Co-managers or co-residents? Indigenous peoples’ participation in the management of protected areas: a case study of the Agta in the Philippines

Background

The Agta, an indigenous hunter-gatherer population in the Philippines, co-manage the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park (NSMNP), the largest protected area in the Philippines, located in Isabela province, Luzon. High biological and cultural diversity characterizes this region, which makes the involvement of indigenous communities like the Agta essential for conservation efforts. Despite legal frameworks in the Philippines that recognize indigenous rights and promote their participation in protected area management, such as the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992 and the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997, the Agta have historically faced discrimination and conflict over resource use with non-Agta populations. Unsustainable resource extraction, including illegal logging and fishing, threatens the NSMNP itself, which emphasizes a critical need for both effective management and the involvement of local communities.

Goals and Methods

The researchers aim to quantitatively evaluate the Agta people's knowledge and involvement in the co-management of the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park. To achieve this, they employ a combination of quantitative surveys with all adults in the visited camps and qualitative semi-structured interviews with selected individuals from these camps. The surveys assess the Agta's awareness of living in a protected area, park zoning, IPRA 1997, CADT, and relevant agencies. The interviews explore these issues in greater detail, focusing on the Agta's understanding of the NSMNP and its rules, the zoning system, CADT, PAMB, involved agencies, and their participation in park projects. The researchers use statistical analyses, including multilevel models and regressions, to explore patterns of knowledge and participation and the individual and social factors influencing them.

Conclusions and Takeaways

The study concludes that the Agta generally possess low levels of knowledge about the NSMNP and have limited effective participation in its management. Several factors hinder their involvement, including a lack of awareness of park rules and regulations, a limited understanding of their rights and the purpose of management bodies like PAMB, and insufficient information sharing. The researchers recommend restructuring PAMB to include regular meetings for all Agta in each municipality to facilitate a more inclusive decision-making process. They also emphasize that the DENR needs to regularly update Agta communities on park issues through camp visits, potentially building upon existing barangay meeting structures to foster trust. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of actively involving women in park-related decisions and PAMB membership, and the need for greater cultural sensitivity towards the Agta’s lifestyle among all stakeholders.