BIBLIOGRAPHY TOLBE, APRIL A. APRIL 2012....
BIBLIOGRAPHY
TOLBE, APRIL A. APRIL 2012. Community-Based Watershed Conservation
Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet.
Benguet State University, La Trinidad, Benguet.
Adviser: Constantino T. Sudaypan,PhD.
ABSTRACT
This study documented the community-based watershed conservation practices:
the case study of the maupa watershed in Ampucao.Itogon, Benguet relative to the
characterization of the maupa watershed. socio-economic profile of the respondents, the
activities undertaken by the community residents for the conservation of the Maupa
Watershed, the intervention from the Barangay Local Government Unit for the
conservation of the Maupa Watershed, and the different problems encountered by the
residents in the conservation of the Maupa Watershed. It was conducted at Dalicno,
Itogon, in the province of Benguet. It involved 30 respondents from PurokDemang and
Midway. Data gathering was undertaken in October 2011.
The age of the respondents ranged from 16 to 80 years old. The greatest number
of respondents falls under the age bracket of 16 to 20 and 56 to 60. The oldest respondent
is 80 years old. All the respondents had formal education. The greatest number of
respondents finished college. According to the respondents who did not finish college,
they were constrained by financial problems so they preferred to seek for a job and earn.
With regards to the findings of the study, the respondents strongly believe that
protecting the Maupa watershed will in turn, save their lives. As such, there are certain
activities undertaken by the community residents for the conservation of the watershed.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet/ April A. Tolbe. 2012
The respondents claimed to have exerted effort in safeguarding the watershed against
forest fire, illegal loggers and illegal settlers. The Barangay Captain revealed that they
have been patrolling the area on a regular basis. Nevertheless, they did not deny that there
are still individuals who insist on destroying if not, destroying it. Other activities include
planting trees on grassland and/or barren land, and caring of wildlings or naturally-grown
trees.
With regards to the problems encountered, the respondents looked at illegal
loggers as the biggest threat on the conservation of the Maupa watershed. Other problems
include presence of swidden farms and other agricultural production activities in the area,
run-off water from the mining area which affects the watershed, natural calamities, and
shortage of water supply resulting from human intervention.
Based on the findings of the study recommendations are therefore formulated for
the betterment of the Maupa watershed. The community residents especially the youth
should participate on set activities like tree planting, safeguarding the watershed and
conduct seminars to make everyone aware on the environmental concerns and be more
responsible in the conservation and preservation to have a clean, clear, healthy and
sustainable watershed.
Lastly, the Barangay LGU should seek assistance from the Municipal LGU to
provide enough materials for the sustainable development and equitable preservation and
management of the Maupa watershed. They should work hand in hand to formulate
policies that will integrate environmental thinking into the development decisions in the
conservation practices of the Maupa watershed.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet/ April A. Tolbe. 2012
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Bibliography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
i
Abstract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . .
i
Table of Contents . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1
Rationale. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1
Statement of the Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2
Objectives of the Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
Importance of the Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
Scope and Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
REVIEW OF LITERATURE . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
Characterization of the Maupa Watershed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
Watershed Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6
Concept of Watershed Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6
Importance of Watershed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7
The Scientific Basis for Management of Watershed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7
Forest Conservation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8
Problems Encountered. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
9
Logging of Natural Forest. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
METHODOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Locale and Time of the Study. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Respondents of the Study. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Data Collection Instrument. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Data Collection Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
14
Data Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
RESULTS AND DICUSSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Characteristics of the Maupa Watershed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Profile of the Respondents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Activities Undertaken by the Community
Residents for the Conservation of
theMaupa Watershed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
19
Intervention from the Barangay LGU
for theConservation of the
Maupa Watershed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .
20
Problems Encountered by the Community
Residentsin the Conservation of the
Maupa Watershed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
22
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
25
Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25
Conclusion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
27
Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
28
LITERATURE CITED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
29
APPENDIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
A. Letter of Respondents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
B. Survey Questionnaire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
1
INTRODUCTION
Rationale
Forests are vital life support system necessary to be conserved and preserved in
order to maintain favorable environment for human habitation, agriculture and
biodiversity. The massive loss of forest is equated to socio-economic and environmental
crisis. A continuing ravage of the country’s remaining forest is a common observation.
Despite the government’s forest conservation programs, only 5.493 million hectares of
forest remain with only 0.805 million hectares in old growth condition (DENR-FBM,
1996).
Forest cover of the country and region continue to diminish. As reported by the
Cordillera Green Network (2007), the forest cover has slimmed down to only 55 hectares
in 1997 out of 17 million hectares reported in 1934. In the Cordillera the country’s once
rich forest are in various stage of degradation as cited by Tacloy(2000).
Various causes of forest destruction were noted. In the Cordillera, the launching
of several projects by the government and foreign companies to exploit its natural
resources destroyed the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) ancestral domains, especially the
government the forest and water resources. The so-called development projects such as
mining, logging, and dams of other energy projects contributed to the massive depletion
of forest resources (National Workshop on IP’s Human Rights, 2004).
In the Cordillera, some communities are noted for their forest conservation
consciousness as evidenced well conserved forest trough indigenous knowledge and
practices. Their especial respect and care to forest enable to maintain a sustainable way of
life. Their forest conservation and protection practices deserved more than an
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
2
environmental plaque for despite the lack of government support, they have sustained
their forest trough their own initiatives.
Statement of the Problem
Watershed is very important in a community because it is the main source of
water and water is very important necessity in our life. We should protect and conserve
our forest for the preservation of our watershed.
The main goal of the study is to know the present situation of the Maupa
Watershed. This Watershed is one of the three watersheds that supply the residents of
Barangay Ampucao. It is the main source of water at SitioDalicno particularly
PurokDemang and Midway.
However, there is no sustainable document that can appropriately document the
initiatives undertaken to conserve and protect the Maupa watershed. This study is
therefore expected to source out answers the following questions:
1. What are the characteristics of the Maupa watershed as to area, location and
ownership?;
2. What are the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents?;
3. What are the activities undertaken by the community residents for the
conservation of the Maupa watershed?;
4. What are the interventions from the Barangay Local Government Unit in the
conservation of the Maupa watershed?;and
5. What are the problems encountered by the community residents in the
conservation of the Maupa watershed?
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
3
Objectives of the Study
The study aimed to assess the efforts and/or practices undertaken by the residents
of Dalicno, Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet for the conservation of the Maupa watershed. In
line with this general objective, the specific objectives are to:
1. characterize the Maupa watershed as to area, location, and ownership;
2. determine the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents;
3. identify the activities undertaken by the community residents for the
conservation of the Maupa watershed;
4. identify the intervention from the Barangay Local Government Unit for the
conservation of the Maupa watershed; and
5. determine the different problems encountered by the community residents in
the conservation of the Maupa watershed.
Importance of the Study
Results of the study may become valuable inputs to planners to come up with
comprehensive ways and means for the conservation of watersheds in the community.
Furthermore, it may also give information to Local Government Units and legislators for
rigorous implementation of directives and/or policies relative to watershed.
Scope and Limitations
The study focused on the characterization of the Maupa watershed as to area,
location, and ownership. Moreover, it was also attempt to determine the activities
undertaken by the community residents for the conservation of Maupa watershed, the
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
4
intervention from the Barangay (Local Government Unit), and the different problems
encountered by the residentsin the conservation of the Maupa watershed.
On the other hand, the study was limited to the key informants like the members
of the different organizations in the community and elders who are residents of
SitioDalino particularly PurokDemang and Midway.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
5
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Characterization of the Maupa Watershed
The watershed reservation includes four perennial creeks named Maupa, Pitang 1,
2, and 3 which are adjacent to each other. These creeks lie between 16’20 latitude and
120’40 longitude. The scope of the watershed was delineated on the map and the same
was found to have an approximate area of 100 hectares.
According to the observation, it shows that the watershed area is thickly covered
with Benguet pine trees ranging from 20-50cms.dbh particularly at Maupa Creek. Few
scattered Benguet pine trees were also observed within the vicinities of pitang 1, 2, and 3
creeks.
The creeks within the watershed area have been utilized by the Barangays
Sangilo and Dalicno, Itogon, Benguet. It is indicated in the water permit the at the Maupa
Creeks, Pitang 1, 2, and 3 creeks have a water production of 2.0, 0.5, 0.90 and 1.20 liters
per second.
Rampant illegal cutting was observed in the watershed area. During the inspection
date, the team observed three groups of timber poachers. Abandoned logging road
believed to have been improved by illegal loggers was found existing in the area. This
may lead illegal loggers to continue logging in the watershed area.
Patches of vegetable gardens and kaingin were likewise observed within the
watershed area. Accordingly, these cultivations are covered with Tax Declarations. No
communities,however,willbe affected should this watershed be declared as forest
reservation. (Ampucao Barangay Records, 2009).
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
6
Watershed Management
Once the watershed has been described and the potential contamination and
degradation sources determine, the next step is to compile the existing control and
management practices for dealing with water quality maintenance. Such practices can be
implemented by the water agency itself and by the other agencies. The degree control that
a water agency has over a watershed, and ultimate water quality, depends on the extents
of ownership or jurisdiction of watershed lands. The most critical case occurs when
watershed land is own by the agency or private parties so that the agency has no direct
jurisdiction over the watershed land. In the case of the four San Louis Obispo watershed,
land owners and other agency not directly involved with water supply and distribution
seemed to performed their roles and handle their responsibilities with the understanding
that runoff and stream flow in these watershed eventually result in portable supply. This
is accomplished by land-use policies and standard permits, regulations, or lease
agreements (Reimold, 1988).
Concept of Watershed Management
Effective management of watershed depends on comprehensive human
understanding of the components of watershed and their interactions. The application of
the ecological principles to watershed planning has recently become one of the most
important topics of natural resources management discussion. Traditionally, interest in
balanced natural resources (land and water) management has come only after human have
first severely damaged a landscape. To paraphrase the world famous naturalist Aldo
Leopold: Human do not seem to be able to understand a system that they did not build;
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
7
instead, they seemingly must partially destroy and rebuild the system before it use
limitations are understood and appreciated (Reimold, 1988).
Importance of Watershed
While the public attention has recently been focused on watershed as units of
management entities is not new. All the effort to effectively manage watershed involved
an approach in which all stakeholders can share, resources, expertise and authority.
A similar approach to achieving healthy watershed by managing both natural
resources (air, water, fish, wildlife, and forest) and anthropogenic influences (impact of
development and expansion of human population in these resources) merits the
prevention approach. The vehicle for this approach in the United States has been
promulgation of regulations (Reimold, 1988).
The Scientific Basis for Management of Watershed
Effective planning of land use on watersheds must be based on quantitative
informants on the physical resource of climate, topography, geology soils, vegetation and
water resources. If watersheds are inhabited, then further information is required on the
numbers and distribution of people and animals, communications, economic and
subsistence landholdings and farming systems. Local history and political structures need
to be understood in order to organize cooperation to improved land-used practices. The
physical measurements alone are formidable enough in the rugged, forested hill country,
remote from roads and towns in which most major tropical rivers arise. Even more
difficult are the social and economic complexities of heavily settled upland watersheds.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
8
Many of these produce, in spite of mild topography, a series of muddy torrents and
meager, polluted dry- season flows, which are unacceptable to the population of the
lowlands (Pereira, 1989).
Forest Conservation
Integrated Social Forestry (ISF) refers to the national program launched under
Letter of Institution (LOI) 1260 in 1982 designed to maximized land productivity and
enhanced ecological stability and to improve the socio-economic condition of forest
occupants and communities actually and directly occupying and or cultivating public
forest land as December 31 1981(DENR-CAR undated). The program is based on the
principle of land stewardship, which enjoins the complementary objectives of
environment protection, poverty alleviation and social justice (DOA 04-91) and
envisioned to democratize the used of public lands and promote a more equitable
distribution of forest bounty through stewardship principle.
DENR
Administration
order 04-91, entitled “Revised Regulations Governing the
ISF Program” provides for the rights of the participants to used forest land they occupy
for a period of 25 years renewable for another 25 years. The size of the land to be granted
will not be more than 5 hectares for individuals or family participants and depends on the
nature of site, history of the group in the area and their potential to promote productive
and protective activities within the area to be stewarded by the community or group
participants.
The participants incentives stipulated under the said reversed regulation include
free use of the land allocated to them; provision of technical, legal financial, marketing,
credit and other needed assistance: freedom to seek assistance from the government
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
9
agencies and non-government and private organizations; subsequent grant of the land
allocated to them to their next- of- kin through stewardship agreement; and just
compensation for permanent improvements introduced, including trees planted, when for
some reason, the government opts not to allocate the land for stewardship to participants
concerned (Antolin, 1999).
Problems Encountered
Considered as a very serious threat are commercial loggings and kaingin or slash-
and-burn farming system to give way to commercial gardening. As demand for livelihood
increases, the depletion of forest resources become fast paced.
The most critical aspects of upper watershed management which directly affect
the lives and property of downstream users are the effects on floods, on water supplies
and on sediments transport. These are much confusion the more popular writing on these
matters, which is best, explained at the outset. With very rare exceptions, such as the
failure of major engineering structures, floods are not cause by human activities by
exceptional atmospheric events.
Small groups of the forest dwelling subsistence farmers have survived in tropical
forest since prehistorically times by slash-and-burn method of shifting cultivation. These
practice consume d the accumulated fertility of soil an d vegetation but affected small
proportion of the upper watershed that in the humid tropics the damage to soil and water
resources was minimal. In more recent times, the numbers of shifting cultivators have
grown; an FOA study estimated the total to be of the order of 250 million people in 1974.
(Pereira, 1989).
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
10
Logging of Natural Forest
Forests are the major source of foreign exchange earnings for at least 15
developing countries. Their timber exports total U.S $8 billion a year. Although forest
cover should be attained on steep slopes, particularly when high in the watersheds of
important rivers, this does not mean that the forest should not yield timber or fuel wood.
These essentials for watershed management are that the harvesting must planned and
controlled to minimize damaged and that the forest must be protected from invasion
along the tracks and over the bridges built by the timber extractors. As the cities grow the
elicit firewood contractor with large trucks and rapidly assembled labor gangs is a major
threat to the survival of the forest opened up by selective logging.
The after affect of commercial logging vary with topography. On mild slopes, the
damage done by commercial logging is shortlive if the forest is protected because loggers
remove about only 10 percent of the tress. The rest of the trees lost are removed for fuel
or destroyed by forest fires. Rapid vegetative growth restores soil protection. On steep
slopes, however, when the logging is completed, drainage must be diverted from the track
to prevent the development of gullies (Reimold, 1988).
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
11
METHODOLOGY
Locale and Time of the Study
This study was conducted at Dalicno, Itogon, Benguet. Dalicnoiscomposed of six
puroks namely: Demang, Dontog, Tipong, Daycong, Midway, Manganese and Tangke.
Dalicno is more or less 17 kilometers south of Baguio City and can be reached by an hour
ride through the Baguio-Balatoc road. The place is mountainous and has one watershed,
the Maupa watershed. The watershed has an approximate area of 100 hectares. Figure 1
shows the map of Ampucao, Itogon.
On the other hand, actual site visits and data gathering were undertaken in
October 2011.
Respondents of the Study
The respondents of the study were from different organizations in the community
like: Women’s Organization, Dalicno Youth Organization, Elders. Members of the
Barangay Local Government Unit were also included. A total of 30 respondents were
considered.
Data Collection Instrument
A questionnaire was used to gathered the necessary information regarding the
characterization of the Maupa Watershed, socio-economic characters of the respondents,
the activities undertaken by the residents for the conservation of the watershed,
interventions from both municipal and barangay local government units, and problems
encountered by the residents in the conservation of the watershed. Interviews and actual
observation was also undertaken to verify answers on the questionnaire.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
12
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe.
2012
13
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
14
Data Collection Procedure
The researcher personally administered questionnaires. The respondents with
higher educational attainment accomplished the questionnaire themselves. On the other
hand, the questionnaire served as interview guide for illiterate respondents.
Data Analysis
Data analysis started with the review and consolidation of answers to the
questions on the questionnaire. Percentage, frequency distribution and mean
wereintegrated in the descriptive presentation of answers to the questions.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
15
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
This section presents the characteristics of the Maupa watershed and profile of
respondents. It also reflects the activities undertaken by the community residents for the
conservation of the Maupa watershed, and the interventions from the Barangay Local
Government Units. Moreover, the problems encountered by the residents on the
conservation of the watershed are also included.
Characteristics of the Maupa Watershed
Table 1 shows the characteristics of the Maupa watershed as to area, location and
ownership. Based on Barangay Ampucao Records (2009), the watershed is located in
SitioMaupa and has an estimated land area of 100 hectares. Situated on the eastern part of
the Barangay, the watershed is bounded on the north by AmpucaoPoblacion, south by
Sangilo, east by Cruz and west by CotcotAso. As to ownership, the watershed is
classified as communal.
According to the Barangay officials, the watershed is owned by the government.
However, there were individuals who have been vesting interest on the ownership of the
area but they have failed to present authentic evidences.
Table 1. Characteristics of the Maupa watershed
PARAMETER DESCRIPTION
Area 100
hectares
Location SitioMaupa
Ownership Communal
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
16
Profile of the Respondents
The profile of the respondents as to the gender, civil status, age bracket, highest
educational attainment, religion and occupation is shown in Table 2.As shown in the
table, majority of the respondents are females and married. Of the 30 respondents, the
number of males and females are almost the same. It may imply that the key informants
on the Maupa watershed have equal representation as to gender.
Table 2. Profile of the respondents
PROFILE
NO. OF RESPONDENTS
PERCENTAGE
(N = 30)
(%)
a. Gender
Female
16
53.33
Male 14
46.67
TOTAL 30
100.00
b. Civil Status
Married
21
70.00
Single
9
30.00
TOTAL 30
100.00
c. Age Bracket
16-20 6
20.00
21-25 1
3.33
26-30 1
3.33
31-35 2
6.67
36-40 2
6.67
41-45 3
10.00
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
17
Table 2.continued. . .
PROFILE
NO. OF RESPONDENTS
PERCENTAGE
(N = 30)
(%)
46-50 1
3.33
51-55 3
10.00
56-60 6
20.00
61-65 1
3.33
66-70 1
3.33
71-75 2
6.67
76-80 1
3.33
TOTAL 30
100.00
d. Highest Educational Attainment
Elementary graduate
7
23.33
High School graduate
9
30.00
College graduate
13
43.34
Vocational course graduate
1
3.33
TOTAL 30
100.00
e. Religion
Roman Catholic
23
76.66
Assembly of God
3
10.00
Baptist 2
6.67
United Church of Christ in the
2 6.67
Philippines
TOTAL 30
100.00
f. Occupation
Miner
10
33.33
Housewife
8
26.67
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
18
Table 2.continued. . .
PROFILE
NO. OF RESPONDENTS
PERCENTAGE
(N = 30)
(%)
Student 6
20.00
Government employee
3
10.00
Self-employed 1
3.33
TOTAL 30
100.00
*Multiple responses
The age of the respondents ranges from 16 to 80 years old. The greatest number
of respondents falls under the age bracket of 16 to 20 and 56 to 60. The oldest respondent
is 80 years old.
All the respondents had formal education. The greatest number of respondents
finished college. Some were able to finish elementary or high school. One respondent
claimed to have finished vocational course. According to the respondents who did not
finish college, they were constrained by financial problems so they preferred to seek for a
job and earn.
The table also reflects the religion of the respondents. More than 75% of the
respondents are Roman Catholics. In a descending order, the religions of the other
respondents are Assembly of God, Baptist, and United Church of Christ in the
Philippines.
The occupation of more than 30% of the respondents proves the classification of
Ampucao as a mining community. Aside from being host to the Philex Mining
Corporation, the presence of small-scale miners is also evident in the community. There
were six respondents who are students in different universities in Baguio City and La
Trinidad.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
19
Activities Undertaken by the Community
Residentsfor the Conservation of the
Maupa Watershed
The activities undertaken by the community residents for the conservation of the
Maupa watershed are shown in Table 3. According to the respondents, the community
residents strongly believe that protecting the Maupa watershed will in turn, save their
lives. As such, there are certain activities undertaken by the community residents for the
conservation of the watershed.
The foregoing scenario relates to the claims of Reinold (1988) that effective
management of watershed depends on comprehensive human understanding of the
components of watershed and their interactions. The application of the ecological
principles to watershed planning has recently become one of the most important topics of
natural resources management discussion. Traditionally, interest in balanced natural
resources (land and water) management has come only after human have first severely
damaged a landscape. To paraphrase the world famous naturalist Aldo Leopold: Human
do not seem to be able to understand a system that they did not build; instead, they
seemingly must partially destroy and rebuild the system before itsuses and limitations are
understood and appreciated.
As reflected on the table, the activities are categorized as very much undertaken,
moderately undertaken, and not undertaken at all. A great majority of the respondents
claimed to have exerted effort in safeguarding the watershed against forest fire, illegal
loggers and illegal settlers. The Barangay Captain revealed that they have been patrolling
the area on a regular basis. Nevertheless, they did not deny that there are still individuals
who insist on destroying if not, destroying it.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
20
Table 3.Activities undertaken by the community residents for the conservation of the
Maupa watershed
ACTIVITY NUMBER
OF
RESPONDENTS
VMU
%
MU
%
NU
%
Safeguarding the watershed from forest
23 76.67 6 20.00 1 3.33
fire, illegal loggers and illegal settlers
Planting trees on grassland/barren land
18 60.00 12 40.00 1 3.33
Replacing dead trees and/or mulching
11 36.67 14 46.67 1 3.33
Caring of wildlings or naturally-grown 10 33.33 19 63.33 0 0.00
trees
*Multiple responses (VMU-Very Much Undertaken; MU-Moderately Undertaken, NU-Not Undertaken)
According to the Ampucao Barangay Records (2009), rampant illegal cutting was
observed in the watershed area. During an inspection, the team observed three groups of
timber poachers. Patches of vegetable gardens and swidden farms were likewise visible
within the watershed area. Sixty percent of the respondents also claimed that planting
trees on grassland and/or barren land is very much undertaken. According to the
respondents, the seedlings were sourced out by the Local Government Units.
Moreover, 19 respondents stated that caring of wildlings or naturally-grown trees
is moderately undertaken to conserve the Maupa watershed. At least one respondent
claimed to have done nothing for the conservation of the watershed.
Intervention from the Barangay LGUfor the
Conservation of the Maupa Watershed
Table 4 shows the interventions from the Barangay Local Government Unit for
the conservation of the Maupa watershed. These are categorized as to whether they are
very much undertaken, moderately undertaken, or not undertaken.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
21
Table 4.Interventions undertaken by the Barangay LGU for the conservation of the
Maupa watershed
INTERVENTION NUMBER
OF
RESPONDENTS
VMU % MU % NU %
Barangay LGU processes
documents on the ownership of the
watershed
25
83.33
3
10.00
2
6.67
Barangay LGU prohibits the
community residents and nearby
communities relative to occupancy
and/or alienation of the watershed
16
53.33
6
20.00
8
26.67
Barangay LGU sets policies and
implements sanctions to violators
relative to the conservation of the
14
46.67
12
40.00
5
16.67
watershed
Barangay LGU donatedplanting
materials (seedling)during the tree
planting activities
5
16.67
6
20.00
19
63.33
Barangay LGU allows the
community residents to have free
access to fauna and flora product
but not for commercial purposes
4
13.33
7
23.33
19
63.33
Barangay LGU allows the
community residents have free
access on the watershed for hunting
wild animals and birds
3
10.00
5
16.67
22
73.33
*Multiple responses(VMU-Very Much Undertaken; MU-Moderately Undertaken, NU-Not Undertaken)
According to a great majority of the respondents, the Barangay LGU processes
the pertinent documents on the ownership of the watershed. The Barangay Captain
revealed that they are doubling their efforts to maintain the watershed as community in
nature. Relatively, more than 50% of the respondents claimed that the LGU is very firm
in its stand of prohibiting the community residents and nearby communities to occupy or
alienate the watershed.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
22
On the other hand, more than 70% of the respondents stated that the Barangay
LGU is not strict in implementing rules in prohibiting community residents from hunting
wild animals and birds in the watershed. Similarly, there were 19 respondents who
claimed that the Barangay LGU is not strict in regulating the access of the community
residents on the watershed flora and fauna, and they are not consistent in donating
planting materials (seedling)during the tree planting activities.
Problems Encountered by the
Community Residentsin the Conservation of
theMaupa Watershed
Table 5 shows the problems encountered by the community residents relative to
the conservation of the Maupa watershed. A great majority of the respondents looked at
illegal loggers as the biggest threat on the conservation of the Maupa watershed. Figure 3
shows members of the community planting trees at the Maupa watershed
Figure 3.Members of the community planting trees at the Maupa watershed
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
23
Table 5.Problems encountered by community residents in the conservation of the Maupa
watershed
PROBLEM NUMBER
OF
RESPONDENTS
VS % MS % NS %
Presence of illegal loggers in the
area
20
66.67
5
16.67
5
16.67
Presence of swidden farms and
other agricultural production
activities in the area
12
40.00
7
23.33
11
36.67
Run-off water from the mining area
affects the watershed
11
36.67
2
6.67
17
56.67
Natural Calamities affects and
10 33.33 17 56.67 3 10.00
destroys the watershed
Shortage of water supply resulting
from human intervention on the
8
26.67
11
36.67
12
40.00
watershed
*Multiple responses(VS-Very Much Serious; MS-Moderately Serious, NS-Not Serious)
Moreover, there were 12 respondents who cited the presence of swidden farms
and other agricultural production activities in the area as a big problem. The other
problems, in a descending order of gravity, are as follows: run-off water from the mining
area which affects the watershed, natural calamities, and shortage of water supply
resulting from human intervention.
Findings of the study relate to the claim of Pereira (1989) that considered as a
very serious threat to our forests are commercial loggings and kaingin or slash-and-burn
farming system to give way to commercial gardening. As demand for livelihood
increases the depletion of forest resources become fast paced.The most critical aspects of
upper watershed management which directly affect the lives and property of downstream
users are the effects on floods, on water supplies and on sediments transport. Figure 4
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
24
shows the presence of swidden farms and other agricultural production activities at the
Maupa watershed.
Figure 4. The presence of swidden farms and other agricultural production activities at
the Maupa watershed
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
25
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary
This study documented the community-based watershed conservation practices:
the case study of the maupa watershed in Ampucao.Itogon, Benguet relative to the
characterization of the maupa watershed. socio-economic profile of the respondents, the
activities undertaken by the community residents for the conservation of the Maupa
Watershed, the intervention from the Barangay Local Government Unit for the
conservation of the Maupa watershed, and the different problems encountered by the
residents in the conservation of the Maupa watershed. It was conducted at Dalicno,
Itogon, in the province of Benguet. It involved 30 respondents who were residents of
purokDemang and Midway. Data gathering was undertaken in October 2011.
As to the characteristics of the Maupa watershed, it is located at SitioMaupa and
has estimated land area of 100 hectares. It is classified as communal.On the profile of the
respondents, majority are female and married. The greatest number of the respondents
falls under the age bracket 16 to 20 and 56 to 60. The oldest respondent is 80 years old
and the youngest is 16 years old.
All the respondents had formal education. The greatest number of respondents
finished college. Some were able to finish elementary and high school. One respondent
claimed to have finished vocational course. According to the respondents who did not
finish college, they were constrained by financial problems so they preferred to seek for
job and earn.On the religion of the respondents, more than 75% of the respondents are
Roman Catholics. In descending order, the religions of the other respondents are
Assembly of God, Baptist and United Church of Christ in the Philippines.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
26
The occupation of more than 30% of respondents proves the classification of
Ampucao as a mining community. Aside from being host of the Philex Mining
Corporation, the presence of small-scale miners is also evident in the community. There
were six respondents who are students in different universities in Baguio City and La
Trinidad.
In the activities undertaken by the community residents for the conservation of the
Maupa watershed, the community residents strongly believed that protecting the Maupa
watershed will in turn save their live.
As such, there are certain activities undertaken by the community residents for the
conservation of the watershed. A great majority of the respondents claimed to have
exerted effort in safeguarding the watershed against forest fire, illegal loggers and illegal
settlers.
Sixty percent of the respondents also claimed that planting trees on grassland
and/or barren land is very much undertaken. According to the respondents, the seedlings
were sourced out by the Local Government Units.
Moreover, 19 respondents stated that caring of wildlings or naturally-grown trees
is moderately undertaken to conserve the Maupa watershed. At least one respondent
claimed to have done nothing for the conservation of the watershed.
The Barangay LGU processes the pertinent documents on the ownership of the
watershed. The Barangay Captain revealed that they are doubling their efforts to maintain
the watershed as community in nature. Relatively, more than 50% of the respondents
claimed that the LGU is very firm in its stand of prohibiting the community residents and
nearby communities to occupy or alienate the watershed.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
27
On the other hand, more than 70% of the respondents stated that the Barangay
LGU is not strict in implementing rules in prohibiting community residents from hunting
wild animals and birds in the watershed. Similarly, there were 19 respondents who
claimed that the Barangay LGU is not strict in regulating the access of the community
residents on the watershed flora and fauna, and they are not consistent in donating
planting materials (seedling) during the tree planting activities.
The most commonproblems encountered by the community residents relative to
the conservation of the Maupa watershed were: illegal loggers as the biggest threat on the
conservation of the Maupawatershed.Moreover, there were 12 respondents who cited the
presence of swidden farms and other agricultural production activities in the area as a big
problem. The other problems, in a descending order of gravity, are as follows: run-off
water from the mining area which affects the watershed, natural calamities, and shortage
of water supply resulting from human intervention.
Conclusion
Based on the findings of the study, the following conclusions were drawn:
1. The respondents undertook several measures to preserved and conserved for
the conservation of the Maupa watershed such as; planting trees on grassland/barren land,
replacing dead trees, caring on wildling or naturally grown trees, and safe guarding the
watershed.
2. The declaration of the Maupa watershed as own by the government is being
enforced and implemented by the Barangay LGU incorporated by the Local Government
Unit.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
28
3. The respondents encountered several problems in the conservation of the
Maupa watershed such us; the presence of illegal loggers in the area, presence of swidden
farmers and other agricultural production activities in the area, run-off water from the
mining area, affects the watershed, shortage of water supply resulting from human
intervention on the watershed, and natural calamities affects and destroys the watershed.
Recommendations
The following are recommended:
1. The community residents especially the youth should participate on set
activities like tree planting, safeguarding the watershed and conduct seminars to make
everyone aware on the environmental concerns and be more responsible in the
conservation and preservation to have a clean, clear, healthy and sustainable watershed.
2. The Barangay LGU should seek assistance from the Municipal LGU to
provide enough materials for the sustainable development and equitable preservation and
management of the Maupa watershed. They should work hand in hand to formulate
policies that will integrate environmental thinking into the development decisions in the
conservation practices of the Maupa watershed.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
29
LITERATURE CITED
ANTOLIN, B.1999. Community-Based forest management. Lecture not for the
reviewclasses for the Foresters’ Licensure Examination, sponsored by the
FutureForesters Society and the 1999 BS Forestry graduates. BSU-college of
ForestryLa Trinidad, Benguet.
BARANGAY AMPUCAO RECORDS.2009. Maupa Watershed Profile in
Ampucao,Itogon, Benguet.
CORDILLERA GREEN NETWORK, 2007.Lakon/ Saguday: An
IndigenousForestManagement
System in Mountain Province.
COORDINATING COMMITTEE of the NATIONAL WORKSHOP of INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE on HUMAN RIGHTS, 2004.National Workshop of Indigenous
Peopleon Human Rights.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES-FMB, 1996.
Philippines Forestry Statistics.P.xii. Manila DENR, 1996
PERIERA, H. 1989. Policy and practice in management of tropical watershed. Boulder:
Westview Press; London: Belhaven Press, 1989
REIMOLD, R. 1988. Watershed management: practice, policies, and coordination. New
York :Mc Grow Hill Co.:, 1988
TACLOY, J. 2000. Indigenous forest conservation system in the Cordillera Region.
Unpublished PhD Dissertation. BenguetState University La Trinidad, Benguet.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
30
APPENDIX A
Letter to the Respondents
Republic of the Philippines
BENGUET STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
La Trinidad, Benguet
Dear Respondent:
Greetings!
I am a fourth year Bachelor of Science in Agriculture – Extension Education
student of the Benguet State University presently conducting a study entitled
“Community-Based Watershed Conservation Practices: A Case Study of Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet.`` the study aims to document the present
situation of the Maupa watershed and the problems encountered by the watershed.
In connection to this, I am seeking your assistance by supplying the necessary
information asked attached on the questionnaire. Thank you and rest assured that all
information will be treated confidential and used for research purposely only.
Respectfully yours,
APRIL A. TOLBE
Researcher
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
31
APPENDIX B
Survey Questionnaire
I.PERSONAL INFORMATION
Name
(optional):
Gender:
Age:
Civil
Status:
Religion:
Occupation:
Highest Education Attainment?
Elementary
High school
College
Vocational
Listed here under are indigenous forest management practices. Check on the
appropriate column for those which are practice in your watershed. Based on your
experience and observation, kindly rate the extent of implementation by checking
the appropriate column using the following description.
3- very much undertaken (VMU)
2- moderately undertaken(MU)
1- not undertaken(NU)
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
32
II. Activities undertaken by the community
ACTIVITIES
UNDERTAKEN
3
2
1
BY THE
VMU
MU
NU
COMMUNITY
1.Planting trees on
grassland/barren
lands
2. Replacing dead
trees
3. Caring of
wildlings or
naturally-grown
trees.
4. Safeguarding the
watershed from
forest fire, illegal
loggers and illegal
settlers.
III. Intervention from the Municipal and Barangay LGU
INTERVENTION
OF LGU’S
3
2
1
VMU
MU
NU
1. Barangay LGU
allows the
community
residents have free
access on the
watershed for
hunting wild
animals and birds.
2. Barangay LGU
allows the
community
residents to have
free access to fauna
and flora products
but not for
commercial
purposes.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
33
INTERVENTION
OF LGU’S
3
2
1
VMU
MU
NU
3. Barangay LGU
process documents
on the ownership of
the watershed.
4. Barangay LGU
donated planting
materials (seedlings)
during the tree
planting activities.
5. Barangay LGU
set policies and
implements
sanctions to
violators relative to
the conservation of
the watershed.
6. Barangay LGU
prohibits the
community
residents and nearby
communities
relative to
occupancy and/or
alienation of the
watershed.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
34
IV. Problems encountered by the community in the conservation of the Maupa Watershed
3-Very much serious
2-Moderately serious
1-Not serious
PROBLEMS
ENCOUNTERED
3
2
1
VMS
MS
NS
1.Presence of illegal
loggers in the area.
2. Presence of
swidden farms and
other agricultural
production activities
in the area.
3.Run-off water
from the mining
area affects the
watershed.
4. Shortage of water
supply resulting
from human
intervention on the
watershed.
5.Natural Calamities
affects and destroys
the watershed.
Thank you so much.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
TOLBE, APRIL A. APRIL 2012. Community-Based Watershed Conservation
Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet.
Benguet State University, La Trinidad, Benguet.
Adviser: Constantino T. Sudaypan,PhD.
ABSTRACT
This study documented the community-based watershed conservation practices:
the case study of the maupa watershed in Ampucao.Itogon, Benguet relative to the
characterization of the maupa watershed. socio-economic profile of the respondents, the
activities undertaken by the community residents for the conservation of the Maupa
Watershed, the intervention from the Barangay Local Government Unit for the
conservation of the Maupa Watershed, and the different problems encountered by the
residents in the conservation of the Maupa Watershed. It was conducted at Dalicno,
Itogon, in the province of Benguet. It involved 30 respondents from PurokDemang and
Midway. Data gathering was undertaken in October 2011.
The age of the respondents ranged from 16 to 80 years old. The greatest number
of respondents falls under the age bracket of 16 to 20 and 56 to 60. The oldest respondent
is 80 years old. All the respondents had formal education. The greatest number of
respondents finished college. According to the respondents who did not finish college,
they were constrained by financial problems so they preferred to seek for a job and earn.
With regards to the findings of the study, the respondents strongly believe that
protecting the Maupa watershed will in turn, save their lives. As such, there are certain
activities undertaken by the community residents for the conservation of the watershed.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet/ April A. Tolbe. 2012
The respondents claimed to have exerted effort in safeguarding the watershed against
forest fire, illegal loggers and illegal settlers. The Barangay Captain revealed that they
have been patrolling the area on a regular basis. Nevertheless, they did not deny that there
are still individuals who insist on destroying if not, destroying it. Other activities include
planting trees on grassland and/or barren land, and caring of wildlings or naturally-grown
trees.
With regards to the problems encountered, the respondents looked at illegal
loggers as the biggest threat on the conservation of the Maupa watershed. Other problems
include presence of swidden farms and other agricultural production activities in the area,
run-off water from the mining area which affects the watershed, natural calamities, and
shortage of water supply resulting from human intervention.
Based on the findings of the study recommendations are therefore formulated for
the betterment of the Maupa watershed. The community residents especially the youth
should participate on set activities like tree planting, safeguarding the watershed and
conduct seminars to make everyone aware on the environmental concerns and be more
responsible in the conservation and preservation to have a clean, clear, healthy and
sustainable watershed.
Lastly, the Barangay LGU should seek assistance from the Municipal LGU to
provide enough materials for the sustainable development and equitable preservation and
management of the Maupa watershed. They should work hand in hand to formulate
policies that will integrate environmental thinking into the development decisions in the
conservation practices of the Maupa watershed.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet/ April A. Tolbe. 2012
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Bibliography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
i
Abstract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . .
i
Table of Contents . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1
Rationale. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1
Statement of the Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2
Objectives of the Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
Importance of the Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
Scope and Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
REVIEW OF LITERATURE . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
Characterization of the Maupa Watershed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
Watershed Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6
Concept of Watershed Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6
Importance of Watershed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7
The Scientific Basis for Management of Watershed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7
Forest Conservation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8
Problems Encountered. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
9
Logging of Natural Forest. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
METHODOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Locale and Time of the Study. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Respondents of the Study. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Data Collection Instrument. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Data Collection Procedure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
14
Data Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
RESULTS AND DICUSSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Characteristics of the Maupa Watershed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Profile of the Respondents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Activities Undertaken by the Community
Residents for the Conservation of
theMaupa Watershed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
19
Intervention from the Barangay LGU
for theConservation of the
Maupa Watershed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .
20
Problems Encountered by the Community
Residentsin the Conservation of the
Maupa Watershed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
22
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
25
Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25
Conclusion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
27
Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
28
LITERATURE CITED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
29
APPENDIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
A. Letter of Respondents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
B. Survey Questionnaire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
1
INTRODUCTION
Rationale
Forests are vital life support system necessary to be conserved and preserved in
order to maintain favorable environment for human habitation, agriculture and
biodiversity. The massive loss of forest is equated to socio-economic and environmental
crisis. A continuing ravage of the country’s remaining forest is a common observation.
Despite the government’s forest conservation programs, only 5.493 million hectares of
forest remain with only 0.805 million hectares in old growth condition (DENR-FBM,
1996).
Forest cover of the country and region continue to diminish. As reported by the
Cordillera Green Network (2007), the forest cover has slimmed down to only 55 hectares
in 1997 out of 17 million hectares reported in 1934. In the Cordillera the country’s once
rich forest are in various stage of degradation as cited by Tacloy(2000).
Various causes of forest destruction were noted. In the Cordillera, the launching
of several projects by the government and foreign companies to exploit its natural
resources destroyed the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) ancestral domains, especially the
government the forest and water resources. The so-called development projects such as
mining, logging, and dams of other energy projects contributed to the massive depletion
of forest resources (National Workshop on IP’s Human Rights, 2004).
In the Cordillera, some communities are noted for their forest conservation
consciousness as evidenced well conserved forest trough indigenous knowledge and
practices. Their especial respect and care to forest enable to maintain a sustainable way of
life. Their forest conservation and protection practices deserved more than an
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
2
environmental plaque for despite the lack of government support, they have sustained
their forest trough their own initiatives.
Statement of the Problem
Watershed is very important in a community because it is the main source of
water and water is very important necessity in our life. We should protect and conserve
our forest for the preservation of our watershed.
The main goal of the study is to know the present situation of the Maupa
Watershed. This Watershed is one of the three watersheds that supply the residents of
Barangay Ampucao. It is the main source of water at SitioDalicno particularly
PurokDemang and Midway.
However, there is no sustainable document that can appropriately document the
initiatives undertaken to conserve and protect the Maupa watershed. This study is
therefore expected to source out answers the following questions:
1. What are the characteristics of the Maupa watershed as to area, location and
ownership?;
2. What are the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents?;
3. What are the activities undertaken by the community residents for the
conservation of the Maupa watershed?;
4. What are the interventions from the Barangay Local Government Unit in the
conservation of the Maupa watershed?;and
5. What are the problems encountered by the community residents in the
conservation of the Maupa watershed?
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
3
Objectives of the Study
The study aimed to assess the efforts and/or practices undertaken by the residents
of Dalicno, Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet for the conservation of the Maupa watershed. In
line with this general objective, the specific objectives are to:
1. characterize the Maupa watershed as to area, location, and ownership;
2. determine the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents;
3. identify the activities undertaken by the community residents for the
conservation of the Maupa watershed;
4. identify the intervention from the Barangay Local Government Unit for the
conservation of the Maupa watershed; and
5. determine the different problems encountered by the community residents in
the conservation of the Maupa watershed.
Importance of the Study
Results of the study may become valuable inputs to planners to come up with
comprehensive ways and means for the conservation of watersheds in the community.
Furthermore, it may also give information to Local Government Units and legislators for
rigorous implementation of directives and/or policies relative to watershed.
Scope and Limitations
The study focused on the characterization of the Maupa watershed as to area,
location, and ownership. Moreover, it was also attempt to determine the activities
undertaken by the community residents for the conservation of Maupa watershed, the
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
4
intervention from the Barangay (Local Government Unit), and the different problems
encountered by the residentsin the conservation of the Maupa watershed.
On the other hand, the study was limited to the key informants like the members
of the different organizations in the community and elders who are residents of
SitioDalino particularly PurokDemang and Midway.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
5
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Characterization of the Maupa Watershed
The watershed reservation includes four perennial creeks named Maupa, Pitang 1,
2, and 3 which are adjacent to each other. These creeks lie between 16’20 latitude and
120’40 longitude. The scope of the watershed was delineated on the map and the same
was found to have an approximate area of 100 hectares.
According to the observation, it shows that the watershed area is thickly covered
with Benguet pine trees ranging from 20-50cms.dbh particularly at Maupa Creek. Few
scattered Benguet pine trees were also observed within the vicinities of pitang 1, 2, and 3
creeks.
The creeks within the watershed area have been utilized by the Barangays
Sangilo and Dalicno, Itogon, Benguet. It is indicated in the water permit the at the Maupa
Creeks, Pitang 1, 2, and 3 creeks have a water production of 2.0, 0.5, 0.90 and 1.20 liters
per second.
Rampant illegal cutting was observed in the watershed area. During the inspection
date, the team observed three groups of timber poachers. Abandoned logging road
believed to have been improved by illegal loggers was found existing in the area. This
may lead illegal loggers to continue logging in the watershed area.
Patches of vegetable gardens and kaingin were likewise observed within the
watershed area. Accordingly, these cultivations are covered with Tax Declarations. No
communities,however,willbe affected should this watershed be declared as forest
reservation. (Ampucao Barangay Records, 2009).
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
6
Watershed Management
Once the watershed has been described and the potential contamination and
degradation sources determine, the next step is to compile the existing control and
management practices for dealing with water quality maintenance. Such practices can be
implemented by the water agency itself and by the other agencies. The degree control that
a water agency has over a watershed, and ultimate water quality, depends on the extents
of ownership or jurisdiction of watershed lands. The most critical case occurs when
watershed land is own by the agency or private parties so that the agency has no direct
jurisdiction over the watershed land. In the case of the four San Louis Obispo watershed,
land owners and other agency not directly involved with water supply and distribution
seemed to performed their roles and handle their responsibilities with the understanding
that runoff and stream flow in these watershed eventually result in portable supply. This
is accomplished by land-use policies and standard permits, regulations, or lease
agreements (Reimold, 1988).
Concept of Watershed Management
Effective management of watershed depends on comprehensive human
understanding of the components of watershed and their interactions. The application of
the ecological principles to watershed planning has recently become one of the most
important topics of natural resources management discussion. Traditionally, interest in
balanced natural resources (land and water) management has come only after human have
first severely damaged a landscape. To paraphrase the world famous naturalist Aldo
Leopold: Human do not seem to be able to understand a system that they did not build;
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
7
instead, they seemingly must partially destroy and rebuild the system before it use
limitations are understood and appreciated (Reimold, 1988).
Importance of Watershed
While the public attention has recently been focused on watershed as units of
management entities is not new. All the effort to effectively manage watershed involved
an approach in which all stakeholders can share, resources, expertise and authority.
A similar approach to achieving healthy watershed by managing both natural
resources (air, water, fish, wildlife, and forest) and anthropogenic influences (impact of
development and expansion of human population in these resources) merits the
prevention approach. The vehicle for this approach in the United States has been
promulgation of regulations (Reimold, 1988).
The Scientific Basis for Management of Watershed
Effective planning of land use on watersheds must be based on quantitative
informants on the physical resource of climate, topography, geology soils, vegetation and
water resources. If watersheds are inhabited, then further information is required on the
numbers and distribution of people and animals, communications, economic and
subsistence landholdings and farming systems. Local history and political structures need
to be understood in order to organize cooperation to improved land-used practices. The
physical measurements alone are formidable enough in the rugged, forested hill country,
remote from roads and towns in which most major tropical rivers arise. Even more
difficult are the social and economic complexities of heavily settled upland watersheds.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
8
Many of these produce, in spite of mild topography, a series of muddy torrents and
meager, polluted dry- season flows, which are unacceptable to the population of the
lowlands (Pereira, 1989).
Forest Conservation
Integrated Social Forestry (ISF) refers to the national program launched under
Letter of Institution (LOI) 1260 in 1982 designed to maximized land productivity and
enhanced ecological stability and to improve the socio-economic condition of forest
occupants and communities actually and directly occupying and or cultivating public
forest land as December 31 1981(DENR-CAR undated). The program is based on the
principle of land stewardship, which enjoins the complementary objectives of
environment protection, poverty alleviation and social justice (DOA 04-91) and
envisioned to democratize the used of public lands and promote a more equitable
distribution of forest bounty through stewardship principle.
DENR
Administration
order 04-91, entitled “Revised Regulations Governing the
ISF Program” provides for the rights of the participants to used forest land they occupy
for a period of 25 years renewable for another 25 years. The size of the land to be granted
will not be more than 5 hectares for individuals or family participants and depends on the
nature of site, history of the group in the area and their potential to promote productive
and protective activities within the area to be stewarded by the community or group
participants.
The participants incentives stipulated under the said reversed regulation include
free use of the land allocated to them; provision of technical, legal financial, marketing,
credit and other needed assistance: freedom to seek assistance from the government
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
9
agencies and non-government and private organizations; subsequent grant of the land
allocated to them to their next- of- kin through stewardship agreement; and just
compensation for permanent improvements introduced, including trees planted, when for
some reason, the government opts not to allocate the land for stewardship to participants
concerned (Antolin, 1999).
Problems Encountered
Considered as a very serious threat are commercial loggings and kaingin or slash-
and-burn farming system to give way to commercial gardening. As demand for livelihood
increases, the depletion of forest resources become fast paced.
The most critical aspects of upper watershed management which directly affect
the lives and property of downstream users are the effects on floods, on water supplies
and on sediments transport. These are much confusion the more popular writing on these
matters, which is best, explained at the outset. With very rare exceptions, such as the
failure of major engineering structures, floods are not cause by human activities by
exceptional atmospheric events.
Small groups of the forest dwelling subsistence farmers have survived in tropical
forest since prehistorically times by slash-and-burn method of shifting cultivation. These
practice consume d the accumulated fertility of soil an d vegetation but affected small
proportion of the upper watershed that in the humid tropics the damage to soil and water
resources was minimal. In more recent times, the numbers of shifting cultivators have
grown; an FOA study estimated the total to be of the order of 250 million people in 1974.
(Pereira, 1989).
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
10
Logging of Natural Forest
Forests are the major source of foreign exchange earnings for at least 15
developing countries. Their timber exports total U.S $8 billion a year. Although forest
cover should be attained on steep slopes, particularly when high in the watersheds of
important rivers, this does not mean that the forest should not yield timber or fuel wood.
These essentials for watershed management are that the harvesting must planned and
controlled to minimize damaged and that the forest must be protected from invasion
along the tracks and over the bridges built by the timber extractors. As the cities grow the
elicit firewood contractor with large trucks and rapidly assembled labor gangs is a major
threat to the survival of the forest opened up by selective logging.
The after affect of commercial logging vary with topography. On mild slopes, the
damage done by commercial logging is shortlive if the forest is protected because loggers
remove about only 10 percent of the tress. The rest of the trees lost are removed for fuel
or destroyed by forest fires. Rapid vegetative growth restores soil protection. On steep
slopes, however, when the logging is completed, drainage must be diverted from the track
to prevent the development of gullies (Reimold, 1988).
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
11
METHODOLOGY
Locale and Time of the Study
This study was conducted at Dalicno, Itogon, Benguet. Dalicnoiscomposed of six
puroks namely: Demang, Dontog, Tipong, Daycong, Midway, Manganese and Tangke.
Dalicno is more or less 17 kilometers south of Baguio City and can be reached by an hour
ride through the Baguio-Balatoc road. The place is mountainous and has one watershed,
the Maupa watershed. The watershed has an approximate area of 100 hectares. Figure 1
shows the map of Ampucao, Itogon.
On the other hand, actual site visits and data gathering were undertaken in
October 2011.
Respondents of the Study
The respondents of the study were from different organizations in the community
like: Women’s Organization, Dalicno Youth Organization, Elders. Members of the
Barangay Local Government Unit were also included. A total of 30 respondents were
considered.
Data Collection Instrument
A questionnaire was used to gathered the necessary information regarding the
characterization of the Maupa Watershed, socio-economic characters of the respondents,
the activities undertaken by the residents for the conservation of the watershed,
interventions from both municipal and barangay local government units, and problems
encountered by the residents in the conservation of the watershed. Interviews and actual
observation was also undertaken to verify answers on the questionnaire.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
12
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe.
2012
13
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
14
Data Collection Procedure
The researcher personally administered questionnaires. The respondents with
higher educational attainment accomplished the questionnaire themselves. On the other
hand, the questionnaire served as interview guide for illiterate respondents.
Data Analysis
Data analysis started with the review and consolidation of answers to the
questions on the questionnaire. Percentage, frequency distribution and mean
wereintegrated in the descriptive presentation of answers to the questions.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
15
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
This section presents the characteristics of the Maupa watershed and profile of
respondents. It also reflects the activities undertaken by the community residents for the
conservation of the Maupa watershed, and the interventions from the Barangay Local
Government Units. Moreover, the problems encountered by the residents on the
conservation of the watershed are also included.
Characteristics of the Maupa Watershed
Table 1 shows the characteristics of the Maupa watershed as to area, location and
ownership. Based on Barangay Ampucao Records (2009), the watershed is located in
SitioMaupa and has an estimated land area of 100 hectares. Situated on the eastern part of
the Barangay, the watershed is bounded on the north by AmpucaoPoblacion, south by
Sangilo, east by Cruz and west by CotcotAso. As to ownership, the watershed is
classified as communal.
According to the Barangay officials, the watershed is owned by the government.
However, there were individuals who have been vesting interest on the ownership of the
area but they have failed to present authentic evidences.
Table 1. Characteristics of the Maupa watershed
PARAMETER DESCRIPTION
Area 100
hectares
Location SitioMaupa
Ownership Communal
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
16
Profile of the Respondents
The profile of the respondents as to the gender, civil status, age bracket, highest
educational attainment, religion and occupation is shown in Table 2.As shown in the
table, majority of the respondents are females and married. Of the 30 respondents, the
number of males and females are almost the same. It may imply that the key informants
on the Maupa watershed have equal representation as to gender.
Table 2. Profile of the respondents
PROFILE
NO. OF RESPONDENTS
PERCENTAGE
(N = 30)
(%)
a. Gender
Female
16
53.33
Male 14
46.67
TOTAL 30
100.00
b. Civil Status
Married
21
70.00
Single
9
30.00
TOTAL 30
100.00
c. Age Bracket
16-20 6
20.00
21-25 1
3.33
26-30 1
3.33
31-35 2
6.67
36-40 2
6.67
41-45 3
10.00
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
17
Table 2.continued. . .
PROFILE
NO. OF RESPONDENTS
PERCENTAGE
(N = 30)
(%)
46-50 1
3.33
51-55 3
10.00
56-60 6
20.00
61-65 1
3.33
66-70 1
3.33
71-75 2
6.67
76-80 1
3.33
TOTAL 30
100.00
d. Highest Educational Attainment
Elementary graduate
7
23.33
High School graduate
9
30.00
College graduate
13
43.34
Vocational course graduate
1
3.33
TOTAL 30
100.00
e. Religion
Roman Catholic
23
76.66
Assembly of God
3
10.00
Baptist 2
6.67
United Church of Christ in the
2 6.67
Philippines
TOTAL 30
100.00
f. Occupation
Miner
10
33.33
Housewife
8
26.67
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
18
Table 2.continued. . .
PROFILE
NO. OF RESPONDENTS
PERCENTAGE
(N = 30)
(%)
Student 6
20.00
Government employee
3
10.00
Self-employed 1
3.33
TOTAL 30
100.00
*Multiple responses
The age of the respondents ranges from 16 to 80 years old. The greatest number
of respondents falls under the age bracket of 16 to 20 and 56 to 60. The oldest respondent
is 80 years old.
All the respondents had formal education. The greatest number of respondents
finished college. Some were able to finish elementary or high school. One respondent
claimed to have finished vocational course. According to the respondents who did not
finish college, they were constrained by financial problems so they preferred to seek for a
job and earn.
The table also reflects the religion of the respondents. More than 75% of the
respondents are Roman Catholics. In a descending order, the religions of the other
respondents are Assembly of God, Baptist, and United Church of Christ in the
Philippines.
The occupation of more than 30% of the respondents proves the classification of
Ampucao as a mining community. Aside from being host to the Philex Mining
Corporation, the presence of small-scale miners is also evident in the community. There
were six respondents who are students in different universities in Baguio City and La
Trinidad.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
19
Activities Undertaken by the Community
Residentsfor the Conservation of the
Maupa Watershed
The activities undertaken by the community residents for the conservation of the
Maupa watershed are shown in Table 3. According to the respondents, the community
residents strongly believe that protecting the Maupa watershed will in turn, save their
lives. As such, there are certain activities undertaken by the community residents for the
conservation of the watershed.
The foregoing scenario relates to the claims of Reinold (1988) that effective
management of watershed depends on comprehensive human understanding of the
components of watershed and their interactions. The application of the ecological
principles to watershed planning has recently become one of the most important topics of
natural resources management discussion. Traditionally, interest in balanced natural
resources (land and water) management has come only after human have first severely
damaged a landscape. To paraphrase the world famous naturalist Aldo Leopold: Human
do not seem to be able to understand a system that they did not build; instead, they
seemingly must partially destroy and rebuild the system before itsuses and limitations are
understood and appreciated.
As reflected on the table, the activities are categorized as very much undertaken,
moderately undertaken, and not undertaken at all. A great majority of the respondents
claimed to have exerted effort in safeguarding the watershed against forest fire, illegal
loggers and illegal settlers. The Barangay Captain revealed that they have been patrolling
the area on a regular basis. Nevertheless, they did not deny that there are still individuals
who insist on destroying if not, destroying it.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
20
Table 3.Activities undertaken by the community residents for the conservation of the
Maupa watershed
ACTIVITY NUMBER
OF
RESPONDENTS
VMU
%
MU
%
NU
%
Safeguarding the watershed from forest
23 76.67 6 20.00 1 3.33
fire, illegal loggers and illegal settlers
Planting trees on grassland/barren land
18 60.00 12 40.00 1 3.33
Replacing dead trees and/or mulching
11 36.67 14 46.67 1 3.33
Caring of wildlings or naturally-grown 10 33.33 19 63.33 0 0.00
trees
*Multiple responses (VMU-Very Much Undertaken; MU-Moderately Undertaken, NU-Not Undertaken)
According to the Ampucao Barangay Records (2009), rampant illegal cutting was
observed in the watershed area. During an inspection, the team observed three groups of
timber poachers. Patches of vegetable gardens and swidden farms were likewise visible
within the watershed area. Sixty percent of the respondents also claimed that planting
trees on grassland and/or barren land is very much undertaken. According to the
respondents, the seedlings were sourced out by the Local Government Units.
Moreover, 19 respondents stated that caring of wildlings or naturally-grown trees
is moderately undertaken to conserve the Maupa watershed. At least one respondent
claimed to have done nothing for the conservation of the watershed.
Intervention from the Barangay LGUfor the
Conservation of the Maupa Watershed
Table 4 shows the interventions from the Barangay Local Government Unit for
the conservation of the Maupa watershed. These are categorized as to whether they are
very much undertaken, moderately undertaken, or not undertaken.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
21
Table 4.Interventions undertaken by the Barangay LGU for the conservation of the
Maupa watershed
INTERVENTION NUMBER
OF
RESPONDENTS
VMU % MU % NU %
Barangay LGU processes
documents on the ownership of the
watershed
25
83.33
3
10.00
2
6.67
Barangay LGU prohibits the
community residents and nearby
communities relative to occupancy
and/or alienation of the watershed
16
53.33
6
20.00
8
26.67
Barangay LGU sets policies and
implements sanctions to violators
relative to the conservation of the
14
46.67
12
40.00
5
16.67
watershed
Barangay LGU donatedplanting
materials (seedling)during the tree
planting activities
5
16.67
6
20.00
19
63.33
Barangay LGU allows the
community residents to have free
access to fauna and flora product
but not for commercial purposes
4
13.33
7
23.33
19
63.33
Barangay LGU allows the
community residents have free
access on the watershed for hunting
wild animals and birds
3
10.00
5
16.67
22
73.33
*Multiple responses(VMU-Very Much Undertaken; MU-Moderately Undertaken, NU-Not Undertaken)
According to a great majority of the respondents, the Barangay LGU processes
the pertinent documents on the ownership of the watershed. The Barangay Captain
revealed that they are doubling their efforts to maintain the watershed as community in
nature. Relatively, more than 50% of the respondents claimed that the LGU is very firm
in its stand of prohibiting the community residents and nearby communities to occupy or
alienate the watershed.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
22
On the other hand, more than 70% of the respondents stated that the Barangay
LGU is not strict in implementing rules in prohibiting community residents from hunting
wild animals and birds in the watershed. Similarly, there were 19 respondents who
claimed that the Barangay LGU is not strict in regulating the access of the community
residents on the watershed flora and fauna, and they are not consistent in donating
planting materials (seedling)during the tree planting activities.
Problems Encountered by the
Community Residentsin the Conservation of
theMaupa Watershed
Table 5 shows the problems encountered by the community residents relative to
the conservation of the Maupa watershed. A great majority of the respondents looked at
illegal loggers as the biggest threat on the conservation of the Maupa watershed. Figure 3
shows members of the community planting trees at the Maupa watershed
Figure 3.Members of the community planting trees at the Maupa watershed
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
23
Table 5.Problems encountered by community residents in the conservation of the Maupa
watershed
PROBLEM NUMBER
OF
RESPONDENTS
VS % MS % NS %
Presence of illegal loggers in the
area
20
66.67
5
16.67
5
16.67
Presence of swidden farms and
other agricultural production
activities in the area
12
40.00
7
23.33
11
36.67
Run-off water from the mining area
affects the watershed
11
36.67
2
6.67
17
56.67
Natural Calamities affects and
10 33.33 17 56.67 3 10.00
destroys the watershed
Shortage of water supply resulting
from human intervention on the
8
26.67
11
36.67
12
40.00
watershed
*Multiple responses(VS-Very Much Serious; MS-Moderately Serious, NS-Not Serious)
Moreover, there were 12 respondents who cited the presence of swidden farms
and other agricultural production activities in the area as a big problem. The other
problems, in a descending order of gravity, are as follows: run-off water from the mining
area which affects the watershed, natural calamities, and shortage of water supply
resulting from human intervention.
Findings of the study relate to the claim of Pereira (1989) that considered as a
very serious threat to our forests are commercial loggings and kaingin or slash-and-burn
farming system to give way to commercial gardening. As demand for livelihood
increases the depletion of forest resources become fast paced.The most critical aspects of
upper watershed management which directly affect the lives and property of downstream
users are the effects on floods, on water supplies and on sediments transport. Figure 4
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
24
shows the presence of swidden farms and other agricultural production activities at the
Maupa watershed.
Figure 4. The presence of swidden farms and other agricultural production activities at
the Maupa watershed
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
25
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary
This study documented the community-based watershed conservation practices:
the case study of the maupa watershed in Ampucao.Itogon, Benguet relative to the
characterization of the maupa watershed. socio-economic profile of the respondents, the
activities undertaken by the community residents for the conservation of the Maupa
Watershed, the intervention from the Barangay Local Government Unit for the
conservation of the Maupa watershed, and the different problems encountered by the
residents in the conservation of the Maupa watershed. It was conducted at Dalicno,
Itogon, in the province of Benguet. It involved 30 respondents who were residents of
purokDemang and Midway. Data gathering was undertaken in October 2011.
As to the characteristics of the Maupa watershed, it is located at SitioMaupa and
has estimated land area of 100 hectares. It is classified as communal.On the profile of the
respondents, majority are female and married. The greatest number of the respondents
falls under the age bracket 16 to 20 and 56 to 60. The oldest respondent is 80 years old
and the youngest is 16 years old.
All the respondents had formal education. The greatest number of respondents
finished college. Some were able to finish elementary and high school. One respondent
claimed to have finished vocational course. According to the respondents who did not
finish college, they were constrained by financial problems so they preferred to seek for
job and earn.On the religion of the respondents, more than 75% of the respondents are
Roman Catholics. In descending order, the religions of the other respondents are
Assembly of God, Baptist and United Church of Christ in the Philippines.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
26
The occupation of more than 30% of respondents proves the classification of
Ampucao as a mining community. Aside from being host of the Philex Mining
Corporation, the presence of small-scale miners is also evident in the community. There
were six respondents who are students in different universities in Baguio City and La
Trinidad.
In the activities undertaken by the community residents for the conservation of the
Maupa watershed, the community residents strongly believed that protecting the Maupa
watershed will in turn save their live.
As such, there are certain activities undertaken by the community residents for the
conservation of the watershed. A great majority of the respondents claimed to have
exerted effort in safeguarding the watershed against forest fire, illegal loggers and illegal
settlers.
Sixty percent of the respondents also claimed that planting trees on grassland
and/or barren land is very much undertaken. According to the respondents, the seedlings
were sourced out by the Local Government Units.
Moreover, 19 respondents stated that caring of wildlings or naturally-grown trees
is moderately undertaken to conserve the Maupa watershed. At least one respondent
claimed to have done nothing for the conservation of the watershed.
The Barangay LGU processes the pertinent documents on the ownership of the
watershed. The Barangay Captain revealed that they are doubling their efforts to maintain
the watershed as community in nature. Relatively, more than 50% of the respondents
claimed that the LGU is very firm in its stand of prohibiting the community residents and
nearby communities to occupy or alienate the watershed.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
27
On the other hand, more than 70% of the respondents stated that the Barangay
LGU is not strict in implementing rules in prohibiting community residents from hunting
wild animals and birds in the watershed. Similarly, there were 19 respondents who
claimed that the Barangay LGU is not strict in regulating the access of the community
residents on the watershed flora and fauna, and they are not consistent in donating
planting materials (seedling) during the tree planting activities.
The most commonproblems encountered by the community residents relative to
the conservation of the Maupa watershed were: illegal loggers as the biggest threat on the
conservation of the Maupawatershed.Moreover, there were 12 respondents who cited the
presence of swidden farms and other agricultural production activities in the area as a big
problem. The other problems, in a descending order of gravity, are as follows: run-off
water from the mining area which affects the watershed, natural calamities, and shortage
of water supply resulting from human intervention.
Conclusion
Based on the findings of the study, the following conclusions were drawn:
1. The respondents undertook several measures to preserved and conserved for
the conservation of the Maupa watershed such as; planting trees on grassland/barren land,
replacing dead trees, caring on wildling or naturally grown trees, and safe guarding the
watershed.
2. The declaration of the Maupa watershed as own by the government is being
enforced and implemented by the Barangay LGU incorporated by the Local Government
Unit.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
28
3. The respondents encountered several problems in the conservation of the
Maupa watershed such us; the presence of illegal loggers in the area, presence of swidden
farmers and other agricultural production activities in the area, run-off water from the
mining area, affects the watershed, shortage of water supply resulting from human
intervention on the watershed, and natural calamities affects and destroys the watershed.
Recommendations
The following are recommended:
1. The community residents especially the youth should participate on set
activities like tree planting, safeguarding the watershed and conduct seminars to make
everyone aware on the environmental concerns and be more responsible in the
conservation and preservation to have a clean, clear, healthy and sustainable watershed.
2. The Barangay LGU should seek assistance from the Municipal LGU to
provide enough materials for the sustainable development and equitable preservation and
management of the Maupa watershed. They should work hand in hand to formulate
policies that will integrate environmental thinking into the development decisions in the
conservation practices of the Maupa watershed.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
29
LITERATURE CITED
ANTOLIN, B.1999. Community-Based forest management. Lecture not for the
reviewclasses for the Foresters’ Licensure Examination, sponsored by the
FutureForesters Society and the 1999 BS Forestry graduates. BSU-college of
ForestryLa Trinidad, Benguet.
BARANGAY AMPUCAO RECORDS.2009. Maupa Watershed Profile in
Ampucao,Itogon, Benguet.
CORDILLERA GREEN NETWORK, 2007.Lakon/ Saguday: An
IndigenousForestManagement
System in Mountain Province.
COORDINATING COMMITTEE of the NATIONAL WORKSHOP of INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE on HUMAN RIGHTS, 2004.National Workshop of Indigenous
Peopleon Human Rights.
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES-FMB, 1996.
Philippines Forestry Statistics.P.xii. Manila DENR, 1996
PERIERA, H. 1989. Policy and practice in management of tropical watershed. Boulder:
Westview Press; London: Belhaven Press, 1989
REIMOLD, R. 1988. Watershed management: practice, policies, and coordination. New
York :Mc Grow Hill Co.:, 1988
TACLOY, J. 2000. Indigenous forest conservation system in the Cordillera Region.
Unpublished PhD Dissertation. BenguetState University La Trinidad, Benguet.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
30
APPENDIX A
Letter to the Respondents
Republic of the Philippines
BENGUET STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
La Trinidad, Benguet
Dear Respondent:
Greetings!
I am a fourth year Bachelor of Science in Agriculture – Extension Education
student of the Benguet State University presently conducting a study entitled
“Community-Based Watershed Conservation Practices: A Case Study of Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet.`` the study aims to document the present
situation of the Maupa watershed and the problems encountered by the watershed.
In connection to this, I am seeking your assistance by supplying the necessary
information asked attached on the questionnaire. Thank you and rest assured that all
information will be treated confidential and used for research purposely only.
Respectfully yours,
APRIL A. TOLBE
Researcher
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
31
APPENDIX B
Survey Questionnaire
I.PERSONAL INFORMATION
Name
(optional):
Gender:
Age:
Civil
Status:
Religion:
Occupation:
Highest Education Attainment?
Elementary
High school
College
Vocational
Listed here under are indigenous forest management practices. Check on the
appropriate column for those which are practice in your watershed. Based on your
experience and observation, kindly rate the extent of implementation by checking
the appropriate column using the following description.
3- very much undertaken (VMU)
2- moderately undertaken(MU)
1- not undertaken(NU)
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
32
II. Activities undertaken by the community
ACTIVITIES
UNDERTAKEN
3
2
1
BY THE
VMU
MU
NU
COMMUNITY
1.Planting trees on
grassland/barren
lands
2. Replacing dead
trees
3. Caring of
wildlings or
naturally-grown
trees.
4. Safeguarding the
watershed from
forest fire, illegal
loggers and illegal
settlers.
III. Intervention from the Municipal and Barangay LGU
INTERVENTION
OF LGU’S
3
2
1
VMU
MU
NU
1. Barangay LGU
allows the
community
residents have free
access on the
watershed for
hunting wild
animals and birds.
2. Barangay LGU
allows the
community
residents to have
free access to fauna
and flora products
but not for
commercial
purposes.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
33
INTERVENTION
OF LGU’S
3
2
1
VMU
MU
NU
3. Barangay LGU
process documents
on the ownership of
the watershed.
4. Barangay LGU
donated planting
materials (seedlings)
during the tree
planting activities.
5. Barangay LGU
set policies and
implements
sanctions to
violators relative to
the conservation of
the watershed.
6. Barangay LGU
prohibits the
community
residents and nearby
communities
relative to
occupancy and/or
alienation of the
watershed.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
34
IV. Problems encountered by the community in the conservation of the Maupa Watershed
3-Very much serious
2-Moderately serious
1-Not serious
PROBLEMS
ENCOUNTERED
3
2
1
VMS
MS
NS
1.Presence of illegal
loggers in the area.
2. Presence of
swidden farms and
other agricultural
production activities
in the area.
3.Run-off water
from the mining
area affects the
watershed.
4. Shortage of water
supply resulting
from human
intervention on the
watershed.
5.Natural Calamities
affects and destroys
the watershed.
Thank you so much.
ACommunity‐Based Watershed Conservation Practices: The Case Study of the Maupa
Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet / April A. Tolbe. 2012
Document Outline
- Community-Based Watershed ConservationPractices: The Case Study of the Maupa Watershed in Ampucao, Itogon, Benguet
- BIBLIOGRAPHY
- TABLE OF CONTENTS
- INTRODUCTION
- REVIEW OF LITERATURE
- METHODOLOGY
- RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
- SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
- LITERATURE CITED
- APPENDIX