Indigenous communities in the Philippines play a vital role in safeguarding biodiversity through traditional knowledge, sustainable practices, and community-led stewardship. The following locally grounded interventions reflect both time-honored customs and contemporary strategies aligned with national and global conservation goals.
The following are the recommended local-level interventions:
1. Promoting Sustainable Use of Biodiversity Resources
- Encourage traditional ecological practices, such as rotational farming, seed saving, and the cultivation of herbal medicine.
- Example: Dumagat communities in Rizal practice Natural Agriculture using heirloom seeds and zero agrochemicals to protect forest ecosystems.
2. Empowering Local Residents to Protect Forests
- Train indigenous youth and elders in forest monitoring, wildlife protection, and community patrols.
- Example: The Philippine ICCA Project supports indigenous-led conservation in ancestral domains, covering over 150,000 hectares.
3. Demarcating Agricultural and Forest Zones
- Launch community mapping initiatives to define boundaries and prevent encroachment.
- Example: UNDP and NCIP have helped 17 IP communities delineate forest zones and document traditional land use systems.
4. Supporting Individual/Family Forest Stewardship
- Recognize and formalize family-managed forest plots within ancestral domains.
- Example: The Ayta of Maporac in Zambales manage sacred forest areas through customary laws and rituals.
5. Restoring Degraded Areas Through Community Action
- Mobilize local groups for reforestation, agroforestry, and watershed rehabilitation.
- Example: In Nueva Vizcaya, the Ikalahan/Kalanguya IPs restored degraded lands using native species and cultural planting practices.
6. Instilling the Value of Sustainability
- Integrate biodiversity ethics into local education, rituals, and storytelling.
- Example: The IPBSAP (Indigenous Peoples Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan) promotes intergenerational transmission of conservation values.
7. Conducting Biodiversity Awareness Campaigns
- Utilize local languages and media to underscore the global importance of biodiversity.
- Example: The “Be Part of the Plan” campaign by UNDP emphasizes IP inclusion in achieving the 30x30 global biodiversity targets.
8. Educating on Controlled Burning Practices
- Share indigenous fire management techniques that prevent wildfires and support ecological balance.
- Example: Some IP communities use seasonal, low-intensity burns to regenerate grasslands and prevent invasive species.