CSD-8:
Sustainable Development Success Stories

Employing Sustainable Community Resource Management

Location Philippines
Responsible Organisation Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC).
Description

This program is geared to address the need for sustainable development, food security, effective resource management, ecological balance and equity among men and women among indigenous communities, small farmers and fisherfolk. More specifically, it addresses the issues of land security, soil preservation and environmental protection, delivery of basic health services to the depressed and marginalized sector, increased household income, family management, and finally, the issue of the enhanced role of women in the community.

The main objective of the case is to improve the community life of five indigenous cultural communities in Barangay Davisoliton by embracing sustainable development as a means to attain food security, equity and growth.

The program's activities include;

  • Soil erosion control by employing sloping agricultural land technology;

  • Adoption of sustainable agriculture principles, crop diversification, agro-forestry, and agro-livestock;

  • Improve farm planning involving the family;

  • Retention/enhancement of traditional beneficial farming technologies; and

  • Environmental protection and improved farm and resource management.

Issues Addressed Food security, effective resource management, ecological balance and gender equity
Results Achieved
  • Distribution of 1150 hectares of forest land to 263 households beneficiaries;

  • Reforestation of approximately 700 hectares;

  • Complete cessation of logging in the community;

  • Creation of a multi-sectoral board to look into enforcement of all environmental law and prosecution of violators;

  • Environmental protection and advocacy;

  • Farm diversification;

  • 15 women community volunteer health workers equipped to address the health needs of the community;

  • Improve community health (decreased cause of morbidity and mortality) and hygiene.

  • Culture and community consciousness enhanced; and

  • Household income increased.

Lessons Learned
  • In implementing projects, it is important to understand first the culture of the community;

  • Intervention of the project should be directed towards the repressed and felt needs of the community-beneficiaries;

  • People's participation in all aspects of project implementation, from planning to implementation and evaluation, is essential;

  • Important factors for success are capacity building of local/community organizations, the applicability and appropriateness of agricultural technologies, the level of partnership with other civil society groups (i.e. local NGOs, research/training institutions, church, media, etc.), and the political and democratic space.

Contacts Roel R. Rwanera; Nathaniel Don E. Marquez
Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC)
58 Marilag St.
VP Village, Diliman, Q.C.
Metn Manila, Philippines
Tel: (+63 2) 433 7653/433 7654; Fax (+63 2) 9207434;
Email: angoc@angoc.ngo.ph