THE HUNGDUAN, IFUGAO

RICE TERRACES:

AN AGRI-CULTURAL HERITAGE

CLARENCE L. BAGUILATRegional Executive Director

Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Cordillera Administrative Region

Baguio City, Philippines

International forum on Globally Important Agricultural

Heritage Systems (GIAHS)

Beijing, China - June 9, 2011

Location Map of the Philippines in

Southeast Asia

Hungduan, Ifugao Province,

Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines

. The Municipality of

Hungduan, is in the

Province of Ifugao,

located in the North

Luzon area under the

Cordillera

Administrative

Region, about 370

km. from Manila

Location : Hungduan

Municipality,

Ifugao Province,

Cordillera

Administrative

Region,

Philippines

Inscribed : UNESCO

Heritage site

Area : 22,789 hectares

Ave. Annual

Rainfall : 73.4 inches

Population : 9,601 NSO Data, CY 2010

GIAHS Pilot Project Site

The Rice Terraces Clusters of Hungduan

Hapao-Baang Rice Terraces

Preserved customs and traditions and

indigenous knowledge systems

Adaptive Management and Dynamic

Conservation Practices

Terracing stabilizes slopes and reduces surface

soil erosion.

Irrigation water comes from the forested sub-watersheds

and conveyed through canals to the terraces

Irrigation System

Water is maintained in the terraces all year

round.

Organic Rice Farming System

Indigenous

plants are

used as

pesticides

and removal

of pests and

insects are

manually

done.Bakuwog (Sandoricum vidalii)

Biological Diversity

280 plant species with 58 endemic and 4 threatened species

93 animal species with 10 endemic and 4 threatened species

Component of the Ifugao Agro-ecosystem

1. Muyong

(woodlot)

2. Habal

(Swidden Fields)

3. Payo

(Rice Terraces)

4. Boble

(Settlement Areas)

5. Wah-el, Wang-wang

(Water Bodies)

Ifugao Rice Terraces Mountain Landscape

Payo

Habal

MuyongBoble

Ifugao Rice Terraces Mountain Landscape

Boble Wah-el

Launching of GIAHS-IRT Pilot Project

FAO Supervision Mission in Hungduan

Project Components

1. Conduct of Free-Prior Informed Consent in

the Municipality of Hungduan

2. Community-based biodiversity assessment

3. Repair and rehabilitation of damaged rice terraces’

walls and slopes

4. Repair of irrigation Systems and Other Appropriate

Irrigation Facilities

5. Preparation of Project Brochure Profiles and Posters

Project Status, Achievement and Progress

1. Conduct of Free-Prior Informed Consent (FPIC)

Activities Accomplishments

Conduct ConsultationsConducted 2 cluster meetings in the 5 pilot

barangays.

Endorsement and Resolution

prepared

Certification from the LGU that the project

components are requested by the local

communities was submitted on NCIP-Ifugao.

FPIC processedSubmitted FPIC assessment to NCIP-

Regional Office for processing

Project Status, Achievement and Progress

2. Community-based biodiversity assessment

Project Activities Accomplishments

Conduct of community

consultations

Presented the biodiversity report during

the stakeholders meeting.

Preparation of Biodiversity

Conservation Plan

• Crafting of the Biodiversity

Conservation Plan.

• Discussed the drafting of criteria and

guidelines on the national recognition

of agricultural heritage systems

Project Status, Achievement and Progress

3. Repair and rehabilitation of damaged terraces walls and slopes

Project Activities Accomplishments

Preparation of Program of

work

5 program of Work were prepared , Sites were

identified and assessed

Social Preparation

• Beneficiaries were identified

• Counterparting scheme were discussed and

finalized

• Consultation with Ifugao Cultural Heritage

Office (ICHO) of LGU Ifugao for the

guidelines and procedures in the restoration

of damage terraces walls and repair of

irrigation canals in agricultural heritage sites

Damaged terraces walls

restored (sq. m.)

Project Status, Achievement and Progress

4. Repair of irrigation canals and other appropriate irrigation facilities

Project Activities Accomplishments

Social Mobilization

• Site assessments and validation of proposed

sites

• Identification and listings of farmer

beneficiaries

Irrigation systems restored• Clearing of canals to be repaired .

• Procurement of construction materials.

Project Status, Achievement and Progress

5. Preparation of project brochure profile and poster

Project Activities Accomplishments

Conduct of Photo documentation Video and photo documentations were

conducted

Printing of GIAHS Posters printed Poster Design was prepared

Preparation of GIAHS Brochures GIAHS Brochures were printed

Lessons Learned and Recommendations

• Documentation of Indigenous

Forest Management and

Biodiversity Conservation

Practices e.g. Muyong System

for national recognition

• Promotion of Socio- Cultural

diversity and Indigenous

Knowledge Systems and

Procedures (IKSP) and their

integration in formal and non-

formal education

Lessons Learned and Recommendations

• Participatory approaches with local

government officials and

communities in project planning and

project implementation is a must so

that project ownership and

responsibility is shared.

• The Free Prior Informed Consent

(FPIC) as required by the IPRA law

for projects to be implemented in

indigenous communities covered

with ancestral domain title should be

secured first before the start of the

project.

• Ecotourism development strategies/programs that

are supportive to the maintenance of the heritage

values.

• Develop strategies/projects for the support and

introduction of complementary and appropriate

livelihood oppurtunities for the living Ifugao

community.

Lessons Learned and Recommendations

• Coordination with Partner Agencies e.g. Ifugao

Cultural Heritage Office (ICHO) for the

implementation of local guidelines in the repair and

restoration of damaged terraces wall and irrigation

canals to maintain the cultural heritage integrity of

the terraces.

• Project implementers should have a good working

knowledge of the indigenous and cultural

characteristics of the communities they work with.

Lessons Learned and Recommendations

HAGGIYO!!!