Assessing vulnerability to environmental changes of Caliraya watershed areas in Laguna, Philippines

Issue Date

12-2010

Abstract

Caliraya watershed is considered a forest reservation with special uses as reservoir for power generation in Luzon. Due to varying conflicting uses such as: agriculture production, ecotourism, recreation, real estate, resorts and rest houses, among others, the watershed is now at the state of degradation and over-exploitation. This study was conducted to assess the community's vulnerability towards impacts of environmental changes in the watershed.

Structured interview was used as primary information of 361 households through proportional allocation sampling techniques with 95% confidence level. Focus group discussion and key informants interviews with different stakeholders were done to supplement the primary data.

The communities within the watershed are "highly vulnerable" to social, economic and biophysical stressors due to environmental changes such as conversion of land use to resort, rest houses and in-migration of landless families.

Vulnerability indices are developed as functions of social, economic and biophysical towards impacts of environmental changes in the watershed. These indices measure the extent of people's vulnerability and causal-effects of environmental changes. Further, significant issues and concerns for immediate actions and response coping mechanisms to mitigate and reduce the vulnerability of the people and the community opened up.

Source or Periodical Title

Journal of Environmental Science and Management

ISSN

0119-1144

Volume

13

Issue

2

Page

53-65

Document Type

Article

College

School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM)

Frequency

semi-annually

Physical Description

tables

Language

English

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