Community assessment and utilization of Cabano River Watershed, San Lorenzo, Guimaras Island [Philippines]

This study is focused on the community assessment, level of protection, conservation and utilization of Cabano River Watershed. Specifically, it sought to identify the profile of the Cabano River Watershed residents, land use and the level of protection and conservation adopted by the local residents. The respondents were chosen from the communities living within the Cabano River Watershed area of Cabano, San Lorenzo, Guimaras, Philippines. In terms of respondents' profile, 55.0% were on age brackets 31-59; 61.0% were females, 26% were highschool graduate and most of them are married (46.0%) and earning 3,000-4,999 average monthly family income (36.0%), with 0-5 children (80.0%). The source of water for household use was chiefly taken from the deep well (61.0%) with farming as their main source of livelihood (40%), most of them utilizing their lands by rice farming and planting vegetables (31.0%) and are not titled (55.0%. As the level of protection, utilization and conservation practices, the respondents claimed that the following were not practiced. Report illegal logging activities to the authorization (55.0%). Performs Kaingin system (42.0%); Using fine nets (17.0%); using 'tangob' and 'ta-on' for fishing (16.0%); Using poisonous 'tubli' in fishing (27.0%); Adapts quarrying (27.0%); Using the river as the parking place for the pumpboat going to Negros (20.0%); Authorization from LGU to use the river as parking place (24.0%). However, when asked about the level of their practice in valuing the importance of watershed protection and conservation, 31.0% of the farmer, 11.0% of the fisherman, 5.0% of the charcoal maker and 1.0% of the furniture and lumber manufacturer (always practiced) responded. Majority of the community residents value watershed protection and conservation, however, responsible stakeholders need to: (a)identify the present area of conflict between different projects and policies implemented in the watershed conservation and utilization, (b)plan-out implemented strong collaboration policies and guidelines in the implementation of watershed protection and conservation from the national level down to the community level, and (c) projects should be designed and implemented with sufficient attention to the impact in the watershed utilization on land use type, occupational and income opportunities, protection and conservation practices by the community residents.