Você está na página 1de 55

Strategies of the Agriculture Sector in Korea for the post-Kyoto Regime

SEARCA Agriculture & Development Discussion Paper Series No. 2011-3

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

Margaret M. Calderon Nathaniel C. Bantayan Josefina T. Dizon Asa Jose U. Sajise Analyn L. Codilan Myranel G. Salvador

SOUTHEAST ASIAN REGIONAL CENTER FOR GRADUATE STUDY AND RESEARCH IN AGRICULTURE Science and education for agriculture and development

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

Abstract

he study aimed to build the capacity of Hungduan farmers in preparation for a full-blown Payments for Environmental and Cultural Services (PECS) project, by engaging them in environmental and cultural resource assessment in a watershed context. Specifically, the study facilitated activities that enhanced Ifugao farmers knowledge in community-based resource and damage assessment and mapping, identified the environmental and cultural services of Hungduan, and formulated communitybased management plans for four sub-watersheds. The processes in implementing the study were also documented. The total areas of rice terraces in Clusters 1, 2, 3, and 4 were estimated to be 623 hectares (ha), 631 ha, 1,171 ha, and 637 ha, respectively. Damaged terraces ranged from 13 percent to a maximum of 20 percent, while abandoned terraces were found to be minimal. The farmers identified water, carbon sequestration, and soil conservation as the ecosystem services produced by the rice terraces; whereas organic farming, native customs, and the maintenance and restoration of stone walls, terraces, and woodlots were regarded as the cultural services. The farmers developed management plans that were similar in terms of objectives and strategies but different in implementation strategies, costs, and scheduling. Some farmers did not readily accept the use of the watershed as a management unit. In addition, their harvests from the terraces were barely enough for their subsistence; they had no surplus income that could be used for terrace repair.

Situated in the original, natural, or existing place or position.

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

The study found, among other things, that complementing indigenous knowledge with classroom and research techniques is effective in generating reliable information needed for management planning, and the use of three-dimensional (3D) maps can facilitate management plan preparation. Farmers activities in rice terraces management and conservation should be supported or subsidized, possibly by the local government units and the countryside development fund of congressmen and senators (short-term), or through a sustainable financing mechanism such as PECS (long-term). Aside from tourism revenues, such a financing mechanism may also be supported by payments for other environmental services produced, such as water, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

Introduction

he Ifugao Rice Terraces (IRT) of the Philippinesthe most famous among the rice terraces found in the Asia-Pacific regionattract a significant number of local and foreign tourists annually. Nine of the 11 municipalities of Ifugao province are home to rice terraces, and those in the municipalities of Kiangan, Hungduan, and Mayoyao, and the barangays of Batad and Bangaan in the municipality of Banaue have been inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List under the category of organically-evolved landscapes. Though the municipalities of Asipulo, Aguinaldo, Hingyon, Lagawe, and Tinoc are not mentioned, there are initiatives to include more rice terraces in the list. In a workshop conducted by the project proponents in March 2008, a number of stakeholders noted that conservation efforts have focused only on the heritage municipalities even as the same problems have been observed in the non-heritage ones. They expressed concern that this may result in the deterioration of the rice terraces in other areas. As with other heritage sites, the rice terraces were an offspring of necessity and were not made deliberately as heritage areas. Originally carved from the mountains more than 2,000 years ago, the terraces were created by the people of Ifugao for rice planting. The indigenous knowledge of the Ifugao allowed them to sculpt terraces on mountain slopes that both conserved soil and water, which made for sustainable rice production. The terraces have gained recognition throughout the world; the use of traditional skills and hydraulic works in the engineering and construction of the terraces has been marvelled at. However, the condition of the terraces has deteriorated over the years, owing to problems that include low rice productivity, outmigration, overcutting of woodlots, erosion and landslides,

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

problematic irrigation system, and the presence of pests such as golden snails and giant earthworms. These problems have resulted in the abandonment of many terraces that, if allowed to continue, could compromise their very existence. The research team completed a two-phase project funded by the Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA) that aimed to develop a sustainable financing mechanism for the conservation of the IRT. Phase 1 was undertaken to explain the socio-cultural factors that influence the Ifugao farmers practices in relation to the terraces; analyze the water allocation system in Ifugao and how this affects the availability of water for irrigation; and assess the availability of labor to undertake rehabilitation and protection of the terraces. On the other hand, Phase 2 aimed to evaluate alternative approaches to capture tourists willingness to pay (WTP) to partly finance conservation efforts, estimate the extent and occurrence of abandonment of and damage to the rice terraces in the four heritage municipalities in Ifugao, and lay the groundwork for institutionalizing a sustainable financing mechanism. Among the significant findings of the project are (1) the Ifugao farmers need for financial support to rehabilitate the irrigation system and terrace walls, and other livelihood activities to augment farm incomes; and (2) a strong demand for the cultural and environmental services that the terraces provide, which if captured, would possibly become a significant source of funds to support the farmers. In a meeting on 19 January 2009, Ifugao Governor Teodoro B. Baguilat, Jr. mentioned that the efforts of the University of the Philippines Los Baos (UPLB)-EEPSEA research team will help the province meet the benchmarks set by UNESCO to remove the IRT from the World Heritage in Danger list. One of these benchmarks is the development of a sustainable financing mechanism for the terraces, which when in place, will help finance the restoration of damaged walls and support the initiatives under the Globally-

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

Important Agricultural Heritage Systems, such as reforestation, livelihood, ecotourism, and community-based land use and zoning. The research teams earlier work has demonstrated that the farmers need support to continue farming the rice terraces and sustain the provision of the cultural and environmental services that they, in the process of farming, provide. In addition, there is a demand for these services and the potential to raise revenues from the demand side (e.g., local and foreign tourists and other possible donors) is high. To complete the picture, the problem of securing the continuous provision of these services, which may be compromised if the current problems are not addressed, has to be tackled. That is, how revenues, if generated, will be used effectively and efficiently to secure the cultural and environmental services of the IRT. This study focused on capacity building for the farmers of Hungduan in preparation for a full-blown Payments for Environmental and Cultural Services (PECS) project. It aimed to engage farmers in environmental and cultural resource assessment in a watershed context with particular focus on the Ifugao indigenous knowledge system. Specifically, the project facilitated activities that enhanced Ifugao farmers knowledge of community-based resource and damage assessment and mapping, identified the environmental and cultural services of Hungduan, and prepared community-based management plans for four sub-watersheds. Payment for Environmental Services An increased global awareness of the need to conserve environmental resources has led to the development of a number of natural resource management policies. There has been a recent shift from rigid top-down decision making towards more flexible and voluntary approaches. This shift is part of a wider governance reform designed to increase the effectiveness of conservation efforts and the flow of more benefits to the communities.

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

Environmental degradation is occurring at an alarming rate, prompting immediate action and more direct and innovative solutions for environmental conservation (Leimona and Lee 2008). Among these innovations is the payments for ecosystem services or payments for environmental services (PES). PES as a recent policy innovation has attracted attention in both developed and developing countries. PES programs aim to harness market forces to obtain more efficient environmental outcomes (Zilberman 2007). It seeks to support positive environmental externalities through the transfer of financial resources from beneficiaries of certain environmental services to those who provide these services or are fiduciaries of environmental resources. Over the last decade, the use of PES schemes for watersheds, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and landscape beauty dominated (Wunder 2006; Leimona and Lee 2008). Authors provide various definitions of PES. According to Raben (2007), PES is an environmental management instrument that uses economic incentives to promote the conservation of the environment and the environmental services it provides. It aims to establish benefit streams, whether in cash or kind, flowing from beneficiaries of improved environmental services to the providers of the services. The concept behind PES is to provide incentives and benefits to the people who now utilize environmentally-valuable ecosystems in return for their agreeing to utilize these services to protect or enhance their local benefits (Noordwijk et al. 2007; Pagiola and Platais 2002). PES is voluntary and involves conditioned transactions of welldefined environmental services between at least one service provider and beneficiary. It is also designed to generate its own financing as beneficiaries are to make ongoing payments from their own funds. These payments are to be conditional on the actual delivery of the environmental service, which demands real environmental results (Leimona and Lee 2008; Wunder 2005).

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

The PES Market Environmental services may be non-material and/or nonextractive benefits from natural resources, such as watershed protection and carbon sequestration. Payments and rewards may consist of a range of positive incentives that may also include benefits, such as decision-making power, and capacity-building (Lee et al. 2007). Compensation and incentives can be economic, social, and moral while economic incentives can be in terms of direct payments, financial incentives, or in kind (Lasco 2008). The service providers in PES programs are characterized as being rural or peri-urban. In PES programs in Asia, most service providers are small-scale farmers practicing subsistence or market farming, or horticulture in a mixed landscape that includes farms and forests. They are also users of natural resources, such as forests, based on formal or informal rights to the resource. They have a diverse range of livelihood activities undertaken for survival and subsistence. Furthermore, the service providers usually have limited information and may be unaware of the effects of their activities. They lack clear land tenures, have little political voice and even lesser power to negotiate agreements (Lee et al. 2007). On the other hand, beneficiaries of PES programs can be local (e.g., water users in the lower watershed), national (e.g., state, nongovernment organizations [NGOs] or business associations), or international (e.g., international organizations or NGOs). They can also be multi-nationals or international, or a mix of local, national, and international beneficiaries. The nature, number, and origin of beneficiaries directly relate to the nature of environmental services generated under the PES scheme. Transaction costs are reduced if beneficiaries are few and well-organized (Mayrand and Paquin 2004).

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

Requirements for PES Before PES schemes are designed and implemented, it is recommended that a set of requirements be addressed to ensure success and effectiveness. Leimona and Lee (2008) identified the following as requirements for PES: (1) an effective supply and demand for PES mechanism, (2) a supportive national and international condition, and (3) support by credible intermediary organizations. There should be a clear demand by buyers for a mechanism to ensure contractual agreement between environmental service providers as sellers and beneficiaries as buyers. There should also be adequate spatial and temporal scales for delivering environmental services. PES projects should cover a significant area and should consider the time lag between conservation activities and their outcomes. In most cases, the countries that had embraced security of property rights, market exchange, and environmental conservation are most likely to implement PES programs effectively. Finally, assistance by an intermediary organization in the research, monitoring, and evaluation activities is important to justify the establishment, implementation, and continued operation of public PES schemes. Lee et al. (2007) suggest that a realistic PES program should consider both the environmental and economic factors that are necessary and feasible to effectively improve or maintain the provision of an environmental service. In terms of the environmental factors, a realistic PES requires a clear relationship to have been established between the land use modification that forms the basis for the payment scheme, and the proposed environmental service outcomes. This means that management practices by ES providers could actually maintain or improve the ES provision. In addition, a viable PES program should be realistic in terms of the timing, adequacy, and quality of implemented practices, allowing enough time for desired environmental outcomes to emerge. For the economic factors, it is important that the scheme be based on an understanding of the economic costs and benefits accruing to various

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

stakeholders. Since there are different types of costs involved in a PES scheme, a realistic scheme recognizes the need to match the ES beneficiaries willingness to pay and the providers willingness to accept the offered payment or reward as the basis for negotiation of benefit-sharing. In terms of the PES scheme design, the following important elements should be included and clearly defined: (1) the environmental service to be provided, (2) who is paid and the amount of payments, (3) actions or results necessary to earn payment, and (4) payment administration (Noordwijk et al. 2007; Francisco 2003; Batie and Horan 2001; Mayrand and Paquin 2004). Leimona et al. (2008) add that PES schemes will succeed if the community involved appreciates its opportunity, role, and impact as ES sellers. The communities should be involved in the scheme voluntarily and understand their bargaining positions based on optimal threat and cooperation with other stakeholders. Communities should have a well-functioning structure to support an operational PES mechanism effectively. PES initiatives in Asia and the Philippines In 2002, a collaboration between the International Center for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF), now the World Agroforestry Center, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) resulted in the birth of Rewarding the Upland Poor for Environmental Services They Provide (RUPES). Under RUPES, a range of methods that would allow the beneficiaries of environmental services to pay upland communities for their environmental services were tried (Hargrove and Chandler 2004). Initially, six research sites were established in the Philippines, Nepal, Indonesia, and China. The two RUPES sites in the Philippines were the Manupali Watershed in the province of Bukidnon and the municipality of Bakun in the province of Benguet.

10

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

The whole municipality of Lantapan is located in the Manupali Watershed. About 13 percent of farm households have adopted soil and water conservation technologies in 2001, covering an area of about 1,230 ha. The large-scale adoption of conservation technologies can potentially stabilize farming systems and generate environmental benefits such as soil conservation, maintenance of water quality and quantity, and biodiversity conservation (World Agroforestry Center 2010a). In 2007, the stakeholders from Manupali, Lantapan began developing a PES scheme but required technical assistance. The municipality has also enacted an incentive-based policy in 2009, which provided support to farmers and farmer organizations that have adopted and invested in sustainable farming systems, and ensured the continuous provision of environmental services. The case of Manupali, Lantapan illustrates how a local government-led PES scheme can be a substitute for or complement PES efforts at the national level (Catacutan et al. 2010). Furthermore, it was noted that a locally-designed PES scheme can actually provide legitimacy at the individual and community levels, enhancing its potential to help the poor. The municipality of Bakun in Benguet has an area of about 30,000 ha of rugged terrain (World Agroforestry Center 2010b). It has the distinction of having been awarded the first Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title in the Philippines. The Bakun Watershed, with a drainage area of 29,300 ha, has four major rivers. Two of these, Bakun and Gambang, support the hydroelectric power operations of two mini-hydro companies. The companies provide benefits to the municipality in terms of taxes; they also provide other benefits to the local government unit (LGU). The LGU has Memoranda of Agreement with HEDCOR Inc., signed in 1991, and with Luzon Hydropower Corporation, signed in 1997.

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

11

The RUPES project in Bakun tested the existing reward/payment mechanism with the hydroelectric companies, and assisted the community in the formulation of the Bakun Integrated Watershed Development and Management Plan. The plan was jointly implemented by the Bakun Indigenous Tribes Organization and the Bakun LGU. For their conservation efforts, the community received incentives from the hydroelectric companies. Concepcion et al. (2005) conducted a study on the multifunctionality of the IRT. The authors clarify that the practical application of multi-functionality refers to the non-marketable, collateral functions of agriculture in the forms of food security, environmental services, enhancing landscape aesthetics, and in satisfying social, cultural, and religious needs of various ethnic and local communities. Among other things, they identified the multifunctional roles that the terraces perform to include food (rice) production; soil and water conservation, especially in supplying clean water to Magat Dam; environmental enhancement; reduction of natural hazards (e.g., flooding, drought, and landslides); and the creation of beautiful touristic landscapes. These uses have economic and social values not only to the rural and urban communities but to the global community as well. Description of the Project Area Ifugao is a landlocked province in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and bounded by the provinces of Mountain Province to the north, Isabela to the east, Nueva Vizcaya to the south, and Benguet to the west. It has 11 municipalities (Figure 1); Asipulo, Tinoc, Kiangan, Lagawe, Hingyon, Banaue, Hungduan, Mayoyao, and Aguinaldo have rice terraces while Lamut and Alfonso Lista do not. The municipalities included in the UNESCO World Heritage List are Banaue, Kiangan, Mayoyao, and Hungduan.

12

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

Figure 1. Provincial map of Ifugao showing the heritage municipalities

Banaue Mayoyao Hungduan Hingyon Lagawe

Aguinaldo

Alfonso Lista

Kiangan Tinoc

Lamut Asipulo

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

13

The project site is Hungduan, one of the four heritage municipalities of Ifugao. It is bounded by Banaue to the east; Kiangan to the south; Tinoc to the southwest; Sabangan, Mountain Province to the northwest; and Bontoc, Mountain Province to the north. Geographically located at 1650N and 12100E, the municipality is 25 kilometers (km) from Banaue and 45 km from the provincial capital of Lagawe. The total land area of Hungduan is 22,911 ha, which represents about 9 percent of Ifugaos total land area of 251,778 ha. The municipality has nine barangays, of which Lubo-ong is the biggest and Hapao is the smallest, with land areas of 4,550 ha and 1,407 ha, respectively. The other barangays are Abatan, Baang, Bangbang, Bokiawan, Maggok, Nungulunan, and Poblacion. The barangays covered by the project are Hapao, Baang, Nungulunan, and Poblacion (Figure 2). The elevation of Hungduan ranges from 700 to 2,700 meters above sea level (masl), with the lowest elevations observed in the river valleys in Brgy. Bangbang and Brgy. Maggok, and the highest elevations in the peaks of Mt. Napulawan (2,642 masl) and Mt. Calawitan (2,714 masl). As with other areas of CAR, the terrain of Hungduan is generally mountainous. The four major rivers of Sumigar-Lubo-ong, Hapao, Dakkitan, and Galung, drain into the Ibulao river. The barangays included in the study are sub-watersheds of the Hapao and Dakkitan rivers. About half of Hungduan is forestland, particularly in the western portion. The eastern side is where clusters of rice terraces can be found.

14

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

Figure 2. Map of Hungduan, Ifugao

Source: CLUP of Hungduan, Ifugao 2010

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

15

Methodology
Research Design The activities that were undertaken in the study, which include site selection, capacity building of farmer groups for communitybased management planning, and process documentation, are shown in Figure 3. The development and issuance of the PECS contracts is not included in the scope of this research project funded by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture-Seed Fund for Research and Training (SEARCASFRT). The final output of the project were enabled farmer groups, from which potential bidders for the PECS project (Figure 4) may be recruited based on the process discussed in the original proposal (see Limitations of the Study). Selection of study sites The criteria considered in selecting the project sites were the willingness of the community to participate, accessibility (for efficient monitoring), area of the terrace-woodlot cluster, and the extent of damage based on an ocular survey that the team conducted in March 2009. With assistance from the Ifugao Cultural Heritage Office (ICHO) and the local government of Hungduan, four sub-watersheds were identified, from which the farmer-participants were drawn. Inasmuch as the unit of management would be the watershed and not the political boundaries, the participants were divided into four clusters (Figure 5) with each cluster corresponding to one subwatershed, namely, Cluster 1 - Nungulunan and Hapao; Cluster 2 - Baang and Nungulunan; Cluster 3 - Baang and Hapao; and Cluster 4 - Hapao and Poblacion.

16

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

Figure 3. Proposed SFRT study


Selection of PECS Sites Willingness of community to participate in the project Accessibility Area Extent of damage (based on ocular inspection)

Capacity Building of Farmer Groups

Communitybased Resource and Damage Assessment and Mapping

Identification of Environmental and Cultural Services

Communitybased Management Plan Preparation

Capacitated Farmer Groups

Figure 4. Full-blown PECS project


Capacitated Farmer Groups Awarding of Contracts (6) Implementation of Contracts (7) Recruitment of Potential Bidders (2) Second Round Evaluation of Bids (5) Monitoring and Evaluation (8) Workshop for Bidders (3) First Round Evaluation of Bids (4)

Process Documentation

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

17

Figure 5. Hungduan sub-watersheds

18

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

Capacity building of farmer groups To build the capacity of farmer groups, three training-workshops on resource and damage assessment methods, community mapping, and management plan preparation were conducted. The same farmers attended the three training-workshops since the lectures and hands-on exercises led towards the preparation of the final output, which is the management plan. Aside from the farmer-participants, representatives of the Hungduan LGU and ICHO were also present. During the first training-workshop (15-16 February 2010), the research team discussed community-based management planning, resource assessment methods, and community mapping. Geographic information system (GIS)-based maps were produced on large sheets of paper showing basic features such as stream network, communal forest upstream, farmlots, and trails, among others. The community members were asked to indicate damaged areas on the map. The farmer groups were likewise trained on simple techniques to monitor soil erosion (e.g., erosion pins) and rainfall through the installation of simple fabricated instruments. The second training-workshop (26-28 May 2010) was conducted to (1) validate the outputs of the farmer groups, (2) identify the environmental and cultural services that farmers produce as they tend the rice terraces, and (3) prepare the management plan. To facilitate plan preparation, the research team provided the farmers with a simplified management plan template. The third training-workshop (13-15 October 2010) was conducted to enhance the management plans prepared by the farmers and to present these to local government officials.

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

19

Community-based resource and damage assessment After the first training-workshop, the farmer groups undertook community-based resource and damage assessment. In this activity, the farmers also conducted an inventory of their communal forest/ woodlots to generate an estimate of floral diversity, including the extent and scope of use of the communal forest by the communities. A socio-economic survey involving 200 farmer respondents was also conducted. The resources and the damaged terraces were estimated through a participatory process involving the community members from each of the clusters. The process included the following steps: (1) community three-dimensional (3D) mapping of land use and rice terraces, (2) GIS-based mapping, and (3) validation workshop. Community 3D maps help to maximize the learning experience by enhancing the visual familiarity of the landscape in which the community lives. In this approach, the community members constructed the 3D models (Figure 6). The 3D models allowed the participants to better visualize their own landscape and thus indicate more accurately the different land uses on the map. The land uses of interest include the extent and coverage of terraces, woodlots, and the households. The participants were also asked to indicate the conditions of the terraces (i.e., whether these were damaged or abandoned). The data from the 3D models were then transformed into GIS maps. These maps were used to provide estimates of coverage (i.e., location) and extent (ha). After this exercise (step 2), a validation workshop (step 3) was undertaken to enable the participants to refine the results of landuse and terrace-woodlots, especially the extent of damaged terraces. Also, the results of the validation served as input in the preparation of the management plan.

20

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

Figure 6. Basemap construction, layering and detailing of 3D models

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

21

Socio-economic survey A socio-economic survey involving 200 farmer respondents was conducted, through which information regarding the farmers farming practices, water supply situation, farm labor availability, costs and returns from farming, problems in the terraces, and socioeconomic situation were gathered. The farmer respondents were distributed proportionately across the four clusters based on the area of each cluster (Table 1). This means that the bigger the area of a cluster, the greater the number of respondents selected. In choosing the respondents per barangay for a given cluster, the proportion of respondents was based on the number of households of the barangay. The sample size of each barangay was 20 percent of the total number of households. There are 175 households in Baang, 420 households in Hapao, 179 households in Nungulunan, and 225 households in Poblacion. The respondents were selected systematically. The data gathered from the socio-economic survey were subjected to quantitative analysis and descriptive statistics.

Table 1. Distribution of respondents across clusters and barangays


Cluster 1 2 3 4 Total Barangay Hapao Nungulunan Baang Nungulunan Baang Hapao Hapao Poblacion No. of Respondents 011 016 015 020 020 054 019 045 200

22

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

Process documentation Process documentation was undertaken throughout the implementation of the project. The documentation included meeting highlights, process and photo-documentation, and regular discussions among the research team members and co-implementers (e.g., ICHO and the Hungduan LGU).

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

23

Results and Discussion


Community-based Resource and Damage Assessment and Mapping A previous estimate (Calderon et al. 2008) concluded that damaged terraces in the World Heritage Sites of Ifugao ranged from 4.1 ha (low estimate) to 461 ha (high estimate), or 0.04 percent to 4.4 percent of the total area of the rice terraces in the heritage sites. This study estimated the total areas of rice terraces in Clusters 1, 2, 3, and 4 to be 623 ha, 631 ha, 1,171 ha and 637 ha, respectively. Damaged terraces ranged from a minimum of 13 percent (Cluster 2) to a maximum of 20 percent (Cluster 4), while abandoned terraces were found to be minimal (Table 2). The community mapping activity focused on the forest or terracewoodlots and extent and coverage of rice terraces. Cluster 4 had the most forested area, while Cluster 3 contained the highest number of rice terraces (Table 3; Figures 7 and 8). It may be noted that it was only in Cluster 4 where the area for settlements was pronounced. This is because Poblacion, where many houses are located, is found in Cluster 4. The erosion pins and simple rain gauges were installed in the vicinity of each cluster in three places: creek area, abandoned area, and forest area. Readings were taken from July until October 2010. However, since only two erosion pins were installed in each area, the results can only be considered indicative. The exercise aimed to capacitate the farmer groups in communitybased resource assessment, which may perhaps lead to a systematic approach in the future. The summary of the results for the erosion pins is shown in Table 4.

24

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

Table 2. Estimate of rice terraces, different conditions


Cluster 1 ha Abandoned Damaged Undamaged Total 5 15 603 623 % 1 2 97 100 Cluster 2 ha 5 79 547 631 % 1 13 86 100 Cluster 3 ha 12 170 990 1,171 % 1 14 85 100 Cluster 4 ha 125 512 637 % 0 20 80 100

Table 3. Forest and terrace-woodlots in the study areas


Cluster 1 ha Forest Rice Terraces Total 182 623 805 % 23 77 100 Cluster 2 ha 1,273 631 1,904 % 67 33 100 Cluster 3 ha 517 1,171 1,688 % 31 69 100 Cluster 4 ha 1,600 637 2,237 % 72 28 100

Table 4. Summary of erosion estimates from the four clusters


Cluster 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 Total Average Location Patpat, Nunguluan Brgy Nunguluan Bag-ungan, Baang Capih, Baang Piddol, Hapao Hulungna, Hapao Numpolia, Poblacion Dakkitan, Poblacion Creek Area (cm) 03.7 06.3 05.6 06.0 06.6 03.8 03.2 04.3 27.4 03.4 Abandoned Area (cm) 03.9 03.8 00.1 02.1 02.9 01.2 00.8 12.2 01.7 Forested Area (cm) 00.9 05.3 02.0 00.0 05.7 02.3 00.9 03.8 18.9 02.4

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

25

Figure 7. Updated land use map of Cluster 1

Figure 8. Updated land use map of Cluster 4

26

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

As expected, the creek area exhibited the highest erosion. However, unexpectedly, the abandoned area fared better than the forest area. Initial analysis revealed that the reason may be due to the presence of more ground cover, in terms of grass, in the abandoned area than in the forest area. Given the short period for this research, this result should not be taken as conclusive and should be pursued with more resources and a longer period of research. Socio-economic Survey A total of 200 respondents were interviewed for the socioeconomic survey, with 27, 35, 74, and 64 respondents for Clusters 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. A summary of the respondents socioeconomic characteristics is given in Table 5. Most of the respondents (84%) were male, married (80%), with ages ranging from 24 to 88 years old, with an average age of 48.97 years. The primary occupation of 59 percent of the respondents was cultivating their own farms, while 20 percent were tenant farmers. The income from their primary occupation ranged from PHP 500 to PHP 45,000 per month, with an average of PHP 6,436 per month. It is interesting to note that 46 percent of the respondents said that they did not have any secondary occupation, which means that they were totally dependent on farming. About 25 percent of the respondents were elementary school undergraduates, and only a few (7.5%) finished college. In terms of ownership of the terraces they tilled, 45 percent of the respondents said that these were owned by their relatives, while 40 percent, 30 percent, and 28 percent revealed that the terraces were owned by both husband and wife, husband alone, and wife alone, respectively (Table 6). The most common mode of terrace acquisition was inheritance (70%), although kinapya1 was also usual (Table 7).
1

Scheme where the farmer tenant and the owner of the land share the harvest equally

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

27

Almost all respondents (96%) said that they were able to plant in all their plots. The nine respondents who revealed they were not able to plant in all their plots cited insufficient water supply (4%), and damaged terraces as the reasons (2%). All the respondents from Baang belonging to Clusters 2 and 3 said that irrigation was available, and so did most respondents from Nungulunan (Clusters 1 and 2) and Poblacion (Cluster 4) (Table 8). However, 21 respondents from Hapao belonging to Clusters 1 and 4, said that irrigation was not readily available. This is because most irrigation facilities in Hapao, with the exception of those in Hapao Proper, were damaged. Furthermore, all respondents except those from Cluster 4s Hapao said that water was sufficient during the rainy season. However, 62 percent of the respondents encountered water supply problems during the dry season, which made them resort to other sources of water, such as springs. According to 62 percent of the respondents, the insufficient water supply was the main reason for their low harvests. Water supply problems also contributed to the collapse of terrace walls, earthworm infestation, and the eventual abandonment of the terraces (Table 9). To improve the water supply for the rice terraces, 42 percent of the respondents saw the need to rehabilitate the existing irrigation canals by concretizing them, or by installing PVC pipes in the canals (39%). It is interesting to note that some respondents have been farming for more than 50 years, with a few having farmed for about 70 years (Table 10). As is the common practice in other rice terraces in Ifugao, the farmers plant rice only once a year, all of them using the traditional variety tinawon. Only four respondents said they used commercial fertilizers, while the rest used organic fertilizer. Likewise, all the respondents said they observed a fallow period for their farms.

28

Table 5. Socio-economic characteristics of respondents


Cluster 2
Baang Nungulunan Baang Hapao Hapao Poblacion

Cluster 1

Cluster 3

Cluster 4

Total

Characteristics No 12 3 35-70 52.27 0 13 2 0 0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 2 4 13.3 5 25.0 0 0.0 11 20.4 0.0 3.7 7.4 86.7 15 75.0 19 95.0 37 68.5 0.00 0 0.0 1 5.0 0 0.0 0 16 2 0 0 1 49.8 49.3 48.4 49.5 0.0 84.2 10.5 0.0 0.0 5.3 2 37 2 0 0 4 29-65 24-75 27-87 35-72 20.0 5 25.0 0 0.0 14 25.9 1 5.3 6 13.3 23-88 45.4 4.4 82.2 4.4 0.00 0.00 8.9 3 160 25 0 2 10 80.0 15 75.0 20 100.0 40 74.1 18 94.7 39 86.7 168 32 % No % No % No % No % No % No

Hapao

Nungulunan

No

No

% 84.0 16.0 24-88 48.97 1.5 80.0 12.5 0.0 1.0 5.0

Gender

Male

81.8

15

93.8

Female

18.2

6.3

Age

Range (yrs)

31-68

24-83

Average (yrs)

49.5

47.7

Marital Status

Unmarried

0.0

0.0

Married living with spouse

63.6

16

100.0

Widow/Widower

27.3

0.0

Divorced

0.0

0.0

Separated

0.0

0.0

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

Married but spouse living abroad/other place for work

9.1

0.0

Table 5. Socio-economic characteristics of respondents (Continued)


Cluster 2
Baang Nungulunan Baang Hapao Hapao Poblacion

Cluster 1 Total No %

Cluster 3

Cluster 4

Characteristics No % No % No % No % No % No %

Hapao

Nungulunan

No

No

Primary Occupation 08 03 03 020.0 01 005 05 025 07 013.0 020.0 06 030 03 015 12 022.2 053.3 12 060 10 050 23 042.6 18 094.7 29 064.4

Cultivating own farm

07

063.6

10

062.5

117 040 019

058.5 020.0 009.5

Tenant farmer

04

036.4

04

025.0

Handicraft/ Processing/ cottage industry 00 00 01 00 000.0 01 005 00 000 006.7 00 000 02 010 000.0 00 000 00 000 02 003.7 05 009.3 04 007.4 000.0 00 000 00 000 01 001.9

00

000.0

01

006.3

01 005.3 07 015.6 00 000.0 02 004.4 00 000.0 02 004.4 00 000.0 00 000.0

Shop keeping/ utility store

00

000.0

00

000.0

003 002 010 009

001.5 001.0 005.0 004.5

Transport operator

00

000.0

00

000.0

Construction labor

00

000.0

01

006.3

Service (teacher, doctor, etc.)

00

000.0

00

000.0

00 000.0 01 002.2 00 000.0 04 008.9

Income 1,00034,000 2,000-2,000 5,850 6,933.33 1,500-5,000 500-20,000 8,860 5,853.70 2,00019,000 5,657.90 1,00024,000 6,877.78 500-45,000 6,435.69

Range (PHP/mo)

2,000-14,000 500-25,000

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

Average (PHP/ mo)

5,109.09

6,343.75

29

30

Table 5. Socio-economic characteristics of respondents (Continued)


Cluster 2 Baang No % No % No % No % No % No % No Nungulunan Baang Hapao Hapao Poblacion % Cluster 3 Cluster 4 Total

Cluster 1

Characteristics

Hapao

Nungulunan

No

No

Secondary Occupation 08 04 00 01 006.7 05 025 01 050 03 005.6 03 015.8 000.0 01 005 02 010 08 014.8 00 000.0 02 04 026.7 01 005 05 025 11 020.4 00 000.0 07 053.3 11 055 07 035 24 044.4 12 063.2 17 037.8 015.6 004.4 008.9

None

05

045.5

07 043.8

091 029 014 027

045.5 014.5 007.0 013.5

Cultivating own farm

00

000.0

01 006.3

Tenant farmer

00

000.0

01 006.3

Handicraft/ Processing/ Cottage industry 00 00 02 00 00 00 15 100.0 20 100 20 000.0 00 000 00 000.0 00 000 00 000 000 100 02 00 54 000.0 02 010 00 000 03 013.3 00 000 05 025 02 000.0 00 000 00 000 01 001.9 003.7 005.6 003.7 000.0 100.0 01 02 01 00 00 19 000.0 00 000 00 000 00 000.0 00

04

036.4

06 037.5

Shop keeping/utility store

00

000.0

00 000.0

000.0 005.3 010.5 005.3 000.0 000.0 100.0

00 01 08 04 00 02 45

000.0 002.2 017.8 008.8 000.0 004.4 100.0

000 003 021 010 003 002 200

000.0 001.5 010.5 005.0 001.5 100.0 100.0

Transport operator

00

000.0

00 000.0

Construction labor

01

009.1

01 006.3

Service (teacher, doctor, etc.)

00

000.0

00 000.0

Home maker

01

009.1

00 000.0

Gardening/vegetable crop

00

000.0

00 000.0

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

Total

11

100.0

16 100.0

Table 5. Socio-economic characteristics of respondents (Continued)


Cluster 2 Baang No % No % No % No % No % No % No Nungulunan Baang Hapao Hapao Poblacion % Cluster 3 Cluster 4 Total

Cluster 1

Characteristics

Hapao

Nungulunan

No

No

Highest Educational Attainment 1 0 7 2 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 15 100.0 20 100 0.0 0 0 0 20 0.0 1 5 0 0 0 100 0.0 1 5 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 9 0 1 0 54 0.0 0 0 1 5 7 12.9 16.7 0.0 2.2 0.0 100.0 13.3 1 5 3 15 14 25.9 07 00 01 00 00 00 19 20.0 2 10 0 0 07 12.9 03 13.3 6 30 2 10 05 9.3 04 21.1 15.8 36.8 0.0 5.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 100.0 44.7 4 20 11 55 07 12.9 04 21.1 7 8 11 12 2 5 0 0 0 45 0.0 1 5 0 0 00 0.0 00 0.0 0 6.7 4 20 3 15 04 7.4 00 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 15.6 17.8 24.4 26.7 4.4 11.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 100.0

None

18

25

18 1 49 34 30 40 10 15 1 2 0 200

9.0 0.5 24.5 17.0 15.0 20.0 5.0 7.5 0.5 1.0 0.0 100.0

Pre-School

Elementary undergraduate

36

31

Elementary graduate

18

31

High school undergraduate

18

13

High school graduate 1

College undergraduate

College graduate

Vocational undergraduate

Vocational graduate

Postgraduate

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

Total

11

100

16

100

31

32

Table 6. Ownership of rice terraces


Ownership Husband No. 02 15 05 06 10 12 13 16 79 40 55 28 4 2 1 1 30 15 28 0 0 0 0 0 6 54 04 17 0 0 0 0 0 18 14 21 0 0 1 1 1 01 00 00 03 22 07 15 4 9 0 0 0 00 77 03 09 0 0 0 0 0 00 14 14 25 04 08 89 17 04 14 0 0 0 0 5 17 11 36 08 19 0 0 0 0 0 00 06 14 38 41 30 37 17 15 45 08 00 00 0 0 0 0 0 00 07 29 % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. 04 00 00 03 07 06 00 07 27 Wife Daughter Brother Sister Other Relatives Rented % 17 00 00 09 15 09 00 13 14

Cluster

Barangay

Conjugal

No.

Hapao

11

46

Nungulunan

13

31

Baang

04

14

Nungulunan

08

24

Baang

04

09

Hapao

09

13

Hapao

03

13

Poblacion

07

13

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

Total

59

30

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

33

Table 7. Manner of rice terraces acquisition


Cluster Barangay Manner of Acquisition Inherited No. 1 Hapao (n=11) Nungulunan (n=16) 2 Baang (n=15) Nungulunan (n=20) 3 Baang (n=20) Hapao (n=54) 4 Hapao (n=19) Poblacion (n=45) Total (n=200) 006 012 011 013 014 031 018 034 139 % 55 75 73 65 70 57 95 76 70 Bought No. 00 00 00 03 01 02 02 03 11 % 00 00 00 15 05 04 11 07 06 Free Use No. 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 3 % 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 2 2 Rented No. 0 0 5 3 0 0 0 0 8 % 00 00 33 15 00 00 00 00 04 Kinapya No. 11 06 07 11 14 26 03 13 91 % 100 038 047 055 070 048 016 029 046

Table 8. Availability and sufficiency of water supply


Cluster Barangay Y 1 2 3 4 Hapao Nungulunan Baang Nungulunan Baang Hapao Hapao Poblacion 05 15 15 17 20 47 04 38 Availability of Irrigation % 045 094 100 085 100 087 021 084 N 06 01 00 03 00 07 15 07 % 55 06 00 15 00 13 79 16 Y 11 16 15 20 20 54 17 45 Sufficiency during Rainy Season % 100 100 100 100 100 100 089 100 N 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 % 00 00 00 00 00 00 11 00 Y 03 05 10 05 13 23 01 16 Sufficiency during Dry Season % 27 31 67 25 65 43 05 36 N 08 11 05 15 07 31 18 29 % 73 69 33 75 35 57 95 64

34

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

Table 9. Perceived causes and recommendations to improve limited or insufficient water supply
Cluster 1 (n=27) No. Perceived Cause Low harvest Collapse of terrace walls Worm attacks Abandonment of rice fields Hardening of soil Rehabilitate existing irrigation canals (e.g., construction of concrete canals) Install PVC pipes as new irrigation canals Reforestation 19 04 01 02 00 71 15 04 07 00 19 03 02 01 00 55 09 06 03 00 38 04 01 00 01 51 05 01 00 01 47 04 00 01 00 73 06 00 02 00 123 015 004 004 001 62 08 02 02 01 % Cluster 2 (n=35) No. % Cluster 3 (n=74) No. % Cluster 4 (n=64) No. % Total (n=200) No. %

Recommendation to improve water supply 13 48 13 37 26 35 32 50 084 42

15 01

56 08

12 04

34 11

16 10

22 14

35 02

55 03

078 017

39 09

Table 10. Farming practices


Years of Farming No. of Times Rice was Planted 1x 11 16 15 20 20 54 19 45 >1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Rice Variety Planted* H 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 T 11 16 15 20 20 54 19 45 Fertilizers Used* Fallow

Cluster

Barangay

Range 1 2 3 4 Hapao Nungulunan Baang Nungulunan Baang Hapao Hapao Poblacion 09-55 02-70 07-60 10-56 01-60 02-71 05-60 02-70

Ave. 32 34 33 32 25 28 31 23

O 11 16 15 19 18 53 19 45

I 0 0 0 1 2 1 0 0

Y 11 16 15 20 20 54 19 45

N 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Note: Rice varieties used: H=hybrid; T=traditional Fertilizers used: O=organic; I=inorganic

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

35

Asked about the problems they encounter in rice terrace farming, 91 percent of the farmers cited the destruction of terrace walls by earthworms as a major concern, followed by damaged walls (84%), and pest infestation (e.g., rodents and golden snail [77%]) (Table 11). They also identified inadequate water supply and poor irrigation facilities as problems. More respondents (72%) said that they did not have funds to rehabilitate or maintain the terraces. This is probably the reason why 82 percent of the respondents have not adopted any measure to control the earthworm problem. The respondents gave a wide range of estimated damage of their terraces, from 2 percent to 70 percent of the total terrace area (Table 12). Despite their problems in rice terrace farming, 97 percent of the respondents said they did not plan to abandon rice terrace farming in the future, mainly because the terraces are their only source of rice (96%) and they value the terraces they inherited from their forefathers (28%). The remaining three percent who said they could abandon terrace farming cited low rice harvests and lack of capital as their reasons. According to the respondents, the farmers who have already abandoned their farms may come back and farm again if they will be given subsidy to hire labor for terrace repair and maintenance (79%), and if the irrigation system will be rehabilitated (51%). Furthermore, 76 percent of the respondents believed that the owners should rehabilitate the terraces they have abandoned, while a few (9%) said these should be rented or leased to other farmers. To instill the importance of the terraces in the youth, 84 percent of the respondents said they advise their children to take care of the terraces (84%) and allow their children to help in the farm on weekends and during vacations (45%).
Environmental and Cultural Services of Hungduan

The farmers representing the four clusters identified the ecosystem and cultural services of Hungduan during the second training-workshop. For the ecosystem services, they identified

36

Table 11. Problems in rice terraces


Cluster 2 Total No. 168 13 58 19 42 033 122 090 % 84.0 16.5 61.0 45.0 Cluster 3 Cluster 4

Cluster 1

Problems Baang (n=15) No. 11 03 04 02 13 13 65 02 10 21 39 11 58 27 14 70 03 15 34 63 18 95 26 20 03 15 03 15 09 17 00 00 06 73 14 70 11 55 46 85 18 95 42 93 % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % Baang (n=20) Hapao (n=54) Hapao (n=19) Poblacion (n=45)

Hapao (n=11)

Nungulunan (n=16)

Nungulunan (n= 20)

No.

No.

Damaged walls

11

100

15

94

Poor soil

03

027

06

38

Inadequate water supply

09

082

14

88

Poor irrigation facilities

08

073

14

86

Destruction of walls by earthworm 13 13 87 12 60 08 40 45 87 18 90 18 90 48 89 83

11

100

14

88

16 11

84 58

43 42

96 93

181 154

90.5 77.0

Pest infestation, rodents, golden snail 00 00 00 00 02 10 00

11

100

12

75

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

Birds

00

000

00

00

00

02

11

00

00

004

02.0

Table 12. Percentage of rice terraces damaged


Cluster 2 Baang (n=15) No. 00 00 06 00 03 00 02 00 02 00 02 00 00 00 15 99 20 100 00 00 000 00 00 000 00 00 20 00 00 000 01 13 03 015 01 005 005 000 000 100 00 00 000 01 005 00 04 00 03 01 54 13 03 015 00 000 06 00 00 000 01 005 00 000 011 000 007 000 006 002 100 13 01 005 02 010 03 006 00 00 000 01 005 04 007 01 03 00 05 01 02 00 00 00 19 20 05 025 03 015 07 013 04 00 01 005 02 010 05 009 00 000 021 005 016 000 026 005 011 000 000 000 100 40 04 020 04 020 12 022 03 016 07 03 11 01 06 00 04 01 06 00 01 00 45 00 02 010 04 020 08 015 00 000 05 00 01 005 00 000 01 002 00 000 00 00 11 16 07 24 02 13 00 09 02 13 00 02 00 99 % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % No. 002 023 042 012 034 007 022 001 023 003 024 001 004 002 200 Nungulunan (n= 20) Baang (n=20) Hapao (n=54) Hapao (n=19) Poblacion (n=45) Total (n=200) % 001.0 011.5 021.0 006.0 017.0 003.5 011.0 000.5 011.5 001.5 012.0 000.5 002.0 001.0 100.0 Cluster 3 Cluster 4

Cluster 1

% of terraces damaged

Hapao (n=11)

Nungulunan (n=16)

No.

No.

02

00

000

00

000

05

03

026

01

006

10

01

010

05

031

15

00

000

01

006

20

00

000

01

006

25

00

000

00

000

30

03

026

02

013

37

00

000

00

000

40

01

010

02

013

45

00

000

00

000

50

02

018

04

025

57

00

000

00

000

60

00

000

00

000

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

70

01

010

00

000

Total

11

100

16

100

37

38

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

water (irrigation, hydroelectric power, and domestic uses), carbon sequestration (global warming mitigation, fresh air, and trees), and soil conservation (protection from soil erosion). On the other hand, they listed organic farming (increased rice production), native customs (ubbu 2, hudhud 3, and mumbaki 4), and the maintenance and restoration of stone walls, terraces, and woodlots (ecotourism) as the cultural services they produce. The farmers were asked what they would do as a cluster to increase their chances of getting funds for the rehabilitation of their terraces and woodlots, if their clusters would have to compete to get funding. The farmers agreed that their strategies should be consistent with the priorities of the Barangay Development Plan, and for such activities to concentrate on damaged areas with the largest number of beneficiaries. They also saw the importance of minimizing plan implementation costs, offering counterparts such as own labor, having an active organization where the members are cooperative and united, preparing a good management plan, and ensuring quality of work when the plan is implemented. If their clusters would be awarded funds for rehabilitation, the farmers said that the system of benefit-sharing among farmer members should be discussed within their organizations, and that areas with more damage should be prioritized over areas with less deterioration. The farmers also recognized the importance of contracts to institutionalize the production of services, and that the cluster members will have responsibilities under such an agreement. These include strengthening their organizations by ensuring that members

Exchange labor or farmers who work in other farms, after which the owners will reciprocate by helping them Consists of narrative chants traditionally performed by the Ifugao community, and is practiced during the rice sowing season, harvest time and funeral wakes and rituals Native priest

3 4

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

39

follow policies, rules and regulations, and the full implementation of the provisions in the contract.
Community-based Management Planning

The management plan preparation activity was designed such that farmers would be able to generate competitive management plans that the team can furnish and package for potential funding from LGUs and other financing agencies in the context of a PECS scheme. The farmers management plans were products of the interaction of the different farmer groups regarding available resources, strategies, and achievable recommendations for the sustainability and protection of their rice terraces. The farmer groups went through the following activities to develop their management plans: introduction to management planning, resource characterization, identification of problems and solutions (Figures 9 and 10), formulation of management goals, objectives and strategies, analysis and evaluation of management strategies, and management plan preparation. The farmers were able to formulate the main objective of restoring and rehabilitating the abandoned and damaged rice terraces. They were also able to identify their management objectives and listed their specific strategies (Table 13). The farmers outputs from each step of management planning were input in a simple management plan template to help them complete their draft management plans. The team reviewed the draft management plans and provided suggestions for improvement. The plans were then returned to the farmers during the third trainingworkshop for revision and detailing. It was observed that the plans developed by the farmers were similar in terms of objectives and strategies but different in implementation strategies, costs, and scheduling. Also, the plans lacked specific details particularly in the objectives and costs of the identified strategies.

40

Figure 9. Problem tree created by Hungduan farmers


Low Income for Farmers

Loss of the IRT Culture and Heritage

Low Rice Productivity

Negative Impact on Tourism

INCREASING NUMBER OF RICE TERRACES THAT ARE BEING ABANDONED AND DAMAGED

Lack of Water Supply Collapse of Terrace Walls Migration

Lack of Interest among the Younger Generation to Work in the Rice Fields

Illegal Cutting in the Woodlots Pest Infestation

Damaged Irrigation Canals

Opportunity to Study and Work in Other Areas

Media/ Technology

Western Culture

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

Accelerated Soil Erosion

Import of Seedlings and Fertilizers from Other Areas

Figure 10. Solution tree created by Hungduan farmers


Increased Income for Farmers

Preservation of the IRT Culture and Heritage

Improved Rice Productivity/Harvest

Improved Tourism Value

RESTORE AND REHABILITATE THE ABANDONED AND DAMAGED RICE TERRACES

Improved Availability of Water Supply Repair of Collapsed Terrace Walls

Decreased Migration Rate

Conduct IEC Campaigns for the Youth

Reforest Woodlots

Repair Irrigation Canals Implement Pest Control Measures

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

Formulate an Ordinance for Forest Protection Seek Assistance from DA

Decreased Soil Erosion

Stop the Import of Seedlings and Fertilizers

41

42

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

Table 13. Management objectives and strategies framed by the farmers


Management Objectives 1. To rehabilitate the irrigation system 2. To repair and restore damaged and abandoned rice terraces 3. To reforest open and idle lands in the woodlots 4. To conduct information, education and communication (IEC) activities regarding the conservation of the IRT 5. To implement pest control measures Strategies Concreting of irrigation canals Repair of terrace walls of damaged and abandoned terraces Reforestation Formulation of an ordinance Conduct of IEC campaigns

Seeking assistance from Department of Agriculture for pest control measures

After completing the final management plans, the farmers were asked to map them out. This was done to highlight the specifics of the plans, such as the location of reforestation areas, terraces to be restored and rehabilitated, and irrigation systems to be established. In the course of management plan preparation, it was observed that the farmers were not used to planning using the watershed as the planning unit since they were more familiar with developing plans using administrative boundaries. In the initial part of the planning process, farmers belonging to different barangays but were grouped in one cluster insisted that they should work based on their barangay boundaries. The team clarified that mapping and management planning would be done using the watershed approach where, instead of political boundaries, the natural boundaries such as rivers and mountain ridges would be used. Eventually, the farmers understood the approach and worked as one cluster and not as members of different barangays.

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

43

It was also observed that when farmers placed cost estimates on their activities in the context of submitting their management plans to compete for a fund source, some farmers exhibited strategic behavior. Some farmers priced labor services much higher than other clusters. Also, some farmers would not agree to labor-sharing and counterpart funding. However, this behavior was checked when the research team informed the farmers that their management plans would be more attractive to funding agencies if they would include elements of labor-sharing and counterpart funding in their proposals. In the visual maps, farmers identified the specific location of woodlots to be reforested, abandoned and damaged terraces to be restored and repaired, as well as damaged irrigation canals to be rehabilitated. In addition, they also identified on the visual maps the terrace areas that experience varying levels of pest infestations and soil erosion. Most terrace areas were identified to have moderate to high infestations of pests, such as snails and earthworms. On the other hand, the areas that were most prone to soil erosion usually occur near river banks and creek bottoms.

44

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

Conclusions

he study aimed to build the capacity of Hungduan farmers in preparation for a full-blown Payments for Environmental and Cultural Services (PECS) project, by engaging them in environmental and cultural resource assessment in a watershed context. Specifically, the project facilitated activities that enhanced Ifugao farmers knowledge in community-based resource and damage assessment and mapping, identified the environmental and cultural services of Hungduan, and formulated community-based management plans for four sub-watersheds. Based on the results of the project, the following conclusions are offered: 1. The approach used by the research team to complement indigenous knowledge with classroom and research techniques proved to be effective in generating reliable information, which is important in planning. This worked because of the Ifugao farmers themselves and their indigenous knowledge system. This approach may be replicated when partners have similar characteristics as the Ifugao and when a strong indigenous knowledge system is in place. 2. Through the project, the farmers learned several resource assessment techniques, such as the use of the global positioning system (GPS), compass, grid-based assessment, and the use of meter tape in surveys. On the other hand, the farmers used their indigenous knowledge in the identification of plant and animal species, definition of which terraces were considered damaged or abandoned and the extent, ownership, and location of terraces and woodlots, boundaries of sitios and barangays on the ground, and the use of natural landmarks and boundaries in locating properties, sitios, and barangays.

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

45

3. The farmers familiarity with their areas was evident during the mapping activity. Once a landmark has been located, it was easy for them to identify terraces, woodlots, houses, and other landmarks relative to the original. It was because of this that community mapping worked for the farmers, and it became a cost-effective and reliable way of ground truthing. 4. The preparation of management plans was facilitated by the use of the 3D map, which enabled the farmers to visualize the extent and location of problem areas. This also allowed them to come up with realistic estimates of damaged areas, which they used in management plan preparation. 5. The farmers knew how to address their problems in the terraces, particularly the damaged and abandoned terraces, water supply, and pests. However, their harvests from the terraces are barely enough for their subsistence, and have no surplus income to repair the terraces. 6. Some farmers did not readily accept the use of the watershed as a management unit. The resistance could be due to their familiarity with political boundaries and the usual approach of using political units as management units. 7. The farmers encountered problems in preparing their financial plans, as shown by the wide variability of cost estimates for different management activities. Some farmer groups indicated very high cost estimates, which could be due to strategic behavior.

46

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

Policy Implications and Recommendations


1. There is a need to support or subsidize farmers in managing and conserving the rice terraces. In the short term, the subsidy can come from LGUs and the countryside development fund of congressmen and senators. In the long term, the farmers activities may be supported through a sustainable financing mechanism such as PECS. Aside from tourism revenues, such a financing mechanism may also be supported with payments for the other environmental services produced, such as water generation and conservation, biodiversity conservation, and carbon sequestration. 2. The environmental and cultural services that the IRT provide should be quantified, valued, and priced. These are necessary before a PECS scheme can be institutionalized. 3. The government should promote a better appreciation for the watershed as a management unit not only among planners but also at the community level. Ultimately, it will be the communities who will be at the forefront of implementing watershed management projects. 4. Resource managers should consider the use of participatory resource assessment and mapping, and community-generated 3D models, in planning. The use of satellite images may be included to validate map outputs, especially at provincial- and regionallevel planning.

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

47

5. The management plans prepared by the farmer groups through this project can be packaged and submitted to potential funding institutions. However, the farmer groups will need to re-think their cost estimates and make them more realistic. 6. The farmers who participated in the project should disseminate the knowledge and techniques they had learned to other members of their communities, and upscale by replicating the project in other municipalities of Ifugao. This may be done through echo training-workshops that the provincial government, through ICHO, can organize. 7. There is a need to strengthen ICHO to ensure holistic planning and sustainable management and conservation efforts for the IRT. In addition, a regular budgetary allocation to enable ICHO to implement its programs for the conservation of the rice terraces is also needed. 8. The indigenous knowledge system of the Ifugao should be preserved and promoted by being taught formally in schools. 9. There is a need to enhance IEC activities to conserve the rice terraces and forests of Ifugao, and to engage national and international publics in their conservation.

48

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

References
Bantayan, N.C. 2006. GIS in the Philippines Principles and Applications in Forestry and Natural Resources. Los Baos: PARRFI and AKECU-AKECOP. Batie, S.S., and R.D. Horan. 2001. Green Payments Policy. In The 2002 Farm Bill: Policy Options and Consequences, National Public Policy Education Committee, edited by J. Outlaw and E. G. Smith, 163-168. Oak Brook, Illinois: Farm Foundation. Calderon, M.M., J.T. Dizon, A.J.U. Sajise, R.T. Andrada, N.C. Bantayan, and M.G. Salvador. 2008. Towards the Development of a Sustainable Financing Mechanism for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces in the Philippines. Research Report No. 2008-RR10, Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA)International Development Research Centre (IDRC). Catacutan, D.C., G. Villamor, and C.D. Pion. 2010. Local Government-Led PES for Watershed Protection: Cases from the Philippines. Mountain Forum Bulletin, January. Chavez-Tafur, J., K. Hampson, R. Thijssen, and A. Ingevall. 2007. Learning from Experience: A Manual for Organising, Analysing and Documenting Field-based Information. Amersfoort, Netherlands: ILEIA, Center for Information on Low External Input Agriculture. CLUP of Hungduan, Ifugao. 2010. Municipality of Hungduan, Ifugao. Concepcion, R.N., L.G. Hernandez, E. Samar, M. Collado, and A. Gesite. 2003. The Philippine Report: Productivity Improvement and Evaluation of the Multifunctionality of the Ifugao Rice Terraces. ASEAN-Japan Project on the

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

49

Evaluation of the Multifunctionality of Paddy Farming and its Effects in ASEAN Member Countries. Bureau of Soils and Water Management, Department of Agriculture, Philippines. Francisco, H.A. 2003. Environmental Service Payments: Experiences, Constraints, and Potential in the Philippines. Indonesia: World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). Flor, A.G. 2002. Digital Tools in Process Documentation: Capturing and Mining Best Practices and Lessons Learned. Philippines: SEAMEO-SEARCA. Hargrove, T., and F. Chandler.2004. RUPES: An Innovative Strategy to Reward Asias Upland Poor for Preserving and Improving our Environment. Bogor, Indonesia: World Agroforestry Centre. Lasco, R., G. Villamor, F. Pulhin, D. Catacutan, and M. Bertomeu. 2008. From Principles to Numbers: Approaches in Implementing Payments for Environmental Services (PES) in the Philippines. In Smallholder Tree Growing for Rural Development and Environmental Services: Lessons from Asia, edited by D. J. Snelder and R. D. Lasco, pp. 193-206. USA: Springer Science. Lee E., B. Leimona, M. van Noordwijk, C. Agarwal, and S. Mahanty. 2007. Payments for Environmental Services: Introduction to Feasibility, Supplier Characteristics, and Poverty Issues. In Insight: Notes from the Field, 5-17. Bangkok, Thailand: RECOFTC, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), and Winrock International India. Leimona B., and E. Lee. 2008. Pro-Poor Payment for Environmental Services Some Considerations. Bogor, Indonesia: RECOFTC and World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF).

50

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

Leimona B., M. van Noordwijk, G.B. Villamor, A. Fauzi, S. Upadhyaya, and Farida. 2008. Social Mobilization and Local Awareness of Rights and Opportunities for Environmental Services Market. Bogor, Indonesia: World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), SEA Regional Office. Mayrand, K., and M. Paquin. 2004. Payments for Environmental Services: A Survey and Assessment of Current Schemes. Montreal: Unisfera International Centre for the Commission for Environmental Cooperation of North America. Pagiola, S., and G. Platais. 2002. Payments for environmental services: From theory to practice. Washington: World Bank. Raben, K. 2007. Access to Water and Payment for Environmental Services, Jequetepeque Watershed, Peru. Working Paper No. 2007/10, Danish Institution for International Studies. RUPES (Rewards for, Use of and Shared Investment in Pro-poor Environmental Services). 2010. Bakun. Accessed June 2, 2011. http://rupes.worldagroforestry.org/researchsite_bakun/2 ______. 2010. Lantapan. Accessed June 2, 2011. http://rupes. worldagroforestry.org/researchsite_lantapan/2 UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). 2008. Impact: The Effects of Tourism on Culture and the Environment in Asia and the Pacific: Sustainable Tourism and the Preservation of the World Heritage Site of the Ifugao Rice Terraces, Philippines. Bangkok, Thailand: UNESCO Bangkok, Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education.

Capacity for the Conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces: The Hungduan Farmers of Ifugao

51

van Noordwijk, M., B. Leimona, L. Emerton, T.P. Tomich, S.J. Velarde, M. Kallesoe, M. Sekher, and B.M. Swallow. 2007. Criteria and Indicators for Environmental Service Compensation and Reward Mechanisms: Realistic, Voluntary, Conditional and Pro-poor. Working Paper No. 37, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). Volante, J. R. n.d. A Manual for Participant Observation in Process Documentation Research. IPC Reprint No. 2. Manila, Philippines: Institute of Philippine Culture, Ateneo de Manila University. Wunder, S. 2005. Payments for Environmental Services: Some Nuts and Bolts. CIFOR Occasional Paper No. 42, Center for International Forestry Research. Accessed June 30, 2009. http://www.cifor.org/publications/pdf_files/OccPapers/OP42.pdf Wunder, S. 2006. Are Direct Payments for Environmental Services Spelling Doom for Sustainable Forest Management in the Tropics? Ecology and Society 11 (2):23. Zilberman, D. 2007. Payments for Environmental Services: Who Gains and Who Loses? Agricultural and Resource Economics Update of California 11 (1): 1-3.

EDITORIAL STAFF Adviser: Gil C. Saguiguit, Jr. Technical Editors: Mercedita A. Sombilla Maria Celeste H. Cadiz Managing Editor: Mariliza V. Ticsay Language Editors: Marie Cddyqa Jaya G. Rogel Production Coordinators: Avril Adrianne D. Madrid Rico Ancog Layout Artist: Avril Adrianne D. Madrid Production Assistant: Arlene A. Nadres For more information about SEARCA publications, please contact: Knowledge Resources Unit Knowledge Management Department SEARCA Los Baos, Laguna 4031, Philippines Tel. No. (63-49) 536-2283 local 138 Fax: (63-49) 536-2283 (Attn: KRU) Email: publications@agri.searca.org or visit www.searca.org

Você também pode gostar