Taking the part in the transformation of Mindanao’s agriculture landscape, the Ateneo Center for Environment and Sustainability (ACES) partners with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR-RIX) to conduct an impact assessment of their Community Based Forestry Management – Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Project (CBFM-CARP).
Launched in 1995, the CBFM-CARP, DENR’s flagship forest management project, addresses the management of forest products while improving the lives of upland farmers. It involves granting participating communities access to forest land in long term tenurial arrangements.
AdZU, through ACES, was tapped as the official evaluator of this long-term project in Region IX due to the institution’s thriving research community. This assessment lasted throughout 2019 and culminated in the presentation of results at the DENR Regional Office at Pagadian City last December 5, 2019.
ACES conducted detailed surveys and farm site visits in far-flung communities such as Batungan, Kabasalan and Busol, Guipos to determine CBFM-CARP’s social, economic and environmental impact in the area. The impact assessment was led by Dr Teresita Montaño, ACES director, and Wilma Omboy, ACES program officer.
According to the ACES assessments, slight improvements in the farmer’s quality of living can be seen in the of children sent to school and individual family savings, among others . Other improvements include the respondent’s engagement in other income generating activities from employment wages as Barangay officials. The research was presented to DENR with recommendations in hopes for the further improvement of the project.
