Strengthening local management of agrobiodiversity in the rural landscape of Mt. Banahaw, Philippines

Agrobiodiversity is central security. It is the variety and variability of an organisms necessary for sustaining the key functions of the agroecosystem. Agrobiodiversity is seldom included in platforms for climate change adaptation particularly the important roles of local upland communities in managing and conserving agrobiodiversity. This research and development project is an attempt to provide support to local management of agrobiodiversity in Mt. Banahaw where upland farming communities, that provide vegetables to municipalities of Quezon, Laguna, Batangas and even Manila [Philippines] are located within a protected area. This project proposed a two-pronged approach. Enhance resilience of existing production system through diversified production to enhance resilience of the farming community through diversification of livelihood using other available agrobiodiversity resources. Science-based and participatory data collection techniques were used. Initial assessment of Mt. Banahaw showed that while there was an increase in forest cover from 1988 to 2004 there were about 147% increase in cultivated lands from 2004 to 2010. A further investigation of plant and tree species in an upland farming system revealed a relatively diverse system composed of agricultural trees including underutilized tree species with economic potentials dominating the over-storey layer, short-term cash crops in the mid-storey layer and plant species considered as weeds in the under-storey layer. Combination of these plant and tree species vary where at higher elevations, more agricultural and underutilized tree species are planted in combination with short-term vegetables. Threats to diversity of plant and tree species in the upland agroecosystem of Mt. Banahaw include climate-related factors like strong typhoons and abberations in rainfall that results to significant crop yield loss or damage. Major factor behind diversity of plant and trees though is market as food production has become more of livelihood than subsistence. Interventions were implemented in one of the poorest upland farming community. Support to local management of agrobiodiversity necessitates partnership with community in the implementation of development interventions and interventions must be in accordance to community goals and aspirations.