Watershed council pushes plan for ecosystem sustainability in CDO
- Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1461448035032/watershed-council-pushes-plan-for-ecosystem-sustainability-in-cdo
- Friday, November 20, 2015
- By Nelia C. Quijano (PIA)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) – Present and future generations in Cagayan de Oro brace to a healthy and balanced ecology in the city.
The Executive Committee of the Agusan-Cugman Cluster of Watersheds Management Council (ACCWMC) has endorsed on 18 November 2015 the proposed Environment and Natural Resources Management (ENRM) interventions of the Balubal Integrated Social Forestry Farmers Association (BISFFA).
Forester Samuel M. Jumawid, technical editor officer of DENR’s Regional Project Coordinating Office (RPCO), said the project intends to increase economic condition of the upland communities and forest cover within Agusan-Cugman Watershed through agroforestry and reforestation, with a cumulative area of 61 hectares proposed to be implemented with Integrated Natural Resources and Environmental Management Project (INREMP) support in three-year period or until year 2018;
He further said the government recognizes the vital role of various stakeholders in the protection, rehabilitation, development, management, and utilization of the natural resources in watershed and river basins; hence the crafting of the proposal has involved the participation of national government agencies (NGAs), non-government organization (NGOs), religious sector, academe, local government units (LGUs), security group, Indigenous People (IP), peoples organizations (POs) and business sectors, and other stakeholders.
BISFFA, comprising a total of 121 households are the actual occupants of the area which possess tenure security over the area covered by Community Based Forestry Management Agreement (CBFMA) with total area of 250 hectares where ENRM subprojects shall be implemented.
Pablo M. Bactong, BISFFA president, said they are very glad for the favorable action to their proposal. This is not only benefit the Balubal’s officers but also to all the direct 121 household beneficiaries.
Among the direct benefits identified come from participation of members to do labor work and harvesting agricultural and timber products.
The implementation of the subproject seen to increase the likelihood of attracting additional possible markets for the people’s organization goods and services.
Meanwhile, ACCWMC was organized to promote the formulation of policies and programs in consultation with the stakeholders.
Further, it shall ensure that all projects submitted by participating agencies and peoples organizations for funding under the project are consistent with the overall environmental conservation and management framework of the concerned LGUs and watershed management plan.
It shall carryout also periodic monitoring and evaluation of projects being implemented by partner agencies, and keep track of progress of INREMP implementation within the Agusan- Cugman Cluster of Watersheds.
INREMP, on the other hand, is a seven-year-project that focuses on watershed as a management unit or area of operation. This is implemented through community-based approach with inter-agency supportive mechanism.
Likewise, this project is covered by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) which aims to reduce and reverse degradation of watershed, provides incentives to local communities, and enables improvement of natural resource management by generating sufficient and tangible economic benefits.
The government has adopted integrated watershed management as a national strategy for sustainable development per DENR MC 2008-05, Series 2008.