REGIONAL BOTANICAL GARDEN: MODEL FOR CONSERVING RAINFOREST AS CLIMATE CHANGE MITI GATION MEASURE IN APAYAO

AnInter-Agency collaboration (Apayao State College-DENR-CAR & LGU-Luna)

Greens and Ornamentals Grocer

Agri-Industrial Technology and Knowledge-Based Industries

Watershed Cradle and Balanced Ecosystem

Hydropower Producer Indigenous Culture and Knowledge

Eco-tourist Destination

Prime Educational Cnter

APAYAO The APAYAO Province

Apayao is bounded N & E - by cagayan W- by Ilocos Norte and Abra S- by Kalinga Climate : drier in the months between march and June and wet the rest of the year :Rains fall heaviest in the month of September :typhoons occasionally visit between July and Oct.

Dubbed as Cordilleras Last Frontier for Nature Richness. Created by virtue of RA 7878, separating Kalinga-Apayao province into two distinct provinces. Total area is 392,790 hectares, which is about 21 percent of the total land area of the CAR It has a total population of 74,720 for the year 1995

One of the areas that receive the greatest concern as far as natural management is concerned is the upland Statistics shows that 56% of the 99 million hectares of the upland areas in the Philippines is grown to grains and other annual crops (NSO, 1990). The province of Apayao is dubbed as the Last Forest frontier of the North covering almost 70% of its total land area. Providing model for forest protection, the Regional Botanical garden was established

The Area
Marag Valley, once a haven of the New Peoples Army, is a vast forestland extending from the foot of the Siamsanderie Mountain in Luna, Apayao to the Malabavie Valley in Pamplona, Cagayan. Area The botanical garden has a total land area of 1, 025 hectares located within the Cordillera mountain ranges.

Topography The area is composed of rolling to moderately steep to very steep slope. It has an elevation of 10 to 510 meters above sea level.

Map of Apayao

Luna
Sta. Marcela

Calanasan
Pudtol Flora

Kabugao

Conner

Map of Luna

The Site

 Soil The soil originally developed from alluvial deposits,

which is mostly found in low lying plains. Most of the soil found gently sloping lands is developed through the weathering processes from igneous to sedimentary and metamorphic rock. Soil type is mostly composed of Quingua clay loam and mountain soil undifferentiated.

Climate The Corona Type III climate classification prevails in the area. It has a pronounced dry season from the month of March to early part of June and wet during December to January and its hottest month is May.

Vegetative Cover Natural vegetation/ resources vary from domination of woody plants and equally complete dominance of grasses. Around 75% of the total area is dipterocarp forest with the predominant species such as White and Red Lauan, Tanguile, Apitong, Yakal, Narek and other broad leaved species. Rattan species are present throughout the area, so with the bamboo growing in the buffer zone of creeks, brooks and rivers. Other nontimber species such as ferns, mosses and lichens are present in the area.

Fauna The area provides habitat and shelter to population of species of birds, monitor lizards, wild chicken and mammals. Bodies of water situated in the area such as creeks, brooks and small tributaries provide a conducive place for endemic species of fresh water fishes (such as eel, mudfish, carps, and others).

The Strategies
1. Strategic Partnership 2. Policy Review and Implementation 3. Community Mobilization

a. Community Organizing through Barangayassemblies or meetings b. Organizing the Core Group 4. Education and Training 5. Program Monitoring and Evaluation

The Framework
NGO

Apayao State College

Regional Botanical Garden

(Area of Excellence for Dipterocarp &
rainforest)

DENR

LGU / Inter-Agency Collaboration

Agency Roles and Responsibilities

Lead Agencies Roles & Responsibilities

Provide technical expert for the floral and faunal inventory Focal Agency for other institutions wanting to visit the area. APAYAO STATE Promotion (signage, IEC, etc.) Project monitoring & evaluation Team COLLEGE ( ASC) Provide regular consultation meeting with barangay people with DENR

DENR- CAR

Provide legal basis for the establishment of the RBT Area identification ( mapping) Assist in the species inventory Provide regular consultation meeting with ASC Provide alternative source of livelihood to the people ( Agroforestry project)

Lead Agencies

Roles & Responsibilities

LGU, Luna

Legislate local laws Provide support to field personnel (ASC) for transportation Promotion ( Local tourism) in coordination with Provincial Tourism Council (PTC)

Partner Agencies/ Organization

CAPENARSI ( Calabigan People for Natural Resources Stewards) Provincial Tourism Council
Provincial Forest Protection Council ( under the governors office)

Key Stewards Help in patrolling Provide accommodation to visitors Endorse resolutions supporting the RBG Promotion
Identify issues and concerns on forest protection Address the issues and concerns into workable plans Convene line agencies, POs in planning & monitoring forest protection programs Help apprehend illegal activities Enforce law

PNP

DTI

Help in promotion and packaging of peoples products

DOST

Capability Building

TESDA

Capability Building

DAR

Provide scholarship to students who resides in the area Capacity Building

Activities Undertaken
Activities 1. Tripartite Meeting 2. Consultation meeting with barangay 3. Organization of the (NGO) CAPENARSI 4. Drafting of the MOA 5. Finalization and Signing of MOA 6. Installation of Signage 7. Barangay resolution forwarded strengthening support to the Regional Botanical Garden(RBG) 8. Consultation meeting with other line agencies Agencies/ Organization LGU, DENR, ASC ASC DENR DENR & ASC DENR, ASC & LGU ASC Barangay Council

All line agencies

Activities 9. Identification RBG as eco-tourist destination 10. Publication and Promotion 11. Quarterly consultation meeting ( updating of reports)

Agencies/ Organization Provincial Tourism Council Iyapayao Newsletter ( LGU Apayao) All line agencies

12. Consultative meeting with POs on issues and concerns

13. Biodiversity Week Celebration 14. Training/ Seminar ( Vermiculture & Organic Farming)

ASC & CENRO

CENRO AND ASC ASC

14. Establishment of Communal Vegetable Garden

14. Timber Stand Inventory 14. Agroforestry Development Projects ( UDP)

ASC, NGO
ASC DENR

Benefits Derived from the Project

Biodiversity Conservation Provision for Biodiversity Conservation Model Environmental Protection Watershed Conservation Creation of Natural Resources Awareness Development of Eco- Tourism Site Provision for Additional Revenue for the Community and the Local Government

As Climate Mitigation Measure

Lesser incidence of drought. Longest dry season was

experienced in 1995 for 5 months Sea breeze coming from North Cagayan coastal towns condensed in Marag Valley Provision of clean water supply for irrigation and habitat for aquatic animals

Marag River

Eco-Park : At the Regional Botanical Garden

The Botanical Garden

Adiantum sp
Dragon scale fern Cyathea

Some Fern Species in the Regional Botanical Garden

Centepede fern Shoestring fern Staghorn fern

Launching

Launching

DIOS TI AGNGINA