Landscape Components' Influence on the Source of Livelihood of the Population: The Case of Narra, Palawan

Abstract

Landscape components is composed of the different patterns of land, vegetation, bodies of water, man-made structures like highways. This study describes the profile, landscape components and source of livelihood of population in Narra Palawan through the use of landscape maps: maps on the water and land use, watershed, soil, road network, environmentally critical area network map (ECAN), using the patch-corridor-matrix model (PCMM). The human-environment interaction models that exist in the livelihood of the population was also disclosed. Narra has been known as the “rice granary of Palawan” and is strategically situated in Southern Palawan, 96 kilometers away from Puerto Princesa City. It was named National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Administration under Proclamation No. 190. It has 23 barangays with total land area of 83,229.83 hectares and are accessible by land. Its total population is 81,179 in 2018 and 82, 631 as of year 2019. The slope (41.41% is 0-30), climate (dry from January to April and wet throughout the year). Its water system and water shed maps offers sources of livelihood in Riparian Environment such as, nipa shingles making, fishpond, and tourism related jobs. Land use map and soil map of Narra Palawan indicate more areas for agriculture and fishery as source of livelihood of its population. Road map of Narra Palawan shows that all barangays is accessible that favors marketing of agricultural products. The controlled, traditional, and multiple use zones in ECAN map, favors agriculture production. The human-environment interaction model that prevails are; environmental determinism wherein the sources of livelihood depended on the resources in the environment. Ecosystem-based model is express in farming system among settler-farmers. Cultural ecology is practiced by Tagbanua and, Palaw’an wherein Swidden farming is their farming system. The use of categorical maps slope, climate and labor force revealed that it influenced the livelihood sources of the population. It attested to the fact that Narra is an agriculture-based municipality. Result of this study is beneficial for local government in revision and crafting the comprehensive land use map of the municipality.