GREENING THE SCHOOLS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES: STRATEGIES AND GOOD PRACTICES FROM THE ACADEME “ THE WEST VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE” CRISANTO S. LOPEZ, JR., Ph. D. West Visayas State University La Paz, Iloilo City

Role of educational institutions Education of our students about environment and what they can do to help deal with environmental problems Education of our students about environment and what they can do to help deal with environmental problems Should have environmental concern as a core value Should have environmental concern as a core value

Behavioral changes in individuals and society Necessary for creating sustainable solutions for our shared future Necessary for creating sustainable solutions for our shared future Educational institutions leading the way in bringing about changes. Educational institutions leading the way in bringing about changes.

Responsibility as educators Acquisition Acquisition Comprehension Comprehension “knowledge about the environment”

Acquisition of knowledge on the environment is never enough! Imparting values and attitudes Imparting values and attitudes Saving the environment involves changing values, attitudes, lifestyle and behavior. Saving the environment involves changing values, attitudes, lifestyle and behavior.

We do not stop in the classroom…… Reaching out to the outside community Reaching out to the outside community Application of what the students learned in the classroom Application of what the students learned in the classroom

BACKGROUND The College of Agriculture and Forestry of the West Visayas State University Location: 64 kilometers away from the city where the main campus is located. Location: 64 kilometers away from the city where the main campus is located. Sits at the center of 3,478 hectares of which 1,000 hectares are reserved as watershed area. Sits at the center of 3,478 hectares of which 1,000 hectares are reserved as watershed area.

Problems Encroachment of squatters Encroachment of squatters Lack of funds for monitoring their activities Lack of funds for monitoring their activities Growing number due to intermarriages and the coming in of the members of their extended families. Growing number due to intermarriages and the coming in of the members of their extended families.

Problems Destructive activities like slash and burn farming Destructive activities like slash and burn farming Illegal cutting of trees Illegal cutting of trees

Effects Water supply Water supply Floods Floods Wild-life population Wild-life population

Initiative of students Reforestation project conceptualized by the University Student Council Reforestation project conceptualized by the University Student Council

Objectives To rehabilitate open and denuded areas of the reservation To rehabilitate open and denuded areas of the reservation To provide alternative source of income to the squatters To provide alternative source of income to the squatters To serve as laboratory and research area of the college To serve as laboratory and research area of the college To serve as a model reforestation project To serve as a model reforestation project

Strategies Total student population during the first semester of Total student population during the first semester of ,876 - Collection of an annual tree- planting fee from each student - Total amount: P343,800

Strategies Tree-planting funds deposited as trust fund subject to auditing procedures Tree-planting funds deposited as trust fund subject to auditing procedures

Site identification Affected areas within the watershed reservation Affected areas within the watershed reservation Areas free from squatter encroachment activities Areas free from squatter encroachment activities

Activities Massive tree planting for all students at the identified area at the start of the school year. Massive tree planting for all students at the identified area at the start of the school year. Seedlings provided for by the College of Agriculture and Forestry Seedlings provided for by the College of Agriculture and Forestry Clearing, sticking, digging and hauling of seedlings by the CAF Student Council in coordination with the USC. Clearing, sticking, digging and hauling of seedlings by the CAF Student Council in coordination with the USC.

Tree planting fee of P50.00 Covered the acquisition of seedlings, clearing, sticking, digging and maintenance of the area Covered the acquisition of seedlings, clearing, sticking, digging and maintenance of the area

Maintenance and Protection Construction of watch – tower manned by security guards Construction of watch – tower manned by security guards Regular foot patrol to monitor status of the project Regular foot patrol to monitor status of the project Re-planting of seedlings when needed Re-planting of seedlings when needed

Monitoring and evaluation USC officers and faculty evaluators carried site visits twice a year, one per semester to evaluate the status of the project USC officers and faculty evaluators carried site visits twice a year, one per semester to evaluate the status of the project

Accomplishments At the end of 2004…… At the end of 2004…… 4 hectares within the watershed reservation area were planted to: Rubber …………. 20,000 seedlings Durian …………. 800 seedlings Mangosteen …… 120 seedlings Lanzones………. 400 seedlings Narra …………… 15,000 seedlings Total 36,000 seedlings Total 36,000 seedlings

Problems encountered Opposition from squatters Animals foraging on the area

Solutions Constant dialogue and consultation Constant dialogue and consultation Information dissemination on the importance of forest trees in the watershed reservation Information dissemination on the importance of forest trees in the watershed reservation Employment as laborers in the project Employment as laborers in the project Giving them a “sense of dignity” by treating them as partners for development. Giving them a “sense of dignity” by treating them as partners for development.

Solutions Relocation of the squatters outside the watershed reservation Relocation of the squatters outside the watershed reservation Supporting their tree-planting activities in their own backyard with free seedlings from the school. Supporting their tree-planting activities in their own backyard with free seedlings from the school.

The “MARIIT” Conservation Park Initial success of the student-led activity in dealing with the environmental and social problems of the community brought the establishment of the conservation park for breeding critically endangered species in Panay Island. Initial success of the student-led activity in dealing with the environmental and social problems of the community brought the establishment of the conservation park for breeding critically endangered species in Panay Island.

Collaborators WVSU WVSU DENR DENR Berlin Zoo, Germany Berlin Zoo, Germany Vogelpark Avifuna, the Netherlands Vogelpark Avifuna, the Netherlands North England Zoological Society North England Zoological Society South England Zoolological Society South England Zoolological Society Royal Melbourne Zoo, Australia Royal Melbourne Zoo, Australia Los Angeles Zoo/White Oaks Conservation Center, USA Los Angeles Zoo/White Oaks Conservation Center, USA

Collaborators Zoological Society of London Zoological Society of London San Diego Zoo, USA San Diego Zoo, USA Fauna and Flora International, UK Fauna and Flora International, UK

Objectives Breed in captivity critically endangered species of Panay Island Breed in captivity critically endangered species of Panay Island Serve as research facility in studying the biology of the species Serve as research facility in studying the biology of the species Serve as educational center for the community for the advocacy of conservation Serve as educational center for the community for the advocacy of conservation

Objectives Serve as multiplier center for critically-endangered species through captive breeding with the purpose of reintroduction of the species in their former range. Serve as multiplier center for critically-endangered species through captive breeding with the purpose of reintroduction of the species in their former range.

Present status Foreign students and exchange scientists working on wildlife conservation doing research and practicum Foreign students and exchange scientists working on wildlife conservation doing research and practicum Breeding program successful for Breeding program successful for Visayan writhed-billed hornbill (Acerus waldini) Spotted deer (Cervus alfredi) Warty pig (Suscepfirons)

The DBP-WVSU Forest P11,526, to cover 500 hectares of reforestation activities P11,526, to cover 500 hectares of reforestation activities One hundred hectares planted to 11,458 Durian seedling and 5,000 pomelo seedlings One hundred hectares planted to 11,458 Durian seedling and 5,000 pomelo seedlings

Scholarships One child per legitimate member of the organized group of squatters actively involved in the project of the college. One child per legitimate member of the organized group of squatters actively involved in the project of the college.

“GAWAD KALINGA” Initiatives Identified the college reservation area as seat for 300 mass housing project for the squatters who were already organized as partners for development. Identified the college reservation area as seat for 300 mass housing project for the squatters who were already organized as partners for development. Educational package, environmental awareness and responsibility to save the Mother Earth. Educational package, environmental awareness and responsibility to save the Mother Earth.

A small thing for the environment….. At WVSU, our students showed us the way At WVSU, our students showed us the way We followed and everything fell into their right places. We followed and everything fell into their right places. WE SALUTE THEM! WE SALUTE THEM!