Profiling Lake Sebu and the Indigenous Community in the Vicinity

Abstract

Disturbances brought by different existing biophysical factors compounded by various socio-economic activities of the communities in the vicinity of Lake Sebu threatened its health and state. Profiling the biophysical conditions, socio-economic activities, issues and threats behind were the focus of the study.

Transect walk and a combination of different tools in the Participatory Rural Appraisal, Quadrat Method, Market Survey, and Semi-Structured Interview were utilized in gathering primary data. Secondary data were obtained to further substantiate findings.

Agricultural (58.36%) and miscellaneous (27.45%) are two major land uses in the vicinity of lake relative to land cover. Protection (49.91%) and production (39.59%) areas are two major land uses relative to land use policy. Unsustainable farming practices reduce vegetative ground cover (42.86%). Farming and aquaculture and fishing are the major economic activities ranked first and second respectively. Corn and rice are the first two major crop types. Aquaculture (90%), fishing (25%) and transport (20%) are the first three major uses of lake water.

Coexistent to various land and water resource utilizations in Lake Sebu are different issues and threats affecting it. These are directly or indirectly interrelated from one another. Erosion and soil fertility associated to farming systems and upland degradation, pollution from human settlement, recreational and agricultural activities, and increasing number of fish cages continuously imperilled the lake ecosystems. Hence, a need to study these issues quantitatively at different scales is recommended to help in framing responsive, effective, and sustainable lake management policy.