CESC_LAS_2.3.3.

A-B
Lesson Title: Functions of Communities
MELC: Analyze functions of communities in terms of structures, dynamics and processes.

For this week, we will analyze the functions of communities in terms of structures, dynamics and processes.
But first, let us look at the picture below and try to find out what message it wishes to convey.

Question #1: .Based from the picture shown above, I have observed
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Now that you already have some ideas on the functions of communities,let us examine a case study below. After reading
it, try to answer the questions that follow. You may ask any member of your family or household to read and analyze
this with you.

Case Study: Landcare and Livelihoods: The Promotion and Adoption of Conservation Farming Systems in the
Philippine Uplands

Abstract:

Slow adoption of conservation farming systems in the Philippine uplands has been a major problem and to address this,
the landcare approach was piloted and evaluated in Barangay Ned in the Philippines. The sustainable rural livelihoods
approach was used as a framework for evaluation. The study evaluated two potential impacts of the landcare approach:
(1) adoption of conservation practices and (2) formation and development of landcare groups. The program was
associated with rapid adoption of conservation farming practices, rapid formation of landcare groups, and enhanced
human capital through practical, farmer-led training and extension on soil conservation methods. The social capital
formed through the landcare association was crucial to these outcomes. A community landcare group is a group of
people concerned about land degradation problems, working together to do something positive for the long-term health
of the land and are supported to varying degrees by partnerships with government and non-government agencies.

Problem:

Agricultural land degradation in the densely populated, steep sloping upland regions of the Philippines was a major
environmental problem. Conservation farming systems based on contour hedgerows of shrub legumes were not
adopted by many farmers. Of interest was the potential of the landcare approach to enhance the development,
dissemination, and adoption of appropriate conservation farming measures.

Time period: 1999 - 2003

How was the project participatory?

● Groups of farmer innovators led the promotion of the conservation methods

● The group identified the problem at the local level and mobilized information, finances and community effort to
help solve the problem.
Who was involved?

● Farmers
● Landcare Association and Landcare Advisory Group
● Landcare facilitators
● NGOs e.g. ICRAF

What made them successful?

● Promotion of the conservation approach was led by local farmers who had already adopted contour hedgerows,
experimented with alternative annual and perennial crops, and learned the benefits of working in small groups.
● Facilitator had considerable locally-validated technical expertise, as well as credibility in the farming community.
● Promoting natural vegetative strips (NVS) as a simpler, lower-cost alternative to legume hedgerows.
● The formation of community landcare groups.
● The landcare approach had more potential as a more effective way for achieving adoption of sustainable farming
practices than using government regulation and enforcement or a top-down transfer of technology.

How was success measured?

● Rates of adoption of conservation practices (and the effect of these practices on natural resources).
● The relevance of the approach as a model for local and regional extension services.
● Potential for long-term rural poverty reduction and environmental conservation (sustainable rural livelihoods).

(https://globalrangelands.org/international-outreach/case-studies#landcare)

Question #2: .Based on what you have read, what function of the community was displayed? (3 points)
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Communities are complex entities that can be characterized by their structure (the types and numbers of species
present) and dynamics (how communities change over time). Understanding community structure and dynamics
enables community ecologists to manage ecosystems more effectively.

The essence of community is a generalizing process, which is to say a process by which the activities in pursuit of a wide
variety of interests of a local population are both enhanced and coordinated. Within a local society there are many
interests or goals which people share.

1. Community structure means the internal structure of an employment area, town, city, neighbourhood or another
urban area. It includes the population and housing, jobs and production, service and leisure time areas, along with
transport routes and technical networks, their location and relationships.

2. Community dynamics are the changes in community structure and composition over time. Sometimes these changes
are induced by environmental disturbances such as volcanoes, earthquakes, storms, fires, and climate change. ...
Following a disturbance, the community may or may not return to the equilibrium state.

3. The essence of community is a generalizing process, which is to say a process by which the activities in pursuit of a
wide variety of interests of a local population are both enhanced and coordinated. Within a local society there are many
interests or goals which people share.

Let us always bear in mind that knowing how a community functions is vital to promoting and preserving biodiversity.

Community and its Five Functions

A community is a group of people in the same geographic area, under common laws, that has a sense of fellowship,
belonging, and obligation to the group. Types of communities are a neighborhood, church, a mom's group, a town, girl
scouts etc.
 The community has five functions: production-distribution-consumption, socialization, social control, social
participation, and mutual support.

1. Production, Distribution, consumption: The community provides its members with the means to make a living. This
may be agriculture, industry, or services.

2. Socialization: The community has means by which it instills its norms and values in its members. This may be tradition,
modeling, and/or formal education.

3. Social Control: The community has the means to enforce adherence to community values. This may be group pressure
to to conform and/or formal laws.

4. Social Participation: The community fulfills the need for companionship. This may occur in a neighborhood, church,
business, or other group.

5. Mutual Support: The community enables its members to cooperate to accomplish tasks too large or too urgent to be
handled by a single person. Supporting a community hospital with tax dollars and donations is an example of people
cooperating to accomplish the task of health care.

Subject Code: LASTNAME_2.3.3.A

Question # 3: After knowing and analyzing the functions of communities in terms of structure, dynamics and processes,
how would this new knowledge help you in being a part of the solution to a problem being encountered in your local
community. Answer this question by coming up with your proposed community program title and its objectives.
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Question # 4: My new learning for this week is
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It can be associated to my last week’s learning because

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Subject Code: LASTNAME_2.3.3.B

Question # 5: In your own opinion, what is the most important function of communities? Explain in not more than five
sentences.
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Reflections:
● The learner communicates the explanation of their personal assessment as indicated in the Learner’s
Assessment Card.
● The learner, in their notebook, will write their personal insights about the lesson using the prompts below.

○ I understand that ___________________.

○ I realize that ________________________.
○ I need to learn more about __________.