10
Feb 2016
Ram pump is a pump that requires no electricity or fuel. It uses only the kinetic energy of flowing water to push water to an upland tank. The collected water is then piped down into faucets constructed in the community. The ram pump is effective, easy to install, low maintenance, sustainable and can supply water for the agricultural needs of a community. The key social requirements for site selection for the ram pump include: a minimum of 50 household beneficiaries for domestic usage or a minimum of five hectares for purposes of......
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National Greening Program Success Stories
The worsening forest destruction in the country has brought disasters especially during typhoons. To help address the issue, President Benigno Aquino III signed Executive Order No. 23 declaring a moratorium on the harvesting of timber in forests nationwide and creating the Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force. With strengthened forest monitoring, further forest destruction has been prevented. Nineteen (19) logging concessions were closed down and more than 32,000 board feet of illegal timber were confiscated. More...
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Role of Communities in Local Conservation Areas
Established in 1986, Kapunungan sa Gagmay ng Mangingisda sa Concepcion (KGMC) is the municipal fisherfolk association of Barangay Concepcion, Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay. It is active in coastal protection and management. The association implements marine-based livelihood projects like fish culture in cages, shell culture, crabs and fish mangrove aqua silviculture and sustainable ways of fishing. Among KGMCs activities are mangrove restoration, protection, development and management; mangrove nursery establishment, development and innovation; mangrove seedlings handling and...
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Role of Local Communities in Forest Management: Indigenous Community Conserved Areas
In the past years, international policy events have paid great attention to that “historical interface” and to the role of indigenous peoples and local communities in conservation. Communities have managed natural resources with ingenuity and care because on those resources depend their very survival, their security, and many cultural and religious values important for them. Sustainable use has generally been more a matter of survival than choice. The Indigenous Community Conserved Areas (ICCAs) benefits...
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Protocols and Role of Native Species
Most reforestation efforts in the Philippines focus on the development of forestry and agro-forestry system using tree species which are introduced because they are selected for their fast growth and easy germination. The species composition of the original forest that once covered the land prior to logging are rarely taken into account. There must be a paradigm shift. Rain forestation is the use of native species. Its objectives are to: replace the more destructive...
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State of the Philippine Environment – Hon. Ramon J.P. Paje
Good morning! This is still the most important conference of the week because we are talking about our own future – Mother Earth. Conferences like this are important. This can be a venue for the DENR Secretary to account for what he has done or has not done. What government has implemented or has not implemented. Everybody would be able to participate. That is why I will propose to institutionalize this, and make this...
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Healthy Land
Educating the Filipinos about the care of our forests and the environment should start with the youth. Considering environmental stewardship as a track in Grades 11 and 12 is a good start to open their eyes in caring for our environment. People in government should also be educated and re-educated and the following items should be given immediate concern: Fast tracking ancestral claims, comprehensive land reform, ecological waste management, release of go and no...
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Mandamus on Manila Bay
In January 1999, concerned residents of Manila Bay filed a complaint with the RTC of Imus, Cavite against several government agencies for the cleanup, rehabilitation and protection of Manila Bay. In December 2008, the Supreme Court issued a Mandamus Ruling that ordered the defendant government agencies to clean up, rehabilitate, and preserve Manila Bay; to restore and maintain its waters; and to submit a progressive report in accordance with the court’s decision. To comply...
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Mangrove Rehabilitation
Mangroves provide ecosystem services that are valued from $14,166 to $16,142 per hectare per year. These services include raw materials and food, coastal protection, erosion control, maintenance of fisheries and carbon sequestration. The present mangroves to ponds ratio is 1:1 lower than the ideal 4:1 ratio because of the massive mangrove conversion in the country. There is a need for mangrove rehabilitation. However, though massive mangroves planting are being conducted, it is being done...
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The ECHO-store Concept
Every consumer needs to know the source of their food to make sure that the food they eat is safe and nutritious. Better yet is for us to produce our own food. Adherent to the principles of slow food movement, which is to promote the production and eating of good food – food that is tasty; clean food which is free from pesticides and other harmful chemicals; and fair food both for the producer...
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