Assessing the effectiveness of the engagement of local people in restoring degraded forest landscapes in leyte and Biliran Provinces, the Philippines

Kanchana Wiset; Nestor Gregorio; Bob Fisher; Eduardo O Mangaoang; John Herbohn

doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2023.07.005

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Assessing the effectiveness of the engagement of local people in restoring degraded forest landscapes in leyte and Biliran Provinces, the Philippines

Journal article

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Assessing the effectiveness of the engagement of local people in restoring degraded forest landscapes in leyte and Biliran Provinces, the Philippines

Kanchana Wiset, Nestor Gregorio, Bob Fisher, Eduardo O Mangaoang and John Herbohn

Environmental Science & Policy, Vol.148, pp.1-11

2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2023.07.005

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Abstract

community engagement

forest landscape restoration

level of participation

local power

National Greening Program

Engaging local people is essential for the success of forest landscape restoration (FLR). However, community engagement in FLR remains a challenge and understanding of the dynamics of local engagement is limited. In this study, we explored the engagement of four People’s Organizations (POs) in implementing the National Greening Program (NGP) in Leyte and Biliran provinces in the Philippines. We developed the spectrum of engagement as a framework to assess the effectiveness of the engagement of the POs in NGP reforestation projects. We found that the involvement of local people in decision-making about the design and implementation of NGP projects is limited. The POs implementing NGP projects undertook reforestation activities according to contractual agreements, but without the necessary devolution of power to influence decisions, resulting in the POs being obligated to implement approaches that do not accommodate local conditions and community preferences. We discuss ways to improve the process of engagement towards participatory decision-making, long-term partnerships, and securing tenure rights of POs over land and planted products. This study highlights the need to understand how local contexts influence local engagement, and that this needs to be incorporated throughout NGP project design and implementation processes, in order to achieve effective engagement. The recommendations provided have relevance beyond the NGP to other FLR initiatives in the Philippines.

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Title: Assessing the effectiveness of the engagement of local people in restoring degraded forest landscapes in leyte and Biliran Provinces, the Philippines
Authors: Kanchana Wiset (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Tropical Forests and People Research Centre
Nestor Gregorio (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Tropical Forests and People Research Centre
Bob Fisher (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Tropical Forests and People Research Centre
Eduardo O Mangaoang (Author) - Visayas State University
John Herbohn (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Tropical Forests and People Research Centre
Publication details: Environmental Science & Policy, Vol.148, pp.1-11
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.
Date published: 2023
DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2023.07.005
ISSN: 1873-6416; 1462-9011
Organisation Unit: Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research; Tropical Forests and People Research Centre; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Forest Research Institute; School of Law and Society
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99741895902621
Output Type: Journal article

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