The Northwest Panay Peninsula (NWPP) is the largest remaining intact low-elevation forest in the Western Visayas region. Worsening poverty incidence forces locals to engage in illegal logging for construction and charcoal making, kaingin farming and small-scale mining to meet their immediate needs. Inspite of being proclaimed as a PA, these practices are rampart in the PA due to lack of economic opportunities to upland communities. As a result, the Northwest Panay Peninsula?s (NWPP) natural resource base is continuously degrading.

The proponent, BioResource Conservation Trust for the Philippines, Inc. (BIOCON), shall provide protection and sustainable management of the Northwest Panay Peninsula Protected Area through community-based forest management and poverty reduction efforts thru: rehabilitation of habitat of important endemic, threatened, and endangered species; improving natural resource management practices in seven barangays by building community capabilities; create a broad-based support for biodiversity conservation through information, education, and communication; and enhance socio-economic condition of upland communities through environment friendly enterprise.

Biodiversity characteristics/ value:
Highly endangered wildlife in the NWPP includes the Visayan Warty Pig (Sus cebifrons), Visayan Spotted Deer (Cervus alferdi), Panay Bushy-tailed Cloud Rat (Crateromys heaneyi), Negros Bleeding-heart Pigeon (Galicolumba keayi), Negros Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus arcanus), Visayan Writhed Hornbill (Aceros waldeni), Visayan Tarictic Hornbill (Penelopides panini), Negros Flame-templed Babbler (Stachyris speciosa), White-throated Jungle Flycatcher (Rhinomyias albigularis), Visayan Flowerpecker (Dicaeum haematostictum), Panay Forest Frog (Platymantis panayensis) and the Panay Monitor Lizard (Varanus mabitang). These are all endemic to the Western Visayas region. On the other hand, highly threatened Philippine endemic species include the Philippine Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus philippensis); White-winged Cuckoo-Shrike (Coracina ostenta); Blue-naped Parrot (Tanygnathus lucionensis); Little Golden-mantled Flying Fox (Pteropus pumilus); Golden-crowned Flying Fox (Acerodon jubatus); Green-faced Parrotfinch (Erythrura viridifacies).

In terms of flora, the NWPP has at least 182 tree species in 77 genera and 40 families. The most dominant species are Red Lauan (Shorea negrosensis), Yayay (Evodia sessilifolia), Almon (Shorea almon), bugohansol (undermined), Syzyguim acuminatissima, Taga-wili (Agathis philippinensis), Busaga (Hopea foxworthyi), Amla-ata (Diospyros pilosanthera), Kalantas (Toona calantas) and Makadyos (Weinmannia luzoniensis). Shorea negrosensis, Syzyguim acuminatissima and bugohansol are the most widespread of the tree species found in the Sibaliw lowland forest. Dipterocarpaceae species are found in Sibaliw in relative abundance and relative frequency. Those species endemic to the Philippines include Salawag (Pinanga insignis var gasterocarpa), Busaga (Hopea foxworthyi), Myristica cumingii and Tabisang-tabaw (Syzygium samarensis).

Sustainability of Project Initiative:
The project will facilitate in the development of a sustainability plan in maintaining the viability of the community-based participation in the protection and management of the NWPP PA. Series of consultations will be done to define both the financial and physical requirements in the operationalization of the NWPP PA Management Plan as well as identify the needed strategies to sustain its operation.

At the level of the local government, the strong support of the five municipal and two provincial government units ensures sustainability beyond project life. These LGUs through the NPBMC have ensured annual budget allocation in support of the activities to protect and manage the NWPP in the past years. The integration of the NWPP PA Management Plan in the municipal development plans of the five municipalities further ensures financial support from the municipal government in the coming years. At the community level, building community capacity to be self-reliant, as well as the implementation of community-based environment-friendly enterprises are seen as instruments to sustain community-based resource management activities. In addition, support services to communities such as technical, administrative, materials and monitoring and evaluation mechanism will still be provided beyond the life of the project.

General Objective:
To protect and provide sustainable management of the Northwest Panay Peninsula Protected Area through community-based activities and poverty reduction efforts.

Specific Objectives:
1. To rehabilitate habitat of important endemic, threatened and endangered species of the NWPP
2. Improve natural resource management practices in seven barangays by building community capabilities;
3. Create a broad-based support for biodiversity conservation through information, education and communication
4. Enhance socio-economic condition of upland communities through environment friendly enterprise.

Projected Outcomes and Impacts:
At the end of the two year implementation of the project, the expected outcome is the improved protection and sustainable management of the NWPP Protected Area. The rate of resource degradation will be reduced if not totally eliminated by reducing the incidence of unsustainable practices such as timber and wildlife poaching as well as kaingin farming. This will result in the increase in the quality and integrity of the natural resource base by which upland communities depend on for their existence.

At the community level, the project is expected to result in improving the socio-economic condition of the upland communities through capacity building and implementation of environment-friendly enterprise and sustainable livelihoods. Ultimately, poverty reduction and the formation of socially relevant and self-reliant upland communities is expected to be achieved at the end of the project implementation.

Aside from improved protection and sustainable management and improved socio-economic conditions of communities, the project is also expected to generate a wider range of support for the NWPP. Through the increase awareness of a wider range of stakeholders, support for the sustainability of the protected area will be generated, in particular, support from the private sectors.

Expected Outputs:
1. Improved protection and management of the NWPP Protected Area. Through improved capacities of communities, a sound management plan and unified policy coupled with IEC activities that will generate more supporters for the NWPP, protection and management of the protected area will be improved.
>Seven community natural resource management plans formulated and incorporated in the barangay development plans by end of year 1
>NWPP PA Management Plan formulated and integrated in the municipal development plan of five municipal LGUs
>One unified policy approved by five municipalities
>20% reduction in incidence of illegal activities

2. Rehabilitation and restoration of forest habitat. Through community-based natural resource management using agroforestry and rainforestation technology denuded forest will be rehabilitated and habitat will be restored.
>Reduce denuded forest area by 50% by end of year 2
>20% increase in forest cover
>At least 500 hectares of forest land rehabilitated and reforested

3. Increase support for NWPP. Information, education and communication materials coupled with a clear communication and advocacy plan is expected to generate more supporters for NWPP specifically the private sectors which are potentials partners for management.
>Increase participation of schools, religious organizations and private sector in NWPP related activities
>At least one private sector partnership created by end of project.

4. Improved socio-economic conditions of upland communities. By providing environment-friendly enterprise and livelihoods, household income will be increased and poverty incidence will be reduced.
>At least five environment-friendly enterprise implemented
>Twenty percent increase in household income in the target barangays by end of year 2.
>10% reduction in poverty incidence in the five municipalities