Agroecosystem analysis of Laguna Lake in the Philippines

Abstract

The development and management of Laguna Lake as a fishery resource at a sustainable level has been unsuccessful, and fish production has declined in quantity and quality. This problem stems from the conflicts which arise from the multiple use of the lake. The usual uni-disciplinary approach to solving the problem was inadequate, and the need for an interdisciplinary and holistic approach that would consider not only the lake but the drainage basin and their interactions became imperative. The agroecosystem analysis technique was applied in Laguna Lake through a multidisciplinary and multisectoral workshop in early 1991. The results of the analysis showed that the decline in fish productivity of the lake was a result of the interplay of biophysical, socioeconomic and political factors prevailing within and outside the lake basin. Discussion of these findings by those with a vested interest in the lake was a first step towards mitigating the social conflicts which had arisen. In turn, this facilitated identification of priority areas for research and development programmes aimed at maintaining a sustainable ecosystem centred on Laguna Lake.