BukSU, IIED pilot tests a new tool for advancing locally-led conservation in Ph

Bukidnon State University led by SMART BukSU President Dr. Joy M. Mirasol, in close collaboration with the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), one of the world’s leading independent policy and action research organization based in the UK, pilot tested a new tool for advancing locally-led conservation in the Philippines called the Governance Type Assessment (GTA) tool highlighting the experiences of Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park (MKRNP) particularly for the municipalities of Libona and Baungon, Bukidnon.

Representatives from key actor groups were identified to assess the influence and authority, collectively recognized as assessing the ‘balance of power’ in the conservation and protection of MKRNP between the indigenous people and local communities (IPLC), government agencies, and non-government organizations who live and manage within and/or around MKRNP.

“The MKRNP was selected primarily because it is currently declared an ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Heritage Park and its outstanding impression of biodiversity. Being part of this list means that the MKRNP is a protected area with unique, diverse and outstanding value, and home of the three ethnic tribes, Bukidnon, Higaonon, and Talaandig. Mt. Kitanglad is said to host a wide range of biodiversity, as it is home to hundreds of species of plants and animals. The experience of MKRNP in terms of balance of influence and authority in its governance and management would be an important input in the development of this tool,” BukSU said.

GTA is a new tool crafted by representatives of the global nations to get to a point where power dynamics in the conservation and protection of a protected and conserved area (PCA) can be openly discussed, and hope the tool could help in achieving equitable governance underpinning effective conservation. And, Philippines is among the four other countries who pilot tested the tool.

“The tool aims to enable IPLCs and other site-level actors to better understand the balance of power and its shift of the balance of power towards IPLCs. It also provides information for impact evaluation, safeguard systems, learning and reporting, and policy influence and development,” IIED said.

The implementation began with two separate community meetings held on March 21–22, 2024, where the BukSU-Institute of Environmental Governance (BukSU-IEG) team conducted the assessment at Barangay Sil-ipon in Libona and Barangay Mabuhay in Baungon with the attendance of IPLCs from barangay local government units (BLGUs), Kitanglad Guard Volunteers (KGVs), Higaonon Council of Elders, representatives from the youth sector, and women’s organizations.

The meeting identified the historical relationships between the communities and MKRNP, their experiences before and after MKRNP was declared a PCA, and a visioning exercise on how MKRNP will be conserved.

The second and third phases happened on April 2-3 involving the whole of representatives of the MKRNP Protected Area Management Board (MKRNP-PAMB), this time with IPLCs, government, non-government actors, and Ms. Barbara Llasen, Senior Coordinator of the IIED.

The participants were grouped to assess the results of the assessment under the tool’s identified dimensions on management, governance, rights and duties, knowledge and values, and the financing.

The last phase provided pathways to change by enumerating the challenges, ideas for action, and the prioritization of ideas of action. 

“[Diri nako nakit-an kung unsa kadako ang impact as KGV. Ang KGV dako kayo ug tahas sulod sa lasang. Dili lang ko garepresentar as IPMR, lakip ug ang uban pang organisasyon nga akong gipang-apilan, kay nakita gyud nako ang impact ug kabag-ohan base sa akong experiences. Mapasalamaton pod kaayo ko sa BukSU team ni Dr. Joy Mirasol nga nag-abag sa amoa sugod pa sauna.] It is from this activity that I have recognized my influence being part of the KGV. Our functions played a significant role for the protection of the forest. I do not only represent myself as the indigenous people’s mandatory representative (IPMR), but also to other organizations I actively participated in, I have seen the changes and its impact based on my experiences. I am very thankful to the BukSU team of Dr. Joy Mirasol who has helped us ever since,” Barangay Sil-ipon IPMR Bai Roquisa L. Logronio said. 

“The tool is thought-provoking. It forces us to think where we (state actor) are in terms of power sharing. All aspects have been laid down already for us to evaluate. And it is very inspiring that there is a visioning activity and certain road maps. This made us realize to go back to the inputs we made in our management plan. I like the way the visioning exercises are facilitated, BukSU team is very smart in catching our ideas and managing the crafting of the vision from our group discussion,” Ms. Sharon Tacbobo, Manolo Fortich Environment and Natural Resources Officer (MENRO-Manolo Fortich), said.

BukSU-IEG’s main role in this extension project was to facilitate the implementation of the pilot testing of the new tool, particularly in conducting feasibility assessments, conducting community meetings, conducting site profiling, facilitating skills training for the IPLCs, and communicating results to communities and other audiences.

BukSU has been a partner of IIED since the conduct of the pilot testing of the SAGE Tool between 2019-2020. The SAGE Tool was pilot tested in two protected areas in Bukidnon: Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park and Mt. Kalatungan Range Natural Park

This year’s project partnership is expected to be fulfilled in May 2024.

(With information from Ms. Joanne Vivien B. Necosia and Astred Jill A. Catolpos. Photos: Loyd Gonzales )