Abaca Fiber and Rattan from the Forests of Mindanao, Philippines

by Biodiversity Conservation Network Staff

Partners:

Environmental Research Division, Manila Observatory (ERD) Southeast Asia Sustainable Forest Management Network

Success Stories

Two incidents indicate strengthening of Lumad (indigenous) leadership. First, there was concern on the part of the forest committee over the pressure from Dumagat (lowlanders) in St. Peter to obtain wood from Bendum to build their houses. Much of the monitoring has been related to this pressure. The committee decided to use the fallen logs for houses and construction within the community and have continued to refuse to allow the movement of logs outside the community of Bendum. Second, when the Mayor of Malaybalay came to Bendum with a medical team, the growth of the Tribal Council was tested. The members of the council took the lead in bringing up issues, deciding what not to discuss and obtaining support from the Mayor for their various activities.

Challenges

The major challenge along the Pantaron range is keeping at bay the powerful forces that either threaten the physical security of the people or degrade the forest resource base that is the locus of spiritual as well as economic value. While some minor incidents occurred, there is now a situation of relative peace. This peace allows for intense negotiations over resource rights and access, as well as roles and forms of decision-making, within the indigenous Lumad community and among the Lumads, Dumagats (migrants) and government officials. Keeping the process peaceful is critical to the success of all efforts.

In terms of the BCN project, a major challenge is to provide sufficient social and economic benefits from low impact and culturally empowering activities to balance the temptation to sell, rent or otherwise alienate land for intensive agriculture but not promote activities that are so profitable that they attract too much attention from outsiders. These challenges can only be met by a holistic and strategic approach that focuses on a longer term goal of negotiating cultural and economic integrity within a clearly delineated territory. Road building may soon pose a threat as well, while serious health problems and debt are continually present in the community.

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