THE MAASIN WATERSHED, A FOREST RESERVE IN ILOILO:
A Case Study A presentation to the Stakeholders’ Meeting,
National Greening Philippines (NGP)November 10, 2011, SEAMEO INNOTECH, Quezon City
By:Jessica Calfoforo SalasKahublagan sang Panimalay Foundation
MaasinMaasin Watershed, the head Watershed, the head water of water of TigumTigum RiverRiver
Tigum-Aganan Watershed:Area – 52,669 haPopulation – 419,973 persons, 391 villagesRainfall, Rainy Season – 1600 mmRainfall, Dry Season - 345 mmOverseeing Body - The TigumAganan Watershed Management Board
Maasin Forest Reserve before & after reforestation
1991 1997
Contents
∗ 1991 Feasibility Study for the Rehabilitation of the MaasinWatershed
∗ 1993 Community Organizing ∗ 1995 Plantation Establishment contracted by the federation of
people’s organizations with DENR Central∗ 1997 Output ∗ 2002 Outcome∗ Efforts to restore water and the integrity of the watershed∗ Lessons learnt; questions raised
The Maasin Watershed in Iloilo Province: A Case Study
1990
∗ Source of drinking and industrial water for Iloilo City (300,000 pop), irrigation water for 3000 has of rice field
1991 Situation from the Feasibility Study
rice field∗ The area of 6,150 hectares was denuded by 92%.∗ 9,000 people depended on the watershed for
livelihood∗ 30 years of unsuccessful tree planting∗ Projection: water will not be enough to supply the
increasing demand in the next 10 years.
Discussion at the RDC VI on Alternative Actions
Status Quo
Ejection of Occupants
Relocation of Occupants
Millitary Control
Agro-forestry with Social Development
� Strategy: Agro-forestry with Social Development.� This rehabilitation approach addresses› physical degradation, › socio-economic problems
Study Recommendations:
› socio-economic problems � No displacement/ ejection of present occupants, only
partial relocation in designated areas.� Certain zones considered “off limits”� Agreements with individual households. Violation of
agreement, ground for ejection� Project management to be established
1993community education & organizing started
1995A new project design was prepared
and implemented as required by the ADB/OECF/JBIC loan. the ADB/OECF/JBIC loan.
The RDC-approved strategy and recommendations of the
Feasibility study were not implemented.
∗ The Federation of people’s organization was registered with SEC and has 16 association-
1997Results as reported
registered with SEC and has 16 association-members from 16 barangays in 3 municipalities
∗ Total membership was 1,500∗ There were 8 women’s organization with 241
members∗ Federation was contracted by DENR-OECF to
develop 2,678 has. with a fee of P44 million
Before After
Old Growth 1,910 (28%) 1,910 (28%)Old developed area 654.8 (10%) 654.8 (10%)Open/ grassland 4,173.5 (62%)
Bio-physical status (in hectares)
Open/ grassland 4,173.5 (62%)Newly developed area 3,546.0 (53%)Non-plantable 289.4 (04%)To be planted 338.1 (05%)
---------------------------------------------Total * 6,738.3 (100%) 6,738.3 (100%)
*Note: This report uses 1995 Baseline. In the 1991 baseline study, old growth area was 7% of the total watershed area.
… and the people
Before∗ No right to occupy the land
inside the watershed∗ Regarded as illegal squatters
After∗ 25 years stewardship under
CBFM∗ Regarded as illegal squatters∗ rebelling, despondent, leading
hopeless, meaningless and alienated lives
∗ Children continue to inherit poverty
25 years stewardship under CBFMrenewable for another 25 years
∗ Regarded as partners∗ self confidence restored∗ vision and plans for the
future are dreamsowned
Before After
• Average household * Project employment increased income cash income-P3,000/year Federation Capital build up of cash income-P3,000/year Federation Capital build up of P2,463,581
• Perennial underemployment. * Livelihood projects established. without incurring credit
* Source of income limited to * Diversified sources of income farming and sawali making on-farm, off-farm
* Land/resource is free for all * Organized communities w/ set of rules and systems
vFood SecurityvContinuing education for the environment
Continuing fears and concernsof the assisting organization
vContinuing education for the environment and people’s livelihood
vForest protection and maintenancevMaintenance of the social infrastructure by
the local government unitvDelivery of social servicesvEstablishment of a watershed management
body not done. DENR/CENRO managing.
∗ No water flows down the Maasin Dam. There is a significant reduction in the stream flow of the Tigum River.
2002 “Tigum River runs dry!” says a local paper
There is a significant reduction in the stream flow of the Tigum River.
∗ Household wells near the river ran dry.∗ Water war over radio and TV stations,
agencies blamed each other.∗ Water rationing at the Metro Iloilo Water
District every summer since then.
2007 A rapid assessment at the Maasin Watershed
Joint rapid assessment by theIloilo Watershed Management Council TWG Iloilo Watershed Management Council TWG
andThe Iloilo Flood Control Project
A well vegetated landscape
Issues:
Observations
33-year old plantation
7-12 year old trees
Issues:
Poor biodiversity
Mono-cropping in large areas: bamboo, mahogany, gmelina
Accelerated spread of invasive species
Increased soil erosion
Drying of rivers & creeks during summer & drought
No harvesting of trees.
Dry Busay CreekDry Bunggol Waterfall
A dry fish pond
The remains of a 10-hectare Swamp
Tigbaw, Kagang, Tabun-ak, Badyang
Tigum River: silted and waterless during summer
2007POLICY DIALOGUE AT IWMC
Revisited Assumptions and their Scientific Bases
∗“Trees provide protection for our watersheds.∗
Reference #1:Fact Sheet on Tree and Forest
(Dept of Environment Conservation NY State)
watersheds.∗The forest floor, to which trees add
leaves and decaying wood, acts as a sponge and store water.∗“If the forest floor is a SPONGE, a tree is
a PUMP that transpires water into air make rain for the land.
∗ “Forest soil 36-inches deep can absorb and hold as much as 18 inches of rain, or nearly 1 million gal per hectare.
∗ “A medium-sized tree (40 to 50Ft tall) will drink 10,000 gallons of water from the soil in a growing season.
∗∗ “Baltimore City Watershed experimented with converting open areas to young pine forests. The result was a decline in water yield of 283,000 gallons per year.
�“Trees overplayed as solutions to world’s water problems.Misguided views on water management have
Reference #2: Media Release by Ellen Wilson, Jeff Haskins/ Coimbra Sirica
Business Communications
�Misguided views on water management have encouraged major investments in water resource projects that are ineffective or counterproductive, says Report.
�Calls on policymakers to design water projects based on scientific evidence of benefits.”
“Motherhood statements on forests and water which are against scientific
Reference # 3: Malin Falkinmark, “Water Management and Ecosystems: TEC Background Paper No. 9, Global Water Partnership
Technical Committee
water which are against scientific evidence:
Forests increase rainfall – Forests increase runoff – Forests regulate flows – Forests reduce erosion – Forests reduce floods.
Expert meeting led by Director Romeo T. Acosta (FMB-DENR, ) drafted joint statements which included:
� “Plantation forestry or forest regeneration on grassland or crop will greatly reduce annual water
Reference # 4 – Watershed Magazine, Jan-June, 2005 “Flip flop Hydrology” by
Albert Nauta
grassland or crop will greatly reduce annual water yields (approx 400-700 mm/yr) due to their high water use.
� “Forest clearing leads to increased annual water yield but seriously impairs infiltration opportunities. This is due to gradual soil degradation or extensive compacted areas.
∗ Terrestrial ecosystems consumed 2/3 of the rainfall over the continents, a total of
Reference 5: GWP TEC # 9
rainfall over the continents, a total of 71,000 km3/year and temperate and tropical forests/woodlands consume 40,000 km3 of this or 56%. Other areas consuming rain are croplands, grasslands, swamps and marshes, tundra and desert and other systems.
�The perception that forests are good for the water environment and for water resources
Reference # 6. Calder, The Blue Revolution: Land Use and Water Resources
Management.Earthscam, London, UK, 1999
water environment and for water resources has grown out of observation that linked land degradation with less forest and rehabilitation and conservation with more forest.
Reserved Forest in the Maasin Watershed
Implication to NGPReserved Forest of the Maasin Watershed
What will happen to the rivers depending on the remaining old growth forest for water during dry season if NGP will cover all the public land with a plantation or an industry plantation or a production forest ? Regardless of species, a plantation will need water to grow. Exotic species will not have a forest soil to store water with.
2008A natural disaster occurred. Typhoon Frank brought in 350 mm of rain fell in a day; while average for a month is only 191 mm.
The Maasin Watershed was not The Maasin Watershed was not able to help in mitigating the
impact of the flood.
Similar amount of rain fell in the area in 1943 and in 1993.
� Rainfall on the mountains of Panay Island. › June 20 - 350 mm › June 21 – 99 mm› June 22 – 28 mm
The Storm: on Panay Island
› June 22 – 28 mm› Mean monthly average in Iloilo is 196 mm
� 70,000 trees uprooted� 1,200,000 cubic meters eroded soil reached
the lowland� 300 dead� 1 million without homes� 7 Billion Pesos lost in infrastructures
Efforts to Restore Water and Watershed Integrity for the Tigum-Aganan communities
… after the reforestation project
1997 – A radio program for watershed education2000 – creation of IWMC and TAWMB
2002 Tigum River ran dry2002 First dialogue of TWG and DENR2005 Stakeholders’ Assembly2006 “Quo Vadis Iloilo” A presentation
at the Convention of Water at the Convention of Water Districts in Iloilo;
2007 Assistance from UNEP to implement remedial measures, rainwater harvesting
2007 Rapid assessment by TWG
Demo for forest enhancement
Demo for household storage
Rainwater Harvesting Demo Areas
Demo for Household Demo for
Demo for Forested Area
Demo for Lowland agriculture
Demo for artificial recharge
Demo for upland agriculture
storageHousehold Storage
Demo for Upland Storage
Demo for Lowland Storage
Demo for Built Up Area Storage
>Failed attempt to replace trees in a demo area inside Maasin Watershed with rainwater ponds to restore soil fertility and re-vegetate area.
>2007 Stakeholders’ Assembly on results of RWH in 5 other Demonstration Areas
∗ Presentations on the state of MaasinWatershed and RWH at: the Legislative Council of Iloilo Province, RDC committee, civic and business clubs, schools, TV and radio programs. (Iloilo City did not accept request to present) request to present)
∗Audience DENR Secretary during the PulongPulong and the Congressman in the area
∗ 2009 – Vulnerability Assessment conducted by CSIRO of Australia
∗ 20090Holding of Barangay Information Centers (BIC) Congress – output was a position paper for the restoration of Maasin Watershed with 500 signatories
Governor, mayors and membersTigum Aganan Watershed Management Board
∗ Letter request to NWRB for training and deputation of TAWMB for water monitoring and management
2010 ∗ Presentation on social mobilization at the Ateneo
150 years celebration/published front page in the Daily Inquirer and the You Tube. Issue has not Daily Inquirer and the You Tube. Issue has not caught attention and concern of government.
∗ Holding of a national conference on Rainwater Harvesting; partnering with DENR and DA and inviting international speakers. No resolution on issues.
∗A booming business for water truckers, getting water from new deep wells, from distant rivers and other
Some positive notes?
from distant rivers and other watersheds.
∗MIWD is contracting a bulk water supplier for water to be injected to its pipe for delivery to its customers.
20 years of work at the Maasin Forest Reserve by a multi-sector group
was not able to restore water for was not able to restore water for the Iloilo communities.
∗ The ecosystem continues to deteriorate as people struggle with democratic governance.
∗ At this point in time, the democratic process is
Lessons learnt, questions raised
∗ At this point in time, the democratic process is not able to achieve ecosystem protection because of weak capacities and competencies.
∗ Scientific input not updated, myths on forestry which dominated the environment sector, persisted
∗Biodiversity, soils, ecosystems, not integrated in the planning process.
∗ Social science, listening to people, ∗ Social science, listening to people, especially the voiceless, not factored in in centralized decision making
∗ It looks like, if we cannot make democracy work, we cannot protect our watershed and ourselves
∗How do we deal with power and authority?∗How can democratic governance restore a
broken watershed?∗How do we institutionalize knowledge
sharing between science & indigenous sharing between science & indigenous knowledge; between authorities and the local people?
∗No to Exotic Species in public land∗No to Plantation in public land∗Do Assisted Natural Regeneration in
Recommendations for NGP
∗Do Assisted Natural Regeneration in public land
∗Do Rainforestation∗Do a water balance/ water budget in
the watershed where production forests will be established.
I pray, do not allow
what happened to ushappen to you.
For feedback and more questions, email me [email protected]
