PHILCAT initiative 1. Introduction 2. Challenges Contact person: Samuel M. Contreras (sammycontreras@yahoo.com) 1. Introduction The Philippine Conservation Approaches and Technologies (PHILCAT) was organized in September 23,1999 through a Special Order (SO) issued by the Secretary of Agriculture. It aims to document and promote SWC approaches and technologies to ensure broader adoption and contribute in preventing land degradation. Chaired by the Bureau Soils and Water Management, it was reconstituted in April 27, 2007 to enhance participation of more organizations. Recently, to further strengthen PHILCAT, a new SO was issued in January 20, 2011 with 18 members consist of national government agencies (NGAs) and non-government organizations (NGOs). Ifugao Rice Terraces Please add a picture showing SLM (landscape or a technology). 2. Challenges Establishment of climate-smart (well-informed, resilient and responsive) rural communities to adapt to climate change; Harmonized identification and mapping of land degradation hot spots with emphasis on impacts of climate change; Development of climate change adaptation (i.e. with opportunities for mitigation) that integrate both indigenous and science-based knowledge; Develop advocacies and gain support from local government units (LGUs) so that WOCAT will be streamlined in their local plans (e.g. preparation of Comprehensive Land Use Plans) Soil degradation in the uplands Please add a picture showing some challenges / degradation. 3. Achievements since Oct 2009 1 – SLM Knowledge documentation 2 – WOCAT tool development and training / networking 3 – Most important SLM practice in your country Training of trainers on FWS Please add a picture showing some activities (training / workshop) ▶ 5 Technologies Small Farm Reservoirs (SFRs) to mitigate the impacts of drought (LGU of Bingawan, Iloilo) Pigeon Pea cover cropping in corn areas (Ilagan, Isabela by BSWM) Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) by DENR-FMB Vermi-composting using farm wastes and residues by BSWM Fish hatchery and inland fish production in SWIP by the LGU of Nabunturan,Comval ▶ 3 Approaches Soil Conservation Guided Farm Project (Bataan and Bulacan by BSWM) Community-based Forest Management by DENR-FMB Improving vegetable production thru Vegetable-Agro-forestry System (Lantapan, Bukidnon by ICRAF) ▶ Oriented and briefed PHILCAT members about QTs, QAs and QMs; ▶ Introduced and disseminated e-copies of QAs and QTs to participants of the Launching of Updated UNCCD National Action Plan; Inclusion of WOCAT tools and methodologies as a component of a project proposal for Land Degradation Focal Area for GEF5 funding. Inclusion of land degradation indicators in the ENR chapter of the Philippine Development Plan ▶ Rainwater harvesting through Small Farm Reservoirs (SFRs) and Small Water Impounding Projects (SWIPs) for rainwater and runoff management Soil Conservation Farming and Sloping agricultural land technology (SALT) for soil erosion control in sloping lands Organic farming and Balance Fertilization strategy for improved soil structure and better soil water and nutrient uptake by crops ▶ Rainwater Harvesting thru SWIP Please add a picture showing your most important SLM practice ▶ ▶ ▶ QT , QA documentation,QM (mapping). 4. Outlook with respect to challenges With challenges of climate change, soil and water resources conservation and management will be at the forefront and therefore Sustainable Land Management (SLM) will provide the impetus for decision making in agriculture. Awareness-raising and capacity building should be prioritized; WOCAT could contribute by providing training materials for use during the training, if sending trainers is not possible; WOCAT could also help in securing funds for PHILCAT activities. PHILCAT intends to develop a compendium of SLM best practices so that the Philippines will have local materials written in local dialects that could be disseminated and understood by farmers.