FMDS Student Papers

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https://repository.upou.edu.ph/handle/20.500.13073/52
Research outputs by graduate students of the Faculty of Management and Development Studies.

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 162
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    Assessment of the Mangrove Rehabilitation Project in Sitio Bongkol-Bongkol, Rio Tuba, Bataraza, Palawan
    ( 2025) Belaro, Reya Magdalena A.
    The 409.42-hectare Adopt-A-Mangrove (AMA) Rehabilitation Project of Coral Bay Nickel Corporation (CBNC) and DENR-MIMAROPA is part of the bigger carbon sink initiative of DENR and environmental compliance of CBNC. The study was conducted on the part of AMA adjacent to Sitio Bongkol Bongkol with an area of 15 hectares. The aim of the study was to determine the current state of mangroves in Sitio Bongkol Bongkol and identify threats that could jeopardize the success of the AMA project. The mangrove and plant diversity identification used in the study was taken from the results of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) fieldwork of Gaia South, Inc., with the researcher as part of the fieldwork team, while data on socio-economic factors were gathered through survey questionnaires and interviews. The results of the study showed three (3) mangrove species in Sitio Bongkol-Bongkol namely; Rhizophora mucronata, Ceriops tagal, and Rhizophora apiculata being the dominant species. The data analyzed showed that education, occupation, income, and distance of residents from mangroves influenced the communities’ knowledge on mangroves. In addition, the result of the interviews showed the lack of knowledge of the Indigenous people of Sitio Bongkol-Bongkol in planting and taking care of mangroves; and that the inadequate support of other stakeholders and the absence of community involvement could delay the project implementation. The study concluded that creating awareness and active participation of nearby inhabitants were also critical. Therefore, Information, education, and communication about the benefits of nurturing mangroves must be intensified. Moreover, the support and intervention by appropriate government agencies and entities are equally important. The outcome of the study could help evaluate the state of the mangrove and effectiveness of rehabilitation efforts, the involvement of appropriate agencies for value-added livelihood support with the end view of reducing the extraction of raw mangrove materials, and the participation of capable locals in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the project.
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    Assessment of Ecosystem Services and the Impacts of Land Use and Land Cover Change in a Masterplanned City: the Case of Filinvest City in Alabang, Muntinlupa
    ( 2024) Overos, Mark Daryll B.
    Land in the Philippines has been subject to scarcity and overexploitation for the past years due to two of the many societal trends – population growth and continuous land degradation. In order to contribute to livable, safe, and sustainable communities, green spaces are recognized as a key element to navigate a variety of physical activities for the general public. Filinvest City in Muntinlupa was assessed to study its spatio-temporal changes, its impacts on ecosystem services, and the strategies in support for nature-based solutions. Data analysis was conducted through (1) QGIS and remote sensing to examine LULC change and landscape metrics, (2) reports synthesis on eco-profiling for biodiversity conservation assessment, and (3) ecosystem services assessment through survey. The results generated from remote sensing show integral data on the decrease of open land and rise of built-up areas between 2009 to 2015. On the other hand, Filinvest City showed high value on biodiversity preservation through maintenance and protection of its fauna (59% are resident breeder non-endemic bird species) and flora (47% are trees species). There is also significant correlation on the importance of ecosystem services functions with urban parks, recreational spaces, and biodiversity conservation. To further evaluate Filinvest City apart from study on ecosystem services and its impacts, it is recommended to conduct a (1) more up-to-date rapid biodiversity assessment and (2) analysis on urban heat island effect caused by green infrastructures replacing the natural land cover.
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    Integrating Local Ecological Knowledge Towards Community Based Mangrove Conservation Management in Pulo, Calatagan, Philippines
    ( 2024-12) Ortiz, Theresa Linus R.
    Mangrove ecosystems play vital roles in coastal protection and community livelihoods, yet face significant degradation worldwide. In the Philippines, where more than 50% of original mangrove cover has been lost since the 1900s, the integration of Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) with scientific approaches presents a promising strategy for enhanced conservation. This study investigated the integration of LEK and community-based management approaches toward improved mangrove conservation in Pulo, Calatagan, Batangas, focusing on a 7.5-hectare fringing mangrove forest. Using mixed methods research, the study collected data through structured interviews with 20 key informants, surveys of 35 households across three management zones, and three focused group discussions. The findings revealed sophisticated traditional taxonomic knowledge, with species identification accuracy reaching 95% for dominant species and traditional indicators showing 89% accuracy in predicting seasonal changes. Spatial analysis demonstrated significant variation in management participation across zones (F(2,32)=15.3, p<0.001, η2=0.48), with engagement declining from 75% in near zones to 25% in far zones. Knowledge integration success rates reached 82% (β=0.82, SE=0.04, p<0.001), substantially exceeding regional benchmarks. The study recommends implementing zone-specific management protocols, establishing digital knowledge archives, and developing structured knowledge transfer programs to enhance conservation outcomes while preserving valuable traditional knowledge systems. These findings contribute to both theoretical understanding and practical guidelines for improving mangrove conservation through integrated knowledge approaches.
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    Conservation of Pinulot-Caulaman River Watershed using GIS and RUSLE-based Soil Erosion Risk Assessment in Central Luzon, Philippines
    ( 2025-03-07) Salac, Carlo P.
    Soil erosion is a serious environmental issue which can drastically impact watersheds like the case of Pinulot-Caulaman River Watershed (PCRW) in Central Luzon, Philippines. PCRW is a critical watershed for agricultural and domestic purposes covering Zambales Range and Mt. Natib to the west and lowland areas to the east. This study investigated the biophysical and socioeconomic conditions of PCRW to estimate the overall soil erosion risk and recommend conservation strategies appropriate for the watershed. The methodology involved data mining online and processing of secondary information through Geographic Information System (GIS). This was followed by applying Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model to compute soil erosion and delineate risk zonation by analyzing the temporal and spatial changes in the watershed on three selected periods, i.e., 2014, 2017, and 2024. The PCRW is characteristically fragmented showing declining forest cover across complex topography with young and clay-rich soil types that received abundant rainfall, however, there were minimal conservation practices employed. Based on RUSLE, soil erosion with more than 300 tons ha-1 annually was considered very severe, particularly in steep and sparsely vegetated western areas of the watershed. In 2014, these severely eroded areas covered 20% of PCRW which increased to 28% with 11,696 hectares erosion coverage a decade after. Considering the status of the watershed, these critically erodible areas should be prioritized for restoration through the enhanced National Greening Program (NGP). Furthermore, moderate to very high erosion risk categories require conservation measures while intact forested slopes should be delineated as protected zones that will altogether form part of the watershed management plan. This study highlighted the applicability of GIS techniques and RUSLE model in providing data-driven and evidence-based decision-making tools for soil conservation. Furthermore, erosion results can be verified through ground validation to enhance the accuracy of the model in assessing the PCRW, together with future watershed assessment of erosion in other parts of the country.
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