The project site is a portion of the the Palali-Mamparang-Caraballo Mountain Range. This mountain range has been identified falling under the category of very high (VH) priority terrestrial biodiversity ecosystems of the Northern Luzon Biogeographical Region (PBCPP, CIP, 2002). It is part of the Central Sierra Madre Biodiversity Conservation Area.The Palali-Mamparang-Caraballo Mountain Range (PMCMR) is very significant as a wildlife corridor and as carbon sink. The (PMCMR) harbors the critical headwaters of the country?s largest River Basin, Cagayan River Basin that sustains the biosphere and its people of the vast Cagayan Valley Region. Its proper management ensures providing and maintaining adequate environmental flow considered the lifeblood of all ecosystems in these northeastern parts of Luzon Region.

The three (3) barangays as initial project site are located in the Palali Mountain specifically in the municipality of Bayombong. These barangays are Barangays Bansing, Magapuy and Paitan in Bayombong. Specifically, project site is the area covered by Co-Management Agreement (CoMA) within the the municipality required by the DENR to formulate an Integrated Resource Management Plan (IRMP). Two major problems that need immediate remediation in these areas are destruction of wildlife habitat and decline of watershed integrity. Continuous anthropogenic pressures of various kinds have slowly destroyed the ecosystem. Unregulated migration, increased population and increased land use activities of people in the upland resulted to the conversion of forestland into agricultural use, kaingin, and pasture lands. Frequent occurrence of forest fires and rampant timber poaching has slowly dissipated the forest cover and equally destroyed the carbon sink which could help prevent and mitigate climate change. Thus habitat for biodiversity is threatened due to conversion of the forest area into other uses. The adverse impacts of the decline of watershed integrity have already been observed. Aberrant water regime is experience with flooding during the rainy months, while the Amoccocan, Layag, Bansing and Sta. Maria creek dry up during the summer season resulting to low agricultural production. Scarcity of drinking water for households and local communities has also been observed. The long-term scenario in the absence of appropriate intervention to manage the watershed shows a bleak future both on the economy and the environment as a whole. Further decline in forest cover may result to the continuous degradation of the watersheds and the disruption of the entire ecosystem functioning. This project proposal aims to showcase watershed and ecosystem management in Bayombong with the end view of replicating its success in adjacent watersheds within the Palali-Mamaparang-Caraballo Mountain Range, covering the municipalities of Diadi, Bagabag, Solano, Quezon, Bayombong, Bambang, Kasibu, Dupax del Sur, Dupax del Norte, Alfonso Castaneda, Aritao and Sta. Fe, which are equally important for the economy and the environment as a whole.

General Objective:
The general objective of this particular project is to restore degraded habitats in the Palali Mountain Range in Bayombong through the participation of various stakeholders for biodiversity conservation and improved water supply.

Specific Objective:
1. Strengthen the Peoples? organizations (POs) and local communities for effective watershed management;
2. Reforest at least 30 hectares of degraded watershed in Barangays Bansing, Magapuy and Paitan in Bayombong using endemic tree species such as tanguile, tuai, gugo, narra, guiho, panglombouen, mayapis, yakal, malaikmo, white lauan, molave, etc.;
3. Develop at least 15 land claims who were issued with Individual Property Rights Agreements by the LGU and DENR within the Co-Management Area for Soil and Water Conservation (SWC);
4. Established two permanent nurseries for future enterprise development as source of income to reduce pressure on the forests.

Expected Output vis a vis Indicators:
1. Empowered PO members - Increase number of PO members participating in project implementation.
Effective implementation of project activities.
2. 50,000 wildlings collected and reared in the nursery - 50,000 seedlings survived
3. 30 hectares of degraded forest planted with endemic tree species - 30 hectares of secondary forest replanted
4. 15 agroforestry model farms established - 15 model agroforestry farms

Planned Actions and Activities:
>Strengthening/Building capacities of the POs.
>Restoration, rehabilitation of target biodiversity areas
>Protection of habitats and damaged areas.
>Development of land claims within the watershed for Soil and Water Conservation.
>Provision of alternative livelihood.