Participatory Upland

Development Program in
Dampalit Watershed of the
Makiling Forest Reserve,
PHILIPPINES: A success story
by

NICASIO
ICASIO M. BALAHADIA
ALAHADIA
Project
Project Leader
Leader & & University
University Extension
Extension Specialist
Specialist IIII
Makiling
Makiling Center
Center forfor Mountain
Mountain Ecosystems
Ecosystems
College
College ofof Forestry
Forestry and
and Natural
Natural Resources
Resources
University
University ofof the
the Philippines
Philippines Los
Los Baños,
Baños, PPHILIPPINES
HILIPPINES
Created on 25 June 1998, the Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems
(MCME) became the first center in the Philippines which focuses on the science
and importance of mountains.

MCME is a fitting response to Section 13 of Agenda 21, the global action plan
adopted during the 1992 Earth Summit. This section specifically identifies the
global program of action for sustainable mountain development as a means for
managing fragile ecosystems.

MAKILING CENTER FOR MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEMS

As an academic institution for research and
demonstration, MCME is mandated to conduct research
and demonstration program on mountain ecosystem
development and to formulate and execute plans for the
sustainable management of the Makiling Forest Reserve.
MCME is directly concerned with Mt Makiling as a
microcosm of issues and concerns affecting mountain
ecosystem in the country. Being a mountain ecosystem
itself, MFR was established through RA 6967 as a training
laboratory for the advancement of scientific and
technical knowledge on the conservation and
development of natural resources, and serves as MCME’s
locus for research and demonstration.

MAKILING CENTER FOR MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEMS

 An academic institution
committed to generating
and strengthening the
scientific knowledge for
the conservation and
sustainable development
of tropical mountain
ecosystems in
partnership with
mountain communities.

MAKILING CENTER FOR MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEMS

 To advance knowledge and
promote sustainable development
of Mt Makiling and other tropical
mountain ecosystems through
integrated and participatory
research and demonstration
programs.

MAKILING CENTER FOR MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEMS

 The Mt Makiling Forest Reserve
N

LEGEND :

MFR
Philippines MUNIPAL BDRY.
MUNICIPALITY
ROAD
LAKE SHORE LINE

CALAMBA LAGUNA de BAY

LOS BAÑOS

BAY

CALAMBA
LOS BAÑOS
14 ° 08” N
CALAUAN

STO. TOMAS
BAY

STO. TOMAS

Makiling Forest Reserve

Makiling Forest Reserve SAN PABLO

ALAMINOS

121 ° 11” E
RSO/dgaddi '99
 The Mt Makiling Forest Reserve
Political Coverage:
• Priority biodiversity Forest Reserve 4,244 ha 2 Provinces, 1 City, 3 Municipalities,
conservation area Buffer zone 1,652 ha 21 Barangays
Laguna de Bay
• One of Philippines’ 18
centers of plant biodiversity

• One of Philippines’ 31 key

ecotourism sites

• Best known biological area

in the Philippines owing to Calamba
long scientific history
Los Baños

• Home to more than

2,000 species of flowering plants,
291 species of ferns, Sto Tomas
211 species of mosses, Bay
45 species of mammals,
181 species of birds,
65 species of reptiles, and
22 species of amphibians.
 The Mt Makiling Forest Reserve
Principal Management Objectives
Education & Scientific Research; Watershed; Ecotourism & outdoor
recreation; Biodiversity conservation area; Wildlife habitat & refuge;
Geothermal power generation
Water source: > 78 streams, creeks, springs; underground for deep wells; >
42 hot springs; 8 water intakes; provides the water requirements for 3
municipalities and 1 city in 2 provinces of > half a million people
 Mt Makiling Forest Reserve (MFR)
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT UNITS
Greater Sipit Watershed
Greater Tigbi Watershed
Molawin-Dampalit
Watershed
Cambantoc Watershed
 Participatory Upland
Development Program in
Dampalit Watershed of the
Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve
By

PG LAPITAN
NM BALAHADIA
RV BREVA
LA BUGAYONG
LA CASTILLO
JT DIZON
RRE MARIANO
RF PAELMO
& RC Gibe

In partnership with:
Barangay Lalakay, Los Baños, Laguna &
MAKILING CENTER FOR Samahang Magsasaka sa Mataas na Lupa ng
MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEMS U P L B F I DA-BAR Lalakay sa Bundok Makiling (SAMALUP)
Project
Area The Dampalit watershed has
a total area of 604 hectares.

The project is within Zone 1 of

MFR Watershed Management Units.

It drains into the Laguna

Lake through Los Baños.
General objective

……is to ensure the productive

and sustainable management
through the empowerment of the
upland communities.
The specific objectives are to:
a) determine the current state of, and gather
benchmark information on the resources,
farming systems and socio-economic;
b) provide knowledge and skills in designing,
planning and developing upland farming
systems;
c) establish demonstration farms showcasing
appropriate upland farming techniques in
partnership with farmer groups; and
d) strengthen the capabilities of the farmers
Participatory Upland
organization in upland development. Development Program in
Dampalit Watershed of the
Makiling Forest Reserve
Participatory
Participatory Upland
Upland Development
Development Process
Process in
in Dampalit
Dampalit Watershed
Watershed

Situation
Analysis

Monitoring Defining
and objectives
Evaluation
Dampalit
Watershed

implemen-
Designing
tation Strategies

Participatory Upland
Development Program in
Dampalit Watershed of the
Makiling Forest Reserve
7 STUDIES
Biophysical resource and farm
assessment

Assessment of the socio-economic

conditions and training needs of
the upland farmers

Establishment and
development of
demonstration
farms
Participatory Upland
Development Program in
Dampalit Watershed of the
Makiling Forest Reserve
7 STUDIES
Community
empowerment in the
Dampalit watershed

Alternative livelihood
identification
IEC

Process
Documentation
Participatory Upland
Development Program in
Dampalit Watershed of the
Makiling Forest Reserve
Accomplishments &
Significant findings
Study Report on
Completion of the following activities ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND
TRAINING NEEDS OF THE UPLAND FARMERS IN DAMPALIT
Study Report on WATERSHED OF THE MAKILING FOREST RESERVE

a. Resource/ RESOURCE AND FARM ASSESSMENT

of the Dampalit Watershed
MAKILING CENTER FOR
MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEMS

farm
assessment
MAKILING CENTER FOR
MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEMS

b. Land-use U P L B F I

mapping U P L B F I
DA-BAR

Under the Project

Participatory Upland Development Program in Dampalit

Watershed of the Makiling Forest Reserve

c. Socio-
DA-BAR
LEONIDA A. BUGAYONG
Under the Project University Researcher and Study Leader
Participatory Upland Development Program in Dampalit Watershed Forestry Development Center

economic
UPLB College of Forestry and Natural Resources
of the Makiling Forest Reserve
With
Leilani A. Castillo

assessment
Forester III & Study Leader ERLINDA N. REBUGIO, University Extension Specialist, MCME
EULALIA B. ALCASID, University Research Associate, MCME
ALICIA BARILE, Project Database Manager, MCME
With ROGELIO GIBE, Project Research Assistant, MCME
Alfredo A. Balagat, Valeriana O. Barredo, Analyn C. Malayba, Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems
Nick M. Manlisis, Ben J. Rada, Arnulfo D. Yanoria UPLB College of Forestry and Natural Resources

Makiling Center for Mountain Ecosystems Through the

d. Training
UPLB College of Forestry and Natural Resources University of the Philippines Los Baños Foundation, Inc.
College, Laguna
Through the

needs
With funding from
University of the Philippines Los Baños Foundation, Inc.
College, Laguna Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Agricultural Research

February 2007

assessment
With funding from

Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Agricultural Research

Participatory Upland
February 2007 Development Program in
Dampalit Watershed of the
Makiling Forest Reserve
Accomplishments &
Significant findings
e. Capability
Building/
Training
for Project Staff

Participatory methods in development work Process documentation

Participatory Upland
Development Program in
Dampalit Watershed of the
Participatory monitoring and evaluation Cross-Farm visits Makiling Forest Reserve
Accomplishments &
Significant findings
for
Community/
Farmers

Agroforestry Concepts and Principles Compost making

Diagnosis of farm
pests and diseases

Hair science and

beauty culture

Cross farm visits

Participatory Upland
Development Program in
Dampalit Watershed of the
SWOT Analysis Leadership Development Makiling Forest Reserve
Accomplishments &
posters

Significant findings
f. Production of
IEC materials
brochure mulit-media presentation
flipchart

billboard
Film showing
exhibit

Participatory Upland
Development Program in
Dampalit Watershed of the
Makiling Forest Reserve
Accomplishments &
Significant findings
f. Community
meetings and
workshops

Participatory Upland
Development Program in
Dampalit Watershed of the
Makiling Forest Reserve
Accomplishments &
Significant findings
g. Posters and
other materials

Poster presentation during the

8th ISSAAS Philippine National
Convention and Annual Meeting
Benguet State University, La
Trinidad, Benguet on October
23-25, 2008
“Adaptive Strategies to Local
Climate Change Problems:
Experience in Mt. Makiling”
Accomplishments &
Significant findings
g. Posters and
other materials

Poster presentation during the

Strategic Donor Scoping
Workshop
Hotel Dominique, Tagaytay City
on January 30- February 1, 2007
“Participatory Upland Development
Program in Dampalit Watershed of
MFR: Sharing Learning Experiences”
Accomplishments &
Significant findings
g. Posters and
other materials

Poster presentation during the ALL in

CBNRM Evaluation and Planning
Workshop
The output was presented in Bangkok,
Thailand on January 7-11, 2008.
“Participatory Approaches in Mobilizing
Upland Farmers in the Protection and
Conservation of Dampalit Watershed in
MFR: How Effective Have They Been?”
Accomplishments &
Significant findings
g. Posters and
other materials

Poster paper presentation

during the International
Conference on Poverty
Reduction and Forests: Tenure,
Market, and Policy Reforms
Bangkok, Thailand on September
3-10, 2007
Entitled “Lessons from
Implementing a Participatory
Upland Development Project: The
Case of Dampalit Watershed in
MFR”
Accomplishments &
Significant findings
g. Posters and other materials
Poster
Poster presented
presented onon May
May 23,
23, 2007
2007 during
during the
the visit
visit of
of ALL
ALL in
in CBNRM
CBNRM
learning
learning partners,
partners, participants
participants and
and still
still posted
posted as
as briefing
briefing materials
materials for
for
visitors
visitors at
at one
one of
of the
the demo
demo farms
farms inin Dampalit)
Dampalit) May
May 2007
2007
Accomplishments &
Significant findings
g. Posters and other materials
Accomplishments &
Significant findings
a. Establishment &
development of agroforestry
demonstration farms

b. Establishment &
maintenance of community
mini-nursery
The story behind the establishment of trial rubber tree plantation

Cross
Cross farm
farm visit
visit to
to rubber
rubber tree
tree
plantation
plantation
21May08
21May08
The story behind the establishment of trial rubber tree plantation

Training on rubber tree

plantation establishment held
at Brgy. Palasan, Sta. Cruz,
Laguna
July 25-26, 08
The story behind the establishment of trial rubber tree plantation

The project
provided them with
initial inputs
e.g. planting materials,
organic fertilizer and
technical assistance
The story behind the establishment of trial rubber tree plantation

Establishment
Establishment
of
of trial
trial rubber
rubber
tree
tree plantation
plantation

Site 1

Farmers were identified as

“farmer adoptor”

Site 2
LessonsLearned
1. understanding
Establishment of rapport and
with the partners
• establish groundwork for a
tripartite partnership with 2 of the
major stakeholder groups in the
area
• held several meetings with the
LGU officers as well as elders of
the upland farmer community and
leaders of the people’s
organization

• tenure issues, violation of MFR

rules and regulations, and
assistance for farm needs

MAKILING CENTER FOR MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEMS

LessonsLearned
2. Understanding community dynamics to address conflicts
• Conflicts
between the
previous and
current
president of the
SAMALUP

MAKILING CENTER FOR MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEMS

LessonsLearned
3. Participatory tools and processes help in co-determining
community problems and possible solutions

• FGDs, village walk and transect

mapping, social mapping, problem
identification and possible solution
setting, criteria setting and other
participatory appraisal tools

• Farm assessment of the

short listed potential
demo farm cooperators

• Interview of farmers

MAKILING CENTER FOR MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEMS

LessonsLearned
4. Identification of focal persons to facilitate project
implementation and sustainability

• initially identified
some persons who
have been religiously
attending the
community meetings
as well as those who
enjoy the respect of
many of the farmers
and could possibly
lead them

MAKILING CENTER FOR MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEMS

LessonsLearned
5. Cross-farm visits and hands-on training programs are
practical learning avenues for the farmers

• Agroforestry
training and farm
planning on August
19, 2006

MAKILING CENTER FOR MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEMS

LessonsLearned
66.. Effective use of IEC materials
mulit-media
mulit-media presentation
presentation

brochure
brochure exhibit
exhibit

flipchart
flipchart

billboard
MAKILING CENTER FOR MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEMS
LessonsLearned
77.. Reducing forest-
dependence through
alternative livelihood

• identify alternative (non-

forest-based) livelihood to
lessen the community’s
dependence on forest
products and resources

MAKILING CENTER FOR MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEMS

LessonsLearned
88.. Reconciling
MFR policies
CBNRM principles with

• CBNRM vs.
national forestry
code, DENR ,
UPLB, and
Forestry Code
(Presidential
Decree No. 705)

• UPLB administration has initiated a review of existing MFR

policies and consultations on the accreditation of bona fide
upland farmers

MAKILING CENTER FOR MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEMS

LessonsLearned
99.. Visioning
management
for sustainability of MFR Dampalit watershed

• all our project activities are designed to be participatory and

community-based so that the watershed community and LGU
can work hand-in-hand to police their own ranks and help the
UPLB to protect and sustainably develop and manage the MFR
Dampalit watershed

MAKILING CENTER FOR MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEMS

Project recognition (awards)

The paper “Analysis of the First

Quarter Implementation of the
Participatory Upland Development
Program in Dampalit Watershed of
MFR” was presented during the
Philippine National Conference
and Annual Meeting of ISSAAS-
Philippines: Linking the Food System
with Ecological System on 26
October 2006.
The presentation was awarded as
Best Paper in the category of
Enhancing Equitable Access
and Use Rights to Natural
Resources.
 Project recognition
Awarded as
Outstanding Agroforestry
Project
Poster
Poster presentation
presentation “Agroforestry
“Agroforestry
Supportive
Supportive Social
Social and
and Technological
Technological
Interventions
Interventions Towards
Towards Sustained
Sustained and
and
Thorough
Thorough (ASSIST)
(ASSIST) Empowerment”
Empowerment” during
during
the
the 3rd
3rd National
National Agroforestry
Agroforestry Congress
Congress
DMMMSU
DMMMSU in in Bacnotan,
Bacnotan, La La Union
Union on
on
November
November 13-16,
13-16, 2007
2007
 Project recognition (awards)

2008
2008 CFNR
CFNR
OUTSTANDING
OUTSTANDING
EXTENSION
EXTENSION PROGRAM
PROGRAM

For successfully translating into reality the vision

for the Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve to serve as a
demonstration area for education, research and
training in forestry; for effectively operationalizing
the multi-agency, multidisciplinary, participatory
approach in developing, protecting and conserving
the Dampalit watershed and for transforming
upland farmers in the area as active partners of
the university in the protection and conservation of
the watershed. Given during the 98th foundation
Day of the College of Forestry and Natural
Resources
Project recognition
(awards)
UPLB 2009
Outstanding
Extension
Program
 Thank you
MAKILING CENTER FOR MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEMS