GCP/PHI/062/GFF | FAO In The Philippines

Dynamic Conservation and Sustainable Use of Agrobiodiversity in Traditional Agroecosystems of the Philippines (GCP/PHI/062/GFF)

As part of its biological richness, the Philippines features an extraordinary diversity of globally significant agrobiodiversity (ABD). It forms part of one of the six areas identified worldwide by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) as priority genetic reserve locations for wild relatives of agricultural crops. Most notably, it is home to more than 5 500 traditional rice varieties and four of their wild relatives. In addition, the country boasts a broad spectrum of indigenous and endemic species of vegetable and fruit crops including indigenous varieties of eggplants and cucurbits, mung beans, winged bean and soybeans, taro and yam, as well as indigenous varieties of banana among many others. The indigenous fiber crop abaca is another prominent example of Philippine wealth of agrobiodiversity.

The country’s diversity of agricultural species and varieties has historically formed the basis for resilient agro-ecosystems providing crucial ecosystem services including the provision of food and nutrition, water and soil regulation, as well as performing a cultural role as agriculture heritage. Agrobiodiversity has been conserved, managed and sustained by local communities, primarily smallholders, family farmers and indigenous people, through traditional agricultural practices that conserve and enhance biodiversity at genetic, species and landscape level.

The project will conserve globally important agrobiodiversity (rice, mung bean, taro, yam, banana, Manila hemp and others) in traditional agroecosystems. It will have an agroecosystem and landscape perspective, maintaining the provision of ecosystem services on which agrobiodiversity conservation depends, and addressing threats originating in the broader landscape. It will help ensure favorable policy conditions; consolidate community-based governance; strengthen technical and organizational capacities at individual and community levels; promote market-based incentives for agrobiodiversity conservation; and create conditions for further nationwide replication.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 2 on Zero Hunger, highlights that ensuring food security requires a holistic approach and complementary actions related to eradicating all forms of malnutrition, addressing the productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, the resilience of food production systems and the sustainable use of biodiversity and genetic resources.

OBJECTIVE

The project aims to enhance, expand and sustain the dynamic conservation practices that sustain globally significant agro-biodiversity in traditional agro-ecosystems of the Philippines.

PARTNERS

FAO works closely with the Department of Agriculture (DA), DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (DA-BAR), which is the lead coordinating agency for the project, Provincial Governments of Ifugao and South Cotabato, Local Government Units (LGUs), and other pertinent government agencies to provide interventions.

KEY PROJECT ACTIVITIES

• Mainstream agrobiodiversity considerations into policy and legal frameworks, development strategies, and institutional structure
• Enhance and expand dynamic conservation practices for agrobiodiversity in three pilot communities
• Disseminate information to raise awareness and contribute to scaling up efforts on sustainable use and conservation of agrobiodiversity

EXPECTED OUTPUTS

• Strengthened policy and legal framework defining a national approach to agrobiodiversity and guiding the design and implementation of corresponding activities at national and local level;
• Enhanced institutional coordination and capacity to effectively address cross-sectoral issues of agrobiodiversity;
• Supported community-based management of agrobiodiversity;
• Enhanced and expanded knowledge among decision makers and resource managers on the application of dynamic agrobiodiversity conservation practices and their relation to cultural heritage;
• Improved opportunities for local communities to derive economic, livelihood and food security benefits from agrobiodiversity and ecosystem conservation practices;
• Increased awareness among policy-makers, practitioners and consumers about the full socio-economic value of agrobiodiversity; and
• Conditions created for further replication and scaling up of ABD promotion in other parts of core provinces and regions.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS TO DATE

• Completed Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) for all project sites
• Created and organised regular meetings with the Project Steering Committee, Technical Working Group, and Provincial Coordinating Committees
• Completed Training Needs Assessments of farmers
• Facilitated three Municipal and 12 Barangay Resolutions supporting ABD conservation and affirming their interest in the adoption of the project
• Agrobiodiversity mapping, inventory, collection, and documentation by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) on rice, the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) on Traditional abaca varieties, and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLBA)-based consultants on root crops, legumes, and vegetables
• Inclusion of the Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices at the learning guides/workbooks of Grades 5 and 8 in the province of Ifugao
• Agrobiodiversity products market linkages
• Product development for community-based enterprise including conduct of market study and value chain analysis of agrobiodiversity crops
• Support to the amendment of the Seed Industry Development Act
• Initiated policy review and stocktaking on ABD, including the conduct of multi-stakeholders’ meetings on the Nationally Important Heritage Systems (NIAHS)
• Conduct of rice biodiversity seed fairs
• Turnover of 17 community seedbanks
• Turnover of small farming equipment such as 12 micro tillers, 17 brush cutters and processing tools
• With PhilFIDA, established three macropropagation chambers in Lake Sebu and an abaca nursery
• Established 15 traditional rice variety demo farms with 86 farmer cooperators
• Capacity building activities for farmers, Indigenous Peoples, and key government agencies, with counterpart funding from local government units
• Participation in local, provincial, and international food exhibitions, trade fairs, and/or events
• Procurement and turnover of 10 carabaos (local water buffalos) for five barangays in Lake Sebu

ACCOUNTABILITY TO AFFECTED POPULATIONS (AAP)

FAO is committed to integrating AAP principles throughout its policies and projects. The five commitments address: leadership/governance; transparency and communication; feedback and complaints; participation and representation; design, monitoring and evaluation.