My NGO : IMPEDE, Inc.

IMPEDE, Inc. is a non-profit organization that has been in operation for 22 years since 1988. This acronym stands for Interfaith Movement for Peace, Empowerment and Development, Incorporated; and it has been working for the improvement of people's lives in the communities and for the protection of the environment.

This organization started out as a group of priests, nuns, church lay workers and other private individuals bounded by the common interest to serve the people through education, trainings, livelihood assistance and moral support. Most of these people have either died, gotten sick or migrated abroad. Only two remain with IMPEDE working as its executive director and programs coordinator, respectively. Through the years, several people have filled the support staff desks. None had the longevity that the original two people had but, nonetheless, they were able to contribute to IMPEDE's achieving its goals at the given time.

To date, IMPEDE has implemented several programs that include livestock dispersal, craft-making, marine culture, reforestation, alternative farming techniques and others. These projects have somehow helped in the uplift of the beneficiaries' lives as they were able to acquire new skills and knowledge, and alternative source of income; thus, contributing to their self-empowerment and economic stability. These programs are basically designed to benefit the destitute members of the community, the sector that needs the most help and support. But, IMPEDE also works with other sectors and agencies in the effective implementation of its projects.

IMPEDE relies on fund and logistical support from legitimate fund granters; most of these are based abroad. It has received funding from the different United Nations grants programs; from PACAP; and from other agencies and foreign governments who saw the validity of IMPEDE's proposals. Currently, the organization is receiving fund support from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature through its Ecosystems Grants Program. IUCN is funding the establishment of 6 Marine Protected Areas in Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental, Philippines.

On the local front, IMPEDE had partnered with a local congressional office in the accomplishment of a forest rehabilitation project in Mati, Davao Oriental back in 2006. It has also been supported by the local government unit of Mati in 2008 in its organic fertilizer production project that was implemented, still is, in various communities within Mati. At this point, IMPEDE is also in tandem with the local government units of the municipalities of San Isidro, Tarragona and Governor Generoso.

IMPEDE is basically an environmental NGO that promotes biodiversity conservation and is running a campaign on solid waste management and against extractive industries such as logging and mining. These businesses are considered two of the main culprits of environmental degradation as these are depriving earth of its natural protective structures. Trees, millions of them, are cut everyday significantly reducing the earth's forest cover. Mining operations pump volumes of toxic substances into soil and water bodies. These irresponsible acts are what IMPEDE is trying to address to somehow ensure that we can still survive a lifetime with sufficient supply of life sources; as well as to ensure that the future generation can still benefit from earth's bounties.

After 22 years, IMPEDE is still a working machinery that believes it has not yet achieved its vision of " improved quality of lives of people in an environment that is cognizant of God-given life resources for the responsible management by all generations." That is why the organization continues, and will continue, to look for efficient means to implement its outlined mission.

My Romance with Mt. Hamiguitan

The Mt. Hamiguitan Range (MHR) lies a-straddling the municipalities of San Isidro, Gov. Generoso, and Mati in the province of Davao Oriental. It has total land coverage of 17,400 hectares that are characterized by different ecosystems. There is an agricultural ecosystem at 50-300 masl; dipterocarp, montane, mossy and mossy-pygmy forest at various altitudinal levels up to 1700 masl; and intermittent patches of brushland and grassland. Streaks of large and narrow rivers create zig-zag patterns on the surface of this mountain, and a natural sink called locally as Tinagong Dagat is found at 1200 masl. A mountain range by the sea noted for its "pygmy " or bonzai tree forest, MHR is home to five endangered plant species, 27 rare, 44 endemic and 59 ecologically important species, according to the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources.

Located within the Range is the Philippine Eagle sanctuary, and the MHR Wildlife Sanctuary (6,800 has.), which was declared, protected area on July 30, 2004. The Sanctuary is categorized as a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA). Five major watersheds and rivers that support the three municipalities are also found here. At the base to the east of this mountain range is Pujada Bay, also a protected landscape and seascape; and, to the west, is the Davao Gulf which is a major fishing ground for both resident and non-resident fishers. In this long coastal line from Governor Generoso to the east coast of the province is a migratory pathway of wild marine animals such as the dugong, dolphins, whale shark and green turtles. Rare sightings of leatherback turtles have also occurred in this coast. And recently one leatherback turtle was caught, butchered and eaten by four local residents, which resulted to their death because they did not know that the meat of this rare amphibian species is poisonous.

Surrounding the MHR at the base are 10 communities of pure and mixed ethnicity that thrive on farming, forest resources extraction, and fishing. These people are a blend of settlers from the Visayas and Luzon islands, and native tribes of Manobo, Mandaya and Higaonon. The indigenous people's population here is gradually thinning out due to migration and inter-marriage with settlers that resulted, in some cases, to descendants disowning their IP parent's native roots.
This mountain range is one of the local defenses against global warming because of its thick forest canopy that helps absorb greenhouse gasses emitted from local human activities. It is also a tourism/research site because of the presence of interesting and beautiful bio species that has directly generated income and prestige for the stakeholder municipalities.

Currently, MHR is being threatened by the entry of mining companies that have conducted mining activities at various stages within the range. The existence of the aforementioned MHR dependents will be disturbed, if not totally destroyed, when actual large-scale mining operations occur as these are designed for open-pit mining procedure that requires clearing of large forest areas. This will result in the, among others, reduction of water volume, and pollution of the water itself which will further jeopardize other economic activities such as fishing and farming. The identified mine sites are also near the Pacific Cordillera fault-line, which is at risk to intense seismic movement. This means that long-term containment of mine waste would be very risky.
The Mt. Hamiguitan Range is not only a livelihood source and support for the communities surrounding it. It is also a center of endemism where rare, endangered and endemic flora and faunal species are found such as the Dendrobium uniflorum, Philippine Pygmy fruit Bat and the White-Spotted Anglehead reptile. Lack of education on the importance of these species have contributed and will contribute more to haphazard hunting and capture by both local residents and visitors.

This author believes that one of the principal problems is the lack of appropriate knowledge and motivation on the part of majority of the MHR dependents on the proper preservation of Mt. Hamiguitan Range resources. There is also a lack of concern on destructive effects should the resources be abused and not rehabilitated. This is manifested in their practice of deregulated extraction of MHR forest resources such as rattan and almaciga (Agathis philippinensis), and the poaching of bonsai trees and other critical species.

In raising the communities' level of awareness and sensibilities relative to environmental protection, it is expected that they will also raise tangible methods of preserving their indigenous resources, which will effect in a more sustained sources of life support for all dependents. One major impact is the heightened vigilance of the community against poaching and other illegal activities, which will help reduce rapid and indiscriminate utilization of natural resources in the area. It will also contribute in preserving environmentally critical species that bind biodiversity relationships existing in the Range. Moreover, it is expected that this intervention will mobilize more citizens to oppose large-scale mining explorations and operations, which pose a major threat to MHR.

The Municipalities of San Isidro and Governor Generoso are promoting the Range as a tourist destination. They have scheduled climbs all year round and offer affordable trip packages. Tourists will be brought to the mountain's peak that offers 6,800 hectares of hundred-year old bonzai trees. And, by the way, all other life forms existing there seem to be dwarfed, too. See for yourself.

Mt. Hamiguitan is a really beautiful Range. It symbolizes stability and hope for its dependents. To ruin it is to ruin dreams and aspirations of the people who derive life from the mountain's resources. I really wish that it will be spared from destruction.


http://www.govgen.gov.ph/

Climate Change Mitigation Should Be Everyone's Concern

I am a mother of three very young children here in the Philippines. Being a third world country whose people are more busy with making an income to survive a given day than engaging in other social concerns, the Philippines as a nation has not been very keen on supporting the climate change problem. In my province, climate change forums come very far in between. Solid Waste Management is a peripheral program. The logging industry is very much alive while enrichment planting schemes are questionable. If this attitude goes on for a long time, then I am afraid that the environment that my children and their children will inherit from us will no longer be fit for human survival.

If the result of my informal interviews with my own neighbors is any indicator, then the primary problem is lack of education in the basic level. Out of the 12 that I talked to, only 3 (teachers) know about climate change. The rest either don't understand the issue or don't really care at all. But the teachers who knew what climate change is and what causes it do not even practice waste segregation. One of them even incenerate his garbage in the backyard thereby contributing to the volume of greenhouse gasses trapped in our atmosphere. I am worried because more people in the community level not caring about the climate change issue is equivalent to more garbage, more environmental violation, and a worst climate change scenario.


I would like very much for local governments to spend more not only on informing but on training basic communities how to adapt to and mitigate climate change. And this trainings should be done up-close and more hands-on, not through television and radio spots, internet and limited primers alone. A considerable number of people in countries outside of the First World are not very familiar with the English language which is commonly used in information materials. On top of this, they may have no access to electronic information highways like televisions. Or, if they do have one, the chance of them being able to catch the information is limited since most of the time they are out in school or at work in the farms, oceans or on the streets.

Top level international efforts in mitigating climate change will only work if basic people who are actual contributors to the problem will support those efforts. Then again, base level endeavors will only succeed if there is a sustained policy and fund support and motivation from the higher agencies and institutions. There should be parallel and intertwining efforts from both social segments.
I am very much worried about my children. I want to help in making their future environment still well and livable. And I hope and want for others in my level to do the same. I say, let us all take action now!

Give back for Mother Earth

Earth is just wonderful. She provides us with all the things that we need from birth to death, from sunrise to sunset. I believe she expects us to pay back for her to essentially regenerate. Like, if you want to cut a tree, plant a seedling first at least one year ahead of your cutting schedule. By then, the seedling is already stable and ready to take the task of absorbing carbon dioxide and reflecting back sunlight. No gap. Whereas, if you plant the seedling too late, what will do the task of the tree that you're supposed to cut? If you cut hundreds of trees at a time and no ready replacement, can you imagine the amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gasses trapped in the atmosphere? Earth will die.

Which, really, is important: Prolonging Earth's life by conserving her resources? Or, maximizing our own given life by abusing these resources?

This debate on resource utilization versus resource conservation has not been resolved. The pro-utilization says man needs to survive today that is why he needs to consume these resources now. The conservationist asks if man uses up all these resources now, what will be left for the future generations to survive on? The pro-utilization answers, "oh come on, there are just so many trees and so many other resources for man to live on for a long, long time."

The utilizers live for the here and now. The preservers care for the life ahead. I say, let us put a balance to these. Let us consume just enough to live and replenish what we have taken before we go and use up resources again. Earth's law dictates so. Otherwise, we end up in the trash bin with nothing else but our nail to munch on.


http://www.itemsfromjane.blogspot.com/
http://www.impedeinc.blogspot.com/