INTRODUCTION

The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) is located in the mountain ranges of the
north central part of Luzon. 1 CAR is endowed by nature with several rivers and creeks. As host
to 12 major and principal river systems, the region prides itself as the watershed cradle of
Northern Luzon. Most of the major river basins drain to regions 1 and 2. It supports different
facilities like, irrigation, domestic use, and hydropower.2

The Cordilleran people have long been preserving the environment through various
indigenous forest management systems that are being passed from one generation to another. The
Cordilleran people view themselves as stewards or caretakers of the land. “The land was
considered free to anyone who was willing to till or develop it. They did not ‘own’ the land as it
was not to be ‘owned’ but to be treasured and drawn life sustenance from.”3

The Regional Resources Management Program of the Department of Environment and

Natural Resources (DENR) also states, as one of its guiding principles, the recognition of
indigenous systems and structures. In its newsletter, the DENR said “participatory planning and
implementation shall be sensitive to the existence of indigenous institutional arrangements.”
“Indigenous knowledge and other customary arrangements shall be recognized and built upon
where appropriate,” the article further said. 4

Every province has its own unique way of preserving and maintaining the environment.
The indigenous forest management systems are actually an effective way of preserving not only
for the Cordillera Administrative Region but also for the entire Philippines.

1
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Kagawaran ng Kapaligiran at Likas Yaman, Region CAR –
Baguio City, Available at http://car.denr.gov.ph/index.php/about-us/regional-profile, Retrieved on November 9,
2016 [8].
2
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Kagawaran ng Kapaligiran at Likas Yaman, Region CAR –
Baguio City, Available at http://car.denr.gov.ph/index.php/about-us/regional-profile, Retrieved on November 9,
2016 [27].
3
Angelo, J. and de los Reyes, Aloma, (1987) Igorot: Contemporary Life and Issues, Cordillera Schools Group Series,
Volume 111, Cordillera Schools Group, Baguio City, Available at
http://unossc1.undp.org/GSSDAcademy/SIE/Docs/Vol4/Indigenous_agroforestry.pdf, Retrieved on November 9,
2016 [20].
4
Indigenous Agroforestry Practices in the Cordillera, Available at
http://unossc1.undp.org/GSSDAcademy/SIE/Docs/Vol4/Indigenous_agroforestry.pdf, Retrieved on November 9,
2016 [115]