Developing a multi-stakeholder modeling for participatory resource management

Campo 7 was one of the two protected and experimental forest stations in Minglanilla, Cebu technically owned and managed by the DENR [Department of Environmental and Natural Resources]. Our time, the community is central portion became a residential zone with roughly 200 households. Survey revealed that the residents were able to finish high school (29%). Majority (61%) were into various kinds of service works and regularly earned P3,000 - P6,000. However, with this ever-increasing population and improper forest practices such as Kaingin and tree cutting, the Protected Area (PA) was suffering from depletion of its forest resources, severe soil erosion, and river siltation. Participatory exercises such as a multi-sectoral planning and workshop and a multi-stakeholder workshop dedicated to assessing/planning and scenario-building/modeling were carried out during the one and a half year field engagement. Around 30-farmer leaders together with DENR personnel, LGUs [local government units], representatives from NEDA [National Economic and Development Authority] and universities participated. The stakeholders visualized a changed land use and land cover denoted by different indicators on their illustration papers. These were processed afterwards to clarify the proposed scenario with regard to existing resources and limitations. Four processes were then followed during the next 12 months. The participants were individually interviewed to clarify their perceptions and justify their plans in order to thoroughly understand the stakeholders' dynamics. Role Delineation exercise and Coherence Mapping of stakeholder, which became the basis for Campo 7 Program Framework specifying the vision, mission, and program makers or activities, were also done. Community mobilization and capacity building the most notable of which were participatory governance seminar, leadership training for women and out of school youth, preparatory activities for ecotourism, and KNOWNET (Knowledge Network Project), among others were also conducted. Lastly, scenario-building exercises and a MAS [multi-agent simulation] model development were held, which later became the basis for the MAS model development. As a culminating activity, the participants projected scenarios 10-15 years from the activity date. They also came up with the best and worst scenario corresponding to the situations where resources management and economic development concerns were effectively addressed. The group was in agreement about two alternative scenarios, sustainable development or a deteriorating quality of life and exhaustion of resources. Likewise, three modeling scenarios were tested to know how the different stakeholders shaped their quality of life and resource management environment. The first scenario was an ideal environment wherein there was minimal depletion of Campo 7 natural resources or none at all. The second one presented an active environment wherein the need to protect and maintain the present resources of the area was counter balanced with their various domestic needs and introduction of forest-based livelihood alternatives. Meanwhile, the last modeling situation presented the complete opposite of scenario 1.