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE)


77 Matahimik Street Teachers Village, Diliman Quezon City 1101 Philippines Telephone: (63 2) 927 2186/ 926 9629/ 927 9403 Fax: (632) 922 3022 Gomes St., Brgy. Poblacion Polillo, Quezon 4339 Philippines Telephone: (63) 907 827 6763

Polillo Islands Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PIBCFI)

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