Mangyan - Tamaraw Driven Landscape Program

Activity Report - 2016

Contact

Emmanuel SCHUTZ,

Project Manager

D’ABOVILLE Foundation Mobile : +63 916 6725 834

Email: manuschutz.ph@gmail.com

www.dabovillefoundation.org

January 2017

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Background

The Tamaraw, a Philippine National Emblem and International Conservation Stake

Mindoro Island in the Philippines archipelago is considered as a “biodiversity hotspot” and high

center for endemism. Mindoro is above all the ancestral land of the Mangyan indigenous people.

Mangyans have progressively migrated toward the mountainous interior following the colonization of

the island by lowlander Filipino settlers coming from other Provinces during the XX century. Nowadays,

they reside in heavily degraded environment, struggling to preserve their cultural identity and get their

rights respected as a people.

The Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis), or Mindoro dwarf buffalo is the emblem of the Island and the

only wild cattle species living in the archipelago. Population has dropped from 10,000 animals in 1900

to no more than 430 animals today. It is listed as Critically Endangered (CR) on the Red List of the

IUCN. Mts Iglit-Baco National Park, located in the center of the Island is considered as its last viable

refuge where its range overlaps with the territories of the Tau-buid Mangyan ethno-linguistic group.

The Tamaraw Program - Conservation and Enhancement of the Natural and Cultural Heritage of

Mt Iglit-Baco National Park was initiated in 2012 in order to address the issues of this critically

endangered species, its habitat and the people living there. This socio-environmental program is

developed in partnership with international and national organizations and local stakeholders.

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News from the Structure

Setting our Advocacy through the Program Title and a Renovated Website

The D’ABOVILLE Foundation is now fully carrying the project. Lately, the Foundation adopted the title

“Mangyan – Tamaraw Driven Landscape Program” to anchor its vision and approach as a

community based program integrating local Mangyan indigenous communities as key stakeholders

toward biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, while preserving cultural identity and

enhancing local knowledge.

It also emphasizes the different fields of expertise that are requested to address the overall issues

and the various collaborations and partnerships to be built in order to achieve these objectives.

New Board Members

Also, the Foundation welcomed two new important board members with prestigious background in the

field of environment and social development: Sec. Nereus Acosta, former Presidential Adviser on

Environment during the term of President B. Aquino, Jr; and Illac Diaz, Founder and Global Director of

Liters of Light. They will bring a precious expertise and inspiration to the Foundation.

Enlarging our Scope of Action and Fields of Expertise

Dr. Christian Rosales, a cultural anthropologist who conducted a long term fieldwork among the

Mangyans of Mindoro which led to the fulfillment of his PhD in Anthropology at the University of the

Philippines in Diliman has joined the Foundation in December. As part of the mission, he will bring his

expertise to the program in the field of social sciences.

Visit of our Scientific and Project Partners in the Philippines

The Foundation welcomed Dr. James Burton, Chair of IUCN

SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group and Dr. Barney Long,

Director of Species Conservation, Global Wildlife Conservation,

during their week visit to the Philippines last October.

Assessing Tamaraw sub-population in MIBNP. From left to right: Dr. B. Long,

team leader ranger R. Abuwac, Project Manager E. Schütz, Dr. J. Burton

(photo E. Schütz)

The goal of their journey was to discuss issues and challenges on Tamaraw conservation and to

emphasize results and development of the “Mangyan - Tamaraw Driven Landscape Program”.

Several meetings with local stakeholders and partners were

conducted and complemented by a field visit on Mindoro to the

Gene Pool Farm and Mts Iglit-Baco National Park in order to

meet with the rangers and technical staffs. The main purpose

was to observe the elusive Tamaraw and assess the needs for

field monitoring and further scientific studies to be developped.

Meeting at the office of the Tamaraw Conservation Program (TCP-DENR) in

San Jose, Occidental Mindoro with TCP coordinator and Pasu Rodel Boyles

and field activity assistant D. Roca (photo E. Schütz)

This visit ended up with promising perspectives that shall strengthen and highlight conservation work of

the Foundation in Mindoro (Journey report on the blog of Barney Long: bit.ly/2g3mIEx ).

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News From the Field

In 2016, important activities with promising outcomes have been undertaken leading to further actions

and achievements.

Identification of an Isolated Tamaraw Group Outside the Protected Area

Completion of the Tamaraw / Habitat Assessment and Ecological Survey

Following report from local indigenous tribe

members in January 2016, meetings and

consultations have been undertaken with local

tribal leaders in order to organize a verification

survey, to locate and to confirm the presence of an

isolated group of Tamaraw on the upper Amnay

River, north of Mts Iglit-Baco National Park, at the

border between the two provinces of Mindoro.

Typical landscape of Inner Occidental Mindoro dominated by grassland. Potential presence of Tamaraw (photo E. Schütz)

Two initial surveys aborted half way due to the

sensitive context in this area such as the presence of

the rebels New People’s Army (NPA) and a

complicated coordination with the remote Mangyan

tribes. However the possible presence to up to 12

animals is suspected. The verification survey shall be

completed by March 2017. Findings and results will

help to define proper protection measures and

monitoring for this small group, in the future.

Verification survey up to river’s head water areas in the Inner Mindoro (photo E. Schütz)

Development of a Dedicated Protected Area Management System

Progressive Establishment of a Consistent Zoning System within Mts Iglit-Baco National Park

Together with the Park’s management and

members of the residing indigenous communities,

a 1700 ha free hunting zone has been agreed

and delineated on the ground within the “core

zone of the monitoring” inside Mts Iglit-Baco

National Park in April 2016. This shall become an

initial component of a more complex zoning

system for the Park and indigenous territories and

subsequently proclaimed as a “Strict Protection

Zone”.

Area of delineation of the free hunting zone within the core

zone of the monitoring (photo E. Schütz)

Indeed, this activity is transverse to objectives 2 and 3 of the program, regarding the proposed land-use

management approach and shall abet the Protected Area General Management Plan of the

TCP/DENR as well as the proposed Indigenous Community Conserved Area (ICCA).

Community Consultation toward an Adapted Traditional Hunting Management System

Besides, positive consultative meetings were conducted

with TCP, local Mangyan indigenous tribal leaders,

elders and community members in April and December

2016, in order to propose and discuss about the specific

hunting management model that would enable the

Tamaraw (and other species) to safely disperse beyond

its current range, within the core zone of the monitoring

(MIBNP sub-population).

Consultative meeting with the concerned Mangyan representatives at

the TCP office in April 2016 (photo E. Schütz)

Discussions ended up with very positive feedbacks and inputs

from the communities and with a general consent to address the

issue of traditional hunting as one of the limiting factor for

Tamaraw expansion. Main tribal leader also suggested

expanding the recently delineated free hunting zone, thus

accepting the future establishment of a larger “Strict Protection

Zone”, so far as livelihood of community members would be

taken into consideration by the different programs.

Consultative meeting with local Mangyan representatives at ranger’s station1,

MIBNP, in December 2016 (photo E. Schütz)

This activity was also the opportunity to initiate the

mission of our newly assigned program assistant and

expert, Dr. Christian Rosales, who will conduct a long

term social sciences approach among the different

residing communities in order to acquire a general

cultural, geographic and ethno-ecological

understanding of the communities and their

environment. This study should help to better adjust the

holistic logical approach of the “Mangyan-Tamaraw

Driven Landscape Program”.

Consultative meeting with Tau-buid tribal leader and representative

at the community of Tamisan in December 2016 (photo E. Schütz)

Addressing Illegal Activities in Occidental Mindoro

Improving Governance and Protection Measure in Protected Areas

The first module of the Law Enforcement Forum was conducted in October 2016 during the dedicated

“Tamaraw Month”. This important activity, co-organized with the Tamaraw Conservation Program of

the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, brought together all the main local

stakeholders concerned by illegal activities and unsustainable practices within the program area.

Current situation, facts and risks were clearly stated

and accepted by the audience. Effects, reasons and

root causes were discussed and presented during

the interactive day workshop. Second module will

focus on defining gaps in law enforcement and

discuss a proper strategy of action to be undertaken

through cooperation, by all concerned stakeholders.

Participative workshop Module 1 of the Law Enforcement

Forum conducted in San Jose, Occ Mindoro (photo H. Castro)

Capacity Reinforcement of the Field Team

Equipment rewarded by IDEAWILD in 2016 (GPS devices and binoculars) will be made available for the rangers assigned in areas of presence of Tamaraw in order to strengthen their monitoring field work. Specific training will be provided regarding the use of the GPS devices to the staff collaborating with the program.

Technical staff and rangers at TCP office with newly rewarded

equipment (photo E. Schütz)

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Communication and Awareness of Philippine Public

Presentation of the Latest Results of the Program at the 25th Symposium organized by the

Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines (BCSP)

Most recent findings and results of the

Program (current situation, issues and risks

regarding the Tamaraw and its survival) were

presented in plenary session during the

symposium in April 2016. The symposium was

held this year in Calapan city, Oriental

Mindoro.

Participation to the 25th BCSP symposium in Calapan,

Oriental Mindoro (photo G. Tabaranza)

Radio –TV interview on Philippine Broadcast Channel

Project coordinator, Mr. Emmanuel Schütz, was interviewed by the Philippines TV – Radio network TV5 during the popular evening live show of Cherie Mercado in March 2016.

Development of Ecotourism and Incomes Generating Activities

Getting Visitors for Eco-treks inside the Core Zone of the Monitoring

In support to the sustainable development of the Park, we developed cooperation with Philippine and

French tour operators working in the field of outdoor tourism to enhance the Park as an outstanding

ecotourism destination. Since 2015, three groups of international visitors had the chance to discover

the unique scenery of the inner Mindoro and to observe the Tamaraw in its natural habitat, guided by

experimented rangers.

More efforts must be done to support infrastructures and communication improvement as well as to

train locals to become hiking and wildlife guides.

French clients trekking in MIBNP, with wild encounters (photo E. Schütz)

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The D’ABOVILLE Foundation

The D’ABOVILLE Foundation is a Filipino based organization created in 2004. It works towards the

preservation of nature, sustainable development, and eco-cultural tourism on the Island of Mindoro in

the Philippines

The Mangyan – Tamaraw Driven Landscape aims at

supporting the DENR and local stakeholders as well as

building strong collaborations with local organizations in

order to address our common challenges.

Meeting at D’ABOVILLE Foundation office with our partners. From

left to right: G. Diamante (MBCFi), E. Schütz (Project Manager), J.

Burton (AWCSG), B. Long (GWC), H. d’Aboville (President), G.

Tabaranza (MBCFi)