Employment generating capability of smallholder upland development projects in selected CBFM [Community-Based Forest Management]
2014
Camacho, S.C. | Espiritu, N.O. | Dolom, P.C. | Villanueva, Ma.M.B. | Donoso, L.A. | Razal, R.A. | Peralta, E.O.
Smallholder upland development projects like Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) play vital roles in uplifting the socio-economic conditions of community members whose employment and income depend on various activities within the CBFM. Twenty people's organizations (POs) awarded with varying areas of forest land under the CBFM program in different regions of the Philippines were visited to document and analyze the programs' impacts in terms of employment and income generation. Through focus group discussion (FGD) and key informant interviews (KIIs) and CBFM implementers, beneficiaries, and other actors involved in various CBFM activities, the levels of employment generated and related issues and concerns about the program were identified and determined. A number of CBFM policy issuances designed to provide employment opportunities to upland communities and localized employment policies and practices within the POs were also reviewed and analyzed. The results showed that generally, the CBFM program was able to alleviate employment problems in the community especially during the period coinciding with the Comprehensive Site Development (CSD) phase when members were employed in the CBFM. However, benefits were inequitably distributed as non-PO members were seldom hired. Majority of the POs focused on short-term benefits like their income share from timber harvesting. The enthusiasm and interest of PO members waned with the termination of funding support and the suspension of harvesting and utilization permits. Hence, alternative forest-based employment and livelihood activities aside from timber utilization should be available in CBFM areas. Technical and institutional support to enhance the employment generating capacity of the CBFM program need to be strengthened.
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