The World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF) Philippines in collaboration with the Forest Management Bureau of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-FMB) conducted a national environmental services market fair. The event was held last April 12, 2012 in Traders Hotel, Manila. This market fair is one of the key component activities of the FAO-funded project entitled "Connecting the Ikalahans to Voluntary Carbon Market", implemented by ICRAF Philippines. The general objective of the event is to involve and link private sectors to projects that will help indigenous people and communities enhance their livelihood while conserving their environment and natural resources. Specifically, the event aimed to: a) give updates on current PES/RES activities and experiences in the country from NGOs, government organizations and private sectors; b) bring together communities (ES providers) and private &public sectors (potential ES buyers); c) provide a venue to showcase different ES projects in the country; and d) link the ES providers to potential ES buyers.

The ES market fair was participated by 46 individuals from the following organizations: Aboitiz Equity Venture; SN Aboitiz Power (SNAP); San Miguel Corporation; Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP); DENR-FMB; ICRAF; University of the Philippines (Diliman and Los Baños); Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research Development (PCAARRD); International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD); Federation of Vista Hills, Kalongkong and Kakilingan Upland Farmers, Inc. (FVHKKUFI); Fauna and Fauna, Inc. (FFI); PUSOD, Inc.; Municipality of Lantapan, Bukidnon; Kalahan Educational Foundation, Inc. (KEF); and UP Open University.

Gracing the ES Forum were no less than the ICRAF Philippines' Country Coordinator, Dr. Rodel D. Lasco, and Forest Management Bureau Director, For. Neria Andin. Dr. Lasco in his speech also presented the basic concepts related to payments for environmental service (PES).

A total of seven ES projects were presented during the plenary session. Please click on the links below to download.

1. A Community Forest; The Ikalahan Experience by Pastor Delbert Rice of KEF;
2. Community Carbon Pools Program; General Nakar Experience by Mr. Edmund Leo B. Rico of FFI Philippines ;
3. Exploring the Forestry Carbon Finance Potential for an Indigenous Cultural Community in the Philippines: The Case of Magbukun Aytas in Morong, Bataan by Dr. Margaret Calderon of the College of Forestry and Natural Resources, UP Los Baños;
4. Best Practices Implemented in the ITTO CBFM Project, Buenavista, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya by Ms. Judy Puno of FVHKKUFI;
5. Securing watershed services in Manupali through multi-functional landscape and reward-based system by Mayor Godofredo I. Balansag of the Municipality of Lantapan, Bukidnon;
6. Biodiversity Prospecting in Bataan by Dr. Lourdes J. Cruz of UPLB; and
7. Conserving Mt. Malarayat Watershed and Taal Volcano Protected Landscape by Ms. Ann Hazel P. Javier of Pusod, Inc.

After the plenary session and open forum, separate meetings between sellers and buyers were held to initially discuss the PES scheme. Two potential buyers approached the KEF for possible negotiations, the SN Aboitiz Power (SNAP) and Aboitiz Equity Venture. SNAP is interested to construct a mini-hydro electric power plant in Kalahan and give the community a grant to implement projects such as reforestation, forest protection, agroforestry farm establishment and livelihood programs. Meanwhile, Aboitiz Equity Venture is more interested in offsetting the carbon emission of their company. According to the representative of the company, they are looking for possible partners which can help them offset their carbon emissions. Furthermore, Aboitiz will give funds to KEF to implement reforestation project that can help the local community improve their livelihood. Such project will form part of their corporate social responsibility.

Representatives of KEF, Aboitiz Equity Venture and SN Aboitiz Power agreed to have another meeting in May. The potential ES buyers are planning to have a site visit in the area for two things: (1) assess the current condition of the area and (2) to meet the local stakeholders whom they will deal with in their future endeavors.

The national ES market fair served as a venue to discuss mechanisms which can simultaneously conserve environment and alleviate poverty. It helped the communities and project implementers link with the potential partners or buyers of ES; and at the same time, the private sectors were able to find potential projects to work on for corporate social responsibility and for environmental compliance. The event also raised the awareness of some institutions that were not aware of the PES/RES concepts. This event also served as the starting point to do more initiatives that can mitigate the problems of poverty while conserving the environment and natural resources. (05/02/2012)