Bio-diversity

The remaining forest of Mt. Pinatubo is now denuded due to extreme poverty of the community drives them to pursue activities such as illegal logging, charcoal making and kaingin shifting agriculture. The continuous destruction of the forest, led to decrease in numbers wildlife and native tree species in the stie area. Identified threatened and endangered species in the site area are musang, baboy damo, Dao trees, Kalumpit trees and Rattan grass. Community agro-forestry farms and planting Dao and Kalumpit will be established to expand and restore the habitat of the baboy lale. Household nurseries will be established to provide supply of Rattan, Dao and Kalumpit seedlings to serve as an alternative source of income for the community. Biodiversity characteristics/ value: Musangs and Baboy Lale are prime wildlife species and have been a part of the history and culture of the indigenous people community. The Aeta people living in the Pinatubo mountain, considers these wild creatures as indicators of a healthy biodiversity. At present, very few Musangs and Baboy Lale are sighted in the Pinatubo forest as a result of dwindling food source namely Dao, Kalumpit trees, and Rattan grasses. Proponent Qualification: Program Margarita (Health for All Foundation) is a non-stock, non-profit organization with the vision of improving quality of life of the Aeta people in the Mt. Pinatubo by advocating activities such as natural resource management, poverty alleviation, ancestral domain titling, health and education. It started working with the Aeta people in 2004. It has established partnership with Chalice International for childcare development program; USAID for its community-based health program, DOH for a community health volunteers training project; DepEd for children education project; Tarlac College of Agriculture for sustainable agriculture program, NCIP for ancestral domain titling and area development program; and Tarlac State University for training for parenting program. Partnership Arrangement: The proponent will undertake the project in partnership with the surrounding communities composed of Aeta indigenous peoples; the local government unit; the academe; and the tribal councils. The NCIP will help in the ancestral land development planning while the LGU of Sta. Juliana will help in crafting and implementation of ordinances relative to natural resources and wildlife conservation. The DENR will help in the training and establishment of household community nurseries and planting of desired species, and the Aeta Tribal councils as cooperators of the agro-forestry farms. General Objective: To protect and enhance the forest biodiveristy of Pinatubo mountain particularly the civet cat and wild boars by engaging the tribal councils and other stakeholders of Santa Juliana in the management and protection of forest resources Specific Objectives: 1. to protect and enhance the forest biodiveristy of Pinatubo mountain particularly the civet cat and wild boars by engaging the tribal councils and other stakeholders of Santa Juliana in the management and protection of forest resources 2. To rehabilitate and protect the forest and watershed areas of the six (6) villages in Santa Juliana, Capas, Tarlac 3. To provide alternative source of income for residents in surrounding villages Target Outputs: 1. 11 Campaign sessions conducted 2. 400 copies Advocacy materials in local dialect printed 3. 6 training sessions in rainfrestation 4. 6 trainings on nursery development 5. nursery establishment in 2 cluster villages 6. 100 has planted and restored 7. 40,000 native seedlings procured for 100 hectares rehabilitation 8. 40,000 fruit bearing trees procured for 100 hectares agro-forestry 9. 15 sessions conducted on sustainable farming and livelihood skills training 10. 180 families provided with farming assistance

Philippines