Building University Capacity to Support Community-Based Resource Management

Additional partners: University of San Carlos; Central Visayas State College for Agriculture, Forestry and Technology; Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center; PROCESS Foundation-Bohol; International Institute for Rural Reconstruction; Maguugmad Foundation; World Neighbors; International Center for Research on Agroforestry; Bohol Alliance of NGOs; Soil and Water Conservation Foundation; selected local government units from Leyte, Bohol, and Cebu provinces; Region 8 Department of Environment and Natural Resources; several others.

This partnership worked to support local government and community-led efforts to improve the management of critical watersheds in the Central Philippines. Through 16 working groups, the partners strengthened local governance of watersheds and increased the university's capacity to support community-based natural resource management. Together,the partners increased rural residents’ and local governments’ understanding of the Philippines' National Integrated Protected Area Law, and developed innovative curricula and learning approaches to train community development practitioners and natural resource management specialists.

The partners also convened two workshops at Visayas State University (formerly Leyte State University) attracting more than 50 participants from 16 diverse organizations, including many from the private sector. Overall, the partnership trained more than 1,250 Filipinos. As a result of this collaboration, Visayas State University is establishing a new major in Community Development and a Ph.D. program in Extension Education.