Roles of indigenous women in forest conservation: A comparative analysis of two indigenous communities in the Philippines

Figures & data

Figure 1. Map of Capintalan (Source: Google map)

Figure 2. Location of Dumagat community (Source: Google map)

Table 1. Local observations on changing weather conditions in the ancestral domains

	Kalanguya		Dumagat		Average
Local Observations	Yes	No	Yes	No
1. Increase in temperature	10		10		100%
2. Greater intensity of rainfall	10		10		100%
3. Violent storms	10		10		100%
4. Unpredictable weather patterns	10		10		100%
5. The decline in the presence of animal species	10		10		100%
6. The growth of unknown variety of plants	10		10		100%

Table 2. Themes and insights for Focus Group Discussion 1 (Kalanguya)

Thematic Areas	Statements	Themes	Insights on Role of Women
1. Farming	“We plant root crops.” “We put big boulders of rocks around the slash and burn area.” “We plant root crops in the slope of the forest.” “We interchange variety of crops.”	Gen Gen	-Women are doing the Kaingin and observing the Gen Gen
2. Hunting	“We hunt animals only during hunting season.” “We prohibit hunting in sacred and near the watershed area.” “We prohibit people to enter the hunting sites during off hunting season.”	Bauk	-Women watched the Bauk alternatively with men
3. Fishing	“There is a time for fishing.” “Fishing takes place after the first rain fall in May.” “After the holding of a ritual, we allow fishing.” “We allow fish to grow and regenerate that is why we observed ritual before we catch fish.”	Kulpi (2days hunting after Latang (first rain fall)	-Women do the rituals -Women perform the dangha or (food preparation during rituals)
4. Flora and Fauna	“We put warning signs to prevent over use of plants and trees.” “We use all sorts of warning signs to inform hunter and gatherer of the prohibition ” “We also catch those violating the warning signs.” “The chieftain declares plants and animals no longer allowed to be the subject of hunting.”	Podong	-Women with men planted various trees and plants
5. Gathering	“We still use slash and burn to farm” “We plant root crops like onion and vegetables in the area.” “We gather fruits and cut branches of trees as well as trunk brought down by typhoon.”	In an	-Women planted roots crops while men hunt wild animals
Thematic Areas	Statements	Themes	Insights on role of women
6. Soil Erosion	“We gather boulders and big rocks and put them around the farming area to prevent the soil to erode and destroy our crops.” “We plat and observe intercropping and rotation farming.” “We build a strong wall to protect the plantations from landslide.”	Tuping	-Women take care of the Tuping while men construct it
7. Landslide	“We put big rocks around the Kaingin area to protect the crops.” “We plant root crops around the kaingin.” “We build walls around the kaingin.”	Tuping	-Women take care of the “tuping” while men construct it
8. Use of Signage	“Put warning signs.” “We use symbols to warn them.” “We put warning signs.”	Ba’hlak	-Men usually take care of the signage
9. Forest Protection	“We protect the entire forest within our ancestral domains.”	Bal Aw	-Women and men
10. Trees	“ We guard” “ Forest is the place for our dead relatives” “ We observed rituals” “ We offer to the deities and gods”	Piyaw (Burying in forest)	-Men and women
11. Water shed protection	“We declare watershed area.” “We prohibit tribesmen to go to the watershed area.” “We protect the watershed.” “We plant trees around watershed area.”	Podong	-Women overseer; men enforce the laws on water shed
12. Soil Protection	“We observed intercropping.’ “ Intercropping” “We choose variety not needing much water.”	Prepare foods	-Men and Women (Root Crops)
13. Food preservation	“We put salts to preserve foods” “We save much of the hunted meats for rainy days” “We use leaves to preserve foods.”	Use of salt for preservation	-Women

Table 3. Themes and insights for Focus Group Discussion 2 (Dumagat) scheduled for 7 November 2017

Thematic Areas	Statements	Themes	Insights on Role of Women
1. Farming	“Planting in the mountain slope.” “Slash and burn to plant” “Crop rotation planting.” “Crop rotation depending upon the month.”	Inter Cropping	Women take care of planting
2. Hunting	“Catch animals selectively.” “Animals are used for rituals only.” “There is a place for hunting.” “Can catch animals everywhere in the mountain.” “Cooperate with the other tribe in determining hunting place.”	Discriminate hunting	Men
3. Fishing/farming	No mention	No mention
Thematic Areas	Statements	Themes	Insights on Role of Women
4. Flora & Fauna	“We do not cut young trees.” “We cut trees on a limited basis only.” “We cut trees for community needs.” “The number of cut trees is enough”	Discriminate cutting of trees	Men of Dumagat
5. Gathering
6. Soil erosion	“We plant trees.” “We do not allow charcoal making in the area.” “We plant trees around the slash and burn area.” “We plant variety of trees”	Tree Planting	Men and Women of Dumagat
7. Landslide
8. Use of signage
9. Forest Protection
10. Trees
11. Watershed protection	“We plant trees in the watershed area.” “We plant variety of trees known to supply water.” “It is prohibited to throw garbage in the watershed area.” “It is prohibited to cut trees in the watershed area.” “We plant tibeg and bamboo.”	Planting of trees in the watershed area	Men of Dumagat
12. Multiple farming
13. Food Preservation

Table 4. Comparative analysis of forest land cover of the indigenous communities

	2003		2010		+ or -
	Condition (Ha)		Condition (Ha)		Status		Percentage of change or destruction in 7 years
Forest Type	Dumagat	Kalanguya	Dumagat	Kalanguya	Dumagat	Kalanguya	Dumagat	Kalanguya
Closed forest	4925	6891.9	3402	6599.2	−1523	−292.7	Decreased 30.92% from 2003	Decrease 4.25%
Open forest	11.4	5174.8	15,357	13,940.2	3976	8765.4	34.94% of increase	169.39% increase
Other land or Built up area	144	44.2	6625	136.7	481	92.6	Increasing population caused a 334.03% increase	209.66% increase
Other land and natural grassland	6400	7401.56	4664	24,312.4	−1736	16,910.8	−27.13% decrease in natural grassland	228.48% increase
Other wooded land	7887	19,469.9	3604	19,691.9	−4283	221.9	−54.30% decreased in number	1.14% increase

Table 5. Comparative summary of emerging themes for forest protection

Thematic areas	Emerged themes	Kalanguya women	Dumagat women
1. Farming	The building of Structure to Protect Kaingin Area (Gen Gen)	Observing Gengen	Both
2. Hunting	Protection of wild animals		X
3. Fishing	Dangha and Kulpi	Doing the ritual	X
4. Flora & Fauna	Pudong	Watching the Pudong	X
5. Gathering	Inum an		Both
6. Soil erosion	Tubing	Women overseer the Tuping	X
7. Landslide	Tuping		X
8. Use of warning Sign	Bah’lak	Men	X
9. Forest Preservation	Bal Aw	Men and Women	Both
10. Trees	Peeyaw (Burying in the Forest)	Yes/ritual	X
11. Watershed Area	Podong	Yes/overseer	X
12. Intercropping	Root Crops	Yes	Both
13. Food Preservation	Use of rock salt	Yes	X