Assessment of community- based forest management initiatives in the Philippines

Professorial Chair Lecture

Gregorio T. Zamuco Professorial Chair Lecture

Place

Operations Room, Tamesis Hall, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, UPLB, College, Laguna

Date

6-26-2001

Abstract

This paper presents some of the preliminary findings of a qualitative assessment of three major CBFM initiatives in the Philippines using the asset-based framework modified from the work of Pretty and Hine (2000) in the agricultural sector. A total of 29 CBFM sites classified under the three initiatives - 5 self-initiated, 10 locally-supported, and 14 national programs/projects - were analyzed in terms of five assessment criteria. These are: development and protection of forest lands and resources, improvement of the livelihood and well-being of upland communities, sustainability of management system, acceptable level of equity, and extent of participation and empowerment of local communities.

The preliminary findings from the assessment show that four of the five self-initiated sites studied have yielded positive outcomes in all the five assessment criteria. On the other hand, both the locally-supported sites and national programs/projects generated positive outcomes only in two of the five assessment criteria, namely, development and protection of forest lands and resources, improvement of the livelihood and well-being of upland communities. There is high degree of uncertainty in both initiatives whether the other three CBFM goals on sustainability of management system, acceptable level of equity, and the participation and empowerment of local communities has been achieved.

Having presented the indicative outcomes of the three initiatives, the paper then discussed the causal factors that shaped these outcomes. The implications of the findings in term the CBFM policy and practice as well as in forestry education and research were also enumerated.

The author cautioned that the findings and implications presented in this paper are only suggestive and preliminary in nature. They need more in-depth field validation before definite conclusions and recommendations could be drawn.

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

College

College of Forestry and Natural Resources (CFNR)

Language

English

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