Employment generating capability of smallholder upland development projects in selected CBFM sites in the Philippines

Issue Date

10-2014

Abstract

Smallholder upland development projects like Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) play vital roles in uplifting the socio-economic conditions of community members whose employment and income depend on various activities within the CBFM. Twenty people’s organizations (POs) awarded with varying areas of forest land under the CBFM program in different regions of the Philippines were visited to document and analyze the program’s impacts in terms of employment and
income generation. Through focus group discussions (FGD) and key informant interviews (KIIs) with CBFM implementers, beneficiaries, and other actors involved in various CBFM activities, the levels of employment generated and related issues
and concerns about the program were identified and determined. A number of CBFM policy issuances designed to provide employment opportunities to upland communities and localized employment policies and practices within the POs were also reviewed and analyzed. The results showed that generally, the CBFM program was able to alleviate employment problems in the community especially during the period coinciding with the Comprehensive Site Development (CSD) phase when members were employed in the CBFM. However, benefits were inequitably distributed as non-PO members were seldom hired. Majority of the POs focused on short-term benefits like their income share from timber harvesting. The enthusiasm and interest of PO members waned with the termination of funding support and the suspension of harvesting and utilization permits. Hence, alternative forest-based employment and livelihood activities aside from timber utilization should be available in CBFM areas. Technical and institutional support to enhance the
employment generating capacity of the CBFM program need to be strengthened.

Source or Periodical Title

Ecosystem & Development Journal: A Journal on Tropical Forests and Natural Resources

ISSN

2012-3612

Volume

5

Issue

1

Page

39-48

Document Type

Article

Physical Description

figs. ; tables

Language

English

En – AGROVOC descriptors

FOREST MANAGEMENT; INCOME GENERATION; EMPLOYMENT; PHILIPPINES

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