Special Projects

[2011-2013] Up-Scaling Forest Restoration Efforts in Key Biodiversity Areas

Goal

The Project aimed to improve biodiversity conservation through restoration and management in the eight Key Biodiversity Areas in the bioregions of Cebu, Negros, Leyte, (Eastern Visayas), Luzon, and Mindanao.

Sites

• Polillo Group of Islands
• Mt. Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape
• North Negros Natural Park
• Ilog-Hilabangan Watershed Forest Reserve
• Nug-as, Dalaguete and Tabunan Critical Forest Habitat
• Mt. Nacolod Watershed
• Panigan-Tamugan & Talomo-Lipadas
• Arakan Valley Forest Corridor

Outcomes

• Enhanced capacity and involvement of local partners and stakeholders for the protection and rehabilitation of forest habitats in 8 KBAs.
• Further decline and degradation of existing target forest areas are mitigated. At least 480 hectares reforested and 170,000 hectares of KBAs protected.
• Long term mechanisms for conserving and monitoring of biodiversity and forest habitats are instituted and sustained.
• Increased per capita income of target forest communities from adoption of rainforestation technology.

Strategies

• Knowledge Management: Institutionalization of site-based knowledge bank/center of Forest Restoration Programs. A centralized repository of reliable and updated data on the various efforts undertaken on Forest Restoration shall be established.
• Partnership Building: Organization of site multi-stakeholder networks/partnerships with forest restoration as its flagship program. Representation will come from CSO, LGU and concerned government line agencies, academe, and private sector (businesses, enterprises, financial institutions).
• Natural Resource Management: Development of forest co-management plan spearheaded by business entities and LGUs as capital partners; and CSOs, e.g., community-based associations, tribal groups & NGOs as industrial partners, e.g. eco-tourism related business plan. This component will explore economic opportunities from forest-based enterprises and a built-in safety and protection measures for the biodiversity in the target forest areas.
• Sustainability: Establishment of a Forest Restoration Monetary Incentive Fund that will explore innovative financial benefits to individuals, organizations and enterprises whose activities will have concrete and measurable impact in the restoration of degraded forest areas.

The Up-Scaling Forest Restoration Effort in Key Biodiversity Areas is a two-year project (2011-2013) with funding support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in partnership with the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE).

Download here

FPE-USAID - One-Page Briefer