Rattan and Resin from the Tropical Forests of Palawan, Philippines
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Rattan and Resin from the Tropical Forests of Palawan, Philippines |
by World Wildlife Fund - Philippines
Partners: World Wildlife Fund -- Philippines (WWF-P)
Nagkakaisang mga Tribu ng Palawan
(NATRIPAL)
Tanggapang Panligal ng Katutubong
Pilipino (PANLIPI)
Tribal Filipino Apostolate1997 Update
BCN's enterprise approach to biodiversity conservation was originally in four project sites in Palawan. Two sites in the northern part of Palawan -- Cabayugan and Cayasan, are inhabited by tribes of Tagbanua and Batak, while two sites in the southern part of Palawan -- Campung Ulay and Punta Baja, are inhabited by tribes of Palawan and Tagbanua.
Two years into the implementation phase, internal organization problems and partnership conflicts threatened the future of the project. However with a new Board of Directors at NATRIPAL, and renewed commitment from the project staff working closely with the local associations, progress is being made.
A recent major accomplishment was the signing of the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Claims (CADC) for two of the project sites, Campung Ulay (7,000 ha) and Punta Baja (8,092 ha). These certificates will give the tribes of Palawan and Tagbanuas the tenurial security for which they have been longing.
The project hired foresters and a team of ten community members to inventory the non-timber forest products (NTFPs) such as rattan, almaciga, honey and medicinal plants, felled logs, pandan and wild fruits found within the ancestral domains of Cayasan and Campung Ulay. The indigenous members of these biological teams will become the forest rangers and paralegals of their communities officially recognized and empowered by the local Department of Environment and Natural Resources. In the succeeding months, with some technical advice, they will complete the data analysis and share the results with the local indigenous communities for use in the management of their ancestral domains. This will enable the communities to manage the resources more sustainably.
All three project sites have already started trading in honey, rattan and almaciga. The business centers of the project sites have been effectively serving as a center for communications, community activities and trading. At present, there are 30 participants in each project site, mostly officials of the local associations and leaders in the community who are being trained.
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