Evaluation of Community-Based Forest Management Program Implementation in Allacapan, Cagayan

Abstract

The study evaluated the status of the social, economic and environmental impacts of Community-based Forest Management Program (CBFMP) implementation in Allacapan, Cagayan. Specifically, it sought to: (1) determine the major components of the program; (2) determine the status of CBFMP implementation in the three barangays; (3) determine the issues and problems encountered in its implementation; 4) determine the factors affecting its implementation; and (5) assess the impacts of the program in the area.

Descriptive survey was employed in the study. A total of 18 members were selected as respondents through random sampling constituting 10% of the total membership of Allacapan Agri-Forest Development Cooperative (AAFDC), implementer of CBFMP in Allacapan, Cagayan. Key informants were also interviewed and focus-group discussions were conducted for additional information needed.

The CBFM site has a total land area of 749.44 covering three barangays in Allacapan namely, Tubel, San Juan and Dalayap. The project has eight components which include preliminary activities, nursery establishment and development, communal agroforestry development, membership expansion, continuing training on upland resources management (URM), establishment of income generating projects (IGPs) and establishment of biological monitoring system (BMS).

The following were the status of CBFM implementation in the area: (1) courtesy call and preparation of CRMF and FYWP were done; (2) establishment of a 10-m2 temporary nursery; (3) establishment of a 0.4-ha demonstration farm; (4) 45 IPRs were awarded to AAFDC members with a total area of 1,117.07 ha; (5) a total of 15 members were recruited and awarded with five-ha agroforestry project by DENR; (6) nine trainings were conducted in 2003 to present; (7) income-generating projects such as goat dispersal and seedling business enterprise were established; and 8) establishment of biological management system.

Issues and problems encountered by the organization in implementing the different activities of CBFMP were the following: (1) misinformation on the true essence of CBFM as a strategy in addressing forest degradation and alleviating upland poverty; (2) poor participation (3) lack of political will of PO officers; (4) insufficient support from the implementing agency which is the DENR; (5) not well-defined organizational structure; (6) overlapping tenurial instruments; (7) presence of individual land claimants; (8) misleading A&D lot surveys; and (9) issues on mining.

Several factors were also identified to affect the implementation of the different activities of the project. These were: (1) lack of technical capabilities; (2) financial constraints; (3) lack of IEC; (4) dependence on the assisting organization and government agencies; (5) organizational problem; (6) lack of linkages with financing institutions; (7) non-involvement of all the stakeholders in the project; (8) weak coordination with concerned agencies; (9) poor marketing strategies; and (10) individualistic attitude of members.

CBFMP provided organizational, socio-economic and environmental impacts in Allacapan, Cagayan which include: (1) partial empowerment, sense of responsibility and a minimal division of labor were observed in the organization; (2) initiated various business enterprises in the town such as orchard, goat dispersal and seedling enterprise; (3) enhanced awareness in protection and environmental conservation among the constituents of Allacapan, Cagayan; and (4) improved soil and water conservation and management and amenities.