Thumbnail Image

Effects of COVID-19 on Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) in selected regions of the Philippines

XV World Forestry Congress, 2-6 May 2022

Year of publication 2022

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 8p.

Author Pulhin, J. M., Ramirez, M. A. M., Garcia, J. E., et al.

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Article

Synopsis (short abstract) Everyone, regardless of socio-economic status and location, has been affected at varying degrees by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, those living in the uplands have borne the brunt of COVID-19, because lesser resources are at their disposal compared to their lowland counterparts. Moreover, deforestation, landscape fragmentation, habitat destruction, and illegal wildlife trade are being blamed at them as the reasons behind the pathogen transmission. With an estimated area of 1.6 million hectares of forest under the management of people’s organizations (POs) through the Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) Program of the Philippine Government, the importance of these communities cannot be overly emphasized in effecting sustainable forest management to prevent future disease outbreaks. This study assesses the impacts of COVID- 19 on forest management activities and livelihood of upland communities in 15 of the 18 regions of the country implementing CBFM Program through online focus group discussions (FGDs) with the officers and staff of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) at the regional, provincial, and local levels. Initial results indicate that lockdowns have adversely affected the production activities of the POs, which consequently resulted in a decrease in income. In addition, an increase in illegal activities such as timber poaching, charcoal making, and swidden farming have been observed in some areas as forest protection activities have been put on hold. Enterprising POs, however, have ventured into selling their cash crops, ornamental plants, and other products online for income generation, while others focused their time on tending their agroforestry farms. The findings of this study can be used as bases for targeted interventions (i.e., employment in forest restoration and monitoring, strengthening alternative livelihoods) of the government to avert a further decline in forest condition, even beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Keywords: COVID-19, community-based forest management, sustainable forest management ID: 3486614

Language English

Also available in:
No results found.

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Article
    Sustainability performance model through local community participation towards the development of sustainable community-based tourism on nature-based sites in Bicol region, Philippines
    XV World Forestry Congress, 2-6 May 2022
    2022
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    Community-based tourism in the Philippines thrives on natural areas both protected and non-protected. In this regard, the participation of tourism stakeholders and their sustainability performance is essential to determine actions and programs to ensure environmental protection and the provision of long-term benefits. This study evaluated the extent of participation of the local tourism stakeholders in the identified community-based tourism (CBT) sites in Bicol Region, Philippines, and determine its influence on sustainability performance. The sustainability performance indicators were anchored from various international CBT indicators and employed the ASEAN Community-Based Tourism Standard as the baseline criteria. The participants of the study consist of the members of CBT organizations, the Local Government Unit, full-pledged municipal tourism officers, tourism officers-designate, barangay officials, private stakeholders, NGOs, and tourists. This study used a descriptive research method and utilized qualitative and quantitative analysis. Results showed that all factors of the extent of participation relate significantly to the overall sustainability performance but to a varying degree. The analysis of the extent of participation and sustainability performance showed significant differences among each community with moderate association to one another. The significant predictors for sustainability performance were political maturity, cultural richness, and environmental purity. Political maturity registered the highest effect on sustainability performance. It can be concluded that in the context of Bicol Region, government and political support determines success in tourism development alongside cultural and environmental dimensions of tourism sustainability. Therefore, it is recommended to adopt the Sustainability Performance Model for CBT sites in Bicol Region. Keywords: Community-Based Tourism; Sustainability Performance; Community Participation; Nature-Based ID: 3623835
  • Thumbnail Image
    Article
    Key lessons from a community-based forest and rangeland management initiative in Afghanistan
    XV World Forestry Congress, 2-6 May 2022
    2022
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    It is increasingly recognized that the management of forest and rangeland resources through the involvement of resource users is a sound strategy for the protection, conservation, and sustainable use of those resources in mountainous communities in Afghanistan. Community-based management of natural resources, especially forest and rangeland, is a priority of the Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GoIRA). Accordingly, the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL), with donor support, has initiated community-based natural resource management practices throughout the country. This paper highlights the key lessons learnt from successfully implementing community-based forest and rangeland management interventions under a project implemented by the FAO in two provinces (Nangarhar and Parwan), with the support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). It also draws some lessons from a similar project currently ongoing in five provinces (Badghis, Bamiyan, Gazani, Kunar and Paktiya) with close collaboration of different government agencies. The paper builds on the information gathered from focus group discussions, field observations and historical records. The results indicate that more efforts are needed to make the communities and the government recognize the full potential of and emphasize community-based natural resource management through capacity building, provision of financial support, and clarification of user rights and ownership status. The results also revealed that capacity of government agencies, especially the office bearers, had to be strengthened in order to put the relevant policies and procedures issued by the GoIRA into practice more effectively and efficiently. The most important entry-point initiatives and interventions that showed progress in achieving sustainable natural resource management include: (i) providing alternative energy sources for reducing pressure on forest andrangeland in remote areas for wood fuel; and (ii) promote improved management of natural resources through awareness raising, capacity building, and introduction of new technologies. Keywords: Community-based natural resource management (CBNRM), community, community-based association. ID: 3486395
  • Thumbnail Image
    Article
    Reducing risks from forest fire and disasters through a community-based forest fire brigade (MPA), a case study in Danau Sentarum National Park
    XV World Forestry Congress, 2-6 May 2022
    2022
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    The TNBKDS is an exotic ecosystem and has designated as one of the world biospheres reserves. The Park is also inhabited by around 6,000 people. Ecotourism, biodiversity, and cultural value attracts many domestic and international tourists. However, the park has high-risk from forest fire and flooding. During 2014-2019, forest fire in the park is recorded at the average of 206.6 Ha. The lake has also experienced in regular flooding. Reducing these risks should involve community by strengthening their capacity to protect their home. Consultations and SWOT analysis was used to map community capacity and to rank the threat. Opportunities on livelihood improvement is also identified to develop approach and strategy in reducing risks and improving their income. A GIS tool was used to monitor forest fire. A total of 10 MPA were established in 10 villages, involving 300 peoples (300 households). From series of consultations, 100% agreed that community need to involve in combating forest fire and reducing the damage from flooding. FIP-1 provides forest fire equipment, as well as series of training on forest fire, forest monitoring using GPS, alternative income activities such as bee keeping, fish processing, and women empowerment. Establishment of MPA and implementation of forest patrol for the period of 2018-Jun 2021 has directly protected a forest area from forest fire of 11,265 ha and non-forest area of 82,481 ha. Community participation is the key success of reducing risks from forest fire. Training program is also essential to support community capacity in reducing hotspots and to provide alternative income for their sustainable live within the national park. Keywords: forest fire, community, West Kalimantan, climate change ID: 3488239
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

No results found.