The participation of women is limited to cinnamon gathering and some agro-forestry activities. Women also participated in the formulation of a community-based forest management plan.

The project conserved and protected the old growth forest by planting endemic tree species interspersed with high value crops like cinnamon. Community residents propagate and sell three (3) native varieties of cinnamon. In addition, residents are also engaged in agro-forestry. During the conceptualization stage, the PO partners wanted to go into an ex situ, plantation type of project, which does not qualify for SGP funding. However, as part of the overall strategy of awareness building and local capacity building, the community partners eventually implemented this project within the framework of watershed protection and biodiversity conservation. The project which involved local capacity building; collection and propagation of cinnamon seedlings and outplanting or enrichment planting in the watershed areas was implemented a sdesigned by the grantee and partners. All the activities were geared towards developing as well as conserving the biodiversity of the ancestral domain of the Subanens including awareness building on the importance of biodiversity over plantation or monocropping was inculcated among the local populace. The local communities now realize that cinnamon tree species, which is a primary source of livelihood of the Subanens, perform best when grown and maintained within the watershed areas. Furthermore, the Project was also able to facilitate resource mobilization with the local government units and other donor agencies for livelihood activities. Specifically, the municipal LGU provided the communities with seed capital for food production i.e., work animals and organic farm inputs. Meanwhile, while awaiting for the cinnamon trees to mature (harvesting usually starts in 5-7 years from seedling) the communities continue with their farming which is the main livelihood activity at the same time continue to sustain and protect the watershed or forest areas where the cinnamon have been planted.

The project promoted awareness on the global environment, particularly on the forest ecosystem. The project demonstrated the feasibility of protecting biodiversity at the same time providing the mechanism for developing livelihood sources. The impact of the project in the GEF focal area is the success in the protection and conservation of our protected areas that has promoted great awareness of the participants especially the Subanen tribe in the environmental effect of the project. It has supported and promoted the sustainable development aspect of the project in the conservation and utilization of our natural resources to provide sustainable results in the implementation of environmental protection activities. It also encouraged the involvement of the Subanen tribe down to the grassroots level especially the women who worked side by side with their men so as to make their project a successful one. The flora and fauna is also conserved and protected by means of utilizing "BANTAY LASANG" in implementing the tribal practices in hunting and fishing activities and as a result illegal fishing and wanton destruction of the flora that has been brought to its minimum level.

Trainings include effective farm management, pest control methods, effective information and planning system, resource protection/conservation, skill enhancement, SALT technology, project monitoring and evaluation, and simple bookkeeping/accounting procedures.