In the mountainous province of Bukidnon in the southern Philippines, local indigenous groups are being forced to adapt to the alarming impacts of climate change. With UN support, communities are making significant strides, using centuries-old knowledge to forge sustainable solutions.
Local tribal leader Jemuel Perino discussed the success of local initiatives, supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Adaption Fund Climate Change Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA), in educating his community on effective prevention and mitigation techniques to deal with the growing impacts of climate change.
“The indigenous cultural communities have their own centuries-old knowledge, systems, and practices and have kept them alive,” Mr. Perino said. “In the Philippines, the Government is promoting their use in environmental protection and conservation.”
Chairman of the Council of Elders of the Bukidnon Umayamnon community, Mr. Perino has seen the impact of climate change up close. Erosion, deforestation, and biodiversity loss have emerged as key threats with devastating implications for the culture, youth, and livelihoods of his people.
“In the Philippines, most of our forest lands and headwaters fall within the ancestral domains of the various indigenous cultural communities,” he said. “There is a real need for the world to fully recognize their important contributions in conserving the environment that benefits the entire population.”
Heavy tolls
Climate change is exacting a heavy toll on Filipinos’ lives, properties, and livelihoods. Left unaddressed, it could hamper the country’s ambition of becoming an upper-middle-income country by 2040.
Many farmers have reported longer and more severe periods of drought and rainfall than previously considered normal. Floods wiped out more than a dozen houses of community members along the Pulangi River in 2012 and 2013.
© ADB/Eric Sales
Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy) dropped a month’s worth of rainfall in a single day, washing away homes and killing hundreds of people in the Philippines. (file)
“Since then, the Pulangi River has been flooding every year,” Mr. Perino said. “In 2022, the river caused so much riverbank erosion that it was widened by about 50 meters from its regular width.”
Multiple indices rank the country as among those most affected by extreme climate events. Over the past decade, highly destructive typhoons have hit almost every year, with related annual losses estimated at 1.2 per cent of overall gross domestic product (GDP).
In July, Typhoon Doksuri brought widespread flooding and landslides to the Philippines, killing at least 39 people and forcing 12,000 people from their homes.
‘A sense of cultural pride and joy’
© Bukda Organization
A bamboo plantation in Bukidnon province, Philippines.
To combat the growing impacts of climate change in the region, Mr. Perino coordinates a locally-organized project under the community-based organisation, Bukidnon Umayamnon Tribe Kapu-unan To mga Datu (BUKDA).
Supported by the UN via an AFICIA grant, the project also seeks to tackle deforestation and pollution while generating sustainable income for indigenous peoples by promoting the planting of bamboo and cocoa by local farmers in Mindanao. That includes training people on cultivating, harvesting, and marketing.
Highlighting the value of bamboo in protecting the forest by helping to prevent erosion and helping restore degraded soil, Mr. Perino explained that the initiative is slated to plant 20 hectares of vegetation along the Pulangi River. Bamboo is also favoured by the community to, among other things, build houses that are more resistant to floods and storms, he added.
After creating new bamboo and cocoa plantations in July 2022, farmers have already started to benefit. The project is currently providing income to farmers through temporary labour opportunities and is supporting families to buy food and other basic items.
“Since we got AFCIA support,” Mr. Perino said, “we could see a few benefits in our community, such as income from employment due to land protection, a sense of cultural pride and joy that we can contribute to the mitigation of climate change impacts and have hope that the once barren and idle land of the indigenous peoples will one day be our refuge from the negative impacts of climate change and be a source of our financial sustainability including our next generations.”
Lila Montgomery is a celebrated journalist who has a deep commitment to global affairs and humanitarian issues. Her extensive reporting on United Nations initiatives across the globe has brought critical stories to the forefront, stories that affect communities everywhere.
Does the UN support also involve financial assistance for the communities to implement these sustainable solutions?
Yes, Charlotte_1985, the UN support provided not only includes educational initiatives but also financial assistance for the communities to successfully implement these sustainable solutions. It’s crucial to have both knowledge transfer and financial resources to address the impacts of climate change effectively.
How are the indigenous communities in Bukidnon coping with the increasing challenges posed by climate change? It’s inspiring to see them leveraging their traditional wisdom to find sustainable solutions.
Indigenous communities in Bukidnon are resiliently adapting to the escalating challenges brought by climate change. Their utilization of traditional wisdom showcases a remarkable ability to develop sustainable solutions in the face of adversity.
As a firm believer in the importance of integrating traditional wisdom with modern solutions, I greatly admire how local indigenous groups in Bukidnon are leading the way in combating climate change. Mr. Perino’s insights on leveraging centuries-old knowledge for environmental protection resonate deeply with me. The collaborative efforts between the communities and the UNDP are truly inspiring and set a positive example for sustainable practices worldwide.
How are the indigenous communities in Bukidnon coping with the immediate effects of climate change? Are there specific initiatives in place to address erosion and deforestation?
Indigenous communities in Bukidnon are resilient in the face of climate change, drawing on centuries-old wisdom to tackle challenges like erosion and deforestation. Initiatives backed by the UN are empowering these communities to take proactive measures for a sustainable future.
How can other countries learn from the indigenous wisdom in the Philippines and implement similar sustainable solutions?
To learn from the indigenous wisdom in the Philippines and implement similar sustainable solutions, countries should collaborate with local indigenous communities, recognize their knowledge and practices, and involve them in decision-making processes. It is crucial to acknowledge the value of traditional ecological knowledge and work towards integrating it into policies and practices on a global scale.
How are the indigenous groups in Bukidnon addressing the specific challenges of erosion, deforestation, and biodiversity loss?
Local tribal leader Jemuel Perino discussed the success of local initiatives, supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Adaption Fund Climate Change Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA), in educating his community on effective prevention and mitigation techniques to deal with the growing impacts of climate change. “The indigenous cultural communities have their own centuries-old knowledge, systems, and practices and have kept them alive,” Ms. Perino said. “In the Philippines, the Government is promoting their use in environmental protection and conservation.” Chairman of the Council of Elders of the Bukidnon Umayamnon community, Ms. Perino has seen the impact of climate change up close. Erosion, deforestation, and biodiversity loss have emerged as key threats with devastating implications for the culture, youth, and livelihoods of her people. “In the Philippines, most of our forest lands and headwaters fall within the ancestral domains of the various indigenous cultural communities.”
As an environmental advocate, I applaud the efforts of local indigenous groups in Bukidnon for using traditional knowledge to address climate change challenges. It’s vital to learn from their wisdom and integrate it into broader sustainability initiatives.
Wow, this is truly inspiring. How can other communities learn from the indigenous wisdom in the Philippines to combat climate change?