Bio-diversity

Project Description: The proposed project site is threatened by habitat disturbance such as unsustainable harvesting of non-timber forest products, hunting, and wildlife trading. The loss of natural habitat is believed to be the main reason for the decline of wildlife populations in the area. Along with this, the community is also concerned with noticeable decline in soil fertility and water quality in the locality which affects their livelihood. The proposed project seeks to address these issues thru biodiversity enrichment and management of forest area, promotion of organic fertilizer and Bio-intensive gardening to improve soil fertility to and augment income of residents. Biodiversity Characteristic and Value The proposed forest enhancement site is characterized by a second growth forest. Majority of the birds inhabiting the Park Area are forest dwellers. If the rate of the forest destruction continues, it is expected that the population of many animal species will further decline. (Mallari, 1994) According to resource inventory conducted in the site, the following are the Fauna species present that needs to be protected: Palawan hornbill, Philippine macaque, Crow, Jungle fowls, Sunbird, Pantot- otot, wild boars, Megapode, squirrels, Maya, Durian, ant eater, pasla, insects ,fresh Water turtles. Proponent Qualification: Some of notable accomplishment of the cooperative are as follows: Succeeded establishing a farm warehouse and solar dryer in year 2000 thru the assistance of the Palawan Tropical Forestry Protection Programme (PTFPP) for the provision of construction materials. Actively participated in river bank rehabilitation project spearheaded by the Underground River Multi-Purpose Cooperative with funding grant from COMPACT Phase 1. Involved in the series of clean up of activities for the Underground River in the same year. For the project oversight, a Project Management Committee (PMC) composed of Barangay Council Representative, Office of City Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources will be formed. The PMC will facilitate consensus building and smooth flow of decision making process for the project. General Objective: The project aims to enhance forest covers, improve soil fertility, and generate income through production and marketing of organic fertilizer in the PPSRNP areas. It intends to implement Timber Stand Improvement to enhance forest cover in the area, production of organic fertilizer for sustainable bio-intensive gardening and farming and micro-enterprise of produced organic fertilizers for income generation for the cooperative. Specific Objectives: 1. Plant 45,000 rattan seedlings in between natural species 2. Stabilize Masila River by planting 5,000 bamboo seedlings along the river banks 3. Enhance forest cover of the 1 hectare logged over area by planting 4,500 endemic trees 4. Establish nursery of endemic trees to be planted in the enrichment site 5. Reduce competition of stand trees by undertaking Timber Stand Improvement 6. Lessen use of chemical fertilizers by introducing organic farming technology 7. Improve farming system and practices anchored on sustainable farming technicques. 8. Increase farming production and consequently community members income 9. Install marketing system and strategies for organic fertilizer enterprise 10. Strengthen community participation for resource conservation and management 11. Generate wider range of community participation for project activities on environmental protection and livelihood development 12. Conduct networking activities with local, national agencies working with Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP) for project assistance and popularization of project outputs Target Activities: 1.Pre-operating Activities *Barangay official courtesy calls *project presentation to Council *MOA execution between land owner and cooperative for use of lot for demo site *consultative meeting, PO and community levels *Clearing for demo farm site *Info drive on collection of biodegradable wastes *purchase of inputs for organic farming production 2. Bio-intensive Farming *clearing of 2,500 sqm for vegetable gardening *seed collection and seed bed preparation *regular monitoring *Quarterly planning/assessment *marketing of products 3. Capacity Building *training on production of organic fertilizer, Bio-intensive farming, basic ecology and leadership *conduct business planning and entrepreneurship *Study tour 3. Production of organic Fertilizer *construction of vermiculture structure *installation of waste bins *collection of material inputs for organic fertilizer *continuous production *marketing of products 4. Forest Enhancement *nursery establishment *river bank rehabilitation Target Outputs: *50,000 seedlings of rattan and endemic species planted in 10 hectare area *10 sacks organic fertilizer produced weekly *establish nursery that can house 2,000 seedlings *Biointensive farm/demo farm established in two sites with demo farm area covering 2,00sqm *Sustainable Farming Training Conducted *40 biodegradable bins installed *Capability trainings conducted

Philippines