INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVE ON EFFECTIVE PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT DATU

INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVE ON EFFECTIVE PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT DATU MIGKETAY VICTORINO L. SAWAY Talaandig Tribe Mt. Kitanglad, Bukidnon, Philippines

FOREST AS SOURCE OF LIFE l “The concept of forests as source of life cannot be isolated from the integrity of nature that corresponds to the integrity of the physical body and cultural personality of the local and indigenous peoples. As source of life, the forests need to be understood in connection with the total elements of nature that support life such as the earth, water, wildlife, air, sun, sounds and the spirits. “

l. QUESTION: l“As an indigenous leader, how would you evaluate and assess the success or failure of a protected area project? ”

INTEGRITY INDIGENOUS CULTURES AND NATURE l l l Indigenous Beliefs Language, knowledge systems and communications Customary leadership and governance Sustainable Economy Defense and Security l l l l Land Waters Plants, Trees & Wildlife Air Sun Sounds Spirits

PROCESS OF A CULTURE IMPACT ASSESSMENT (CIA) l Full Awareness of one’s own culture and identity l Cultural Inventory and Accounting l Cultural Accountability l Impact Assessment

AWARENESS OF ONE’S CULTURE AND IDENTITY: l l l Indicates the attainment of the stage of maturity It is a fundamental requirement for sustainable development Basis of self-determination Basis for collaborative engagement and partnership Basis of accepting responsibility and accountability Safeguard against colonial prescriptions

l“Awareness of one’s own culture requires the capability to account all elements that constitute the INTEGRITY of a culture and its environment. It is a step towards the accountability of one’s culture”

CULTURAL ACCOUNTABILITY l Cultural Accountability demands full knowledge of traditional institutions such as indigenous beliefs and practices, language and communications, knowledge systems and arts, customary leadership and governance, sustainable economy, health and medicine and defense or security including full knowledge of the functions of these institutions.

CULTURE IMPACT ASSESSMENT l Is the simple process of determining or knowing the difference of an interaction or engagement, whether positive or negative, to be able to determine the degree of the acceptability of a newly introduced system, process or relationship.

SIGNIFICANCE OF LOCAL AND INDIGENOUS CULTURES TO EFFECTIVE PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT Cost l Sustainability l Participation l

COST l “Local and Indigenous Cultures survived for generations NOT BECAUSE OF MONEY but because people live with it”

SUSTAINABILITY l “The life of indigenous cultures is deeply rooted in nature. A sustainable protected area management in areas inhabited by local and indigenous peoples can only happen when the practical application of protected area management is successfully interwoven into the integrity of indigenous culture and identity. ”

PARTICIPATION l The colonial legacy has probably come to an end. Local and indigenous peoples would no longer subscribe to a highly prescriptive form of development. They are now taking a stand have defined their directions on the basis of their culture and identity as peoples. In this manner, they become not only as active participants but key players in all forms of development including the effective management of protected areas.

CULTURAL INDICATORS OF AN EFFECTIVE PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT l Cultural Integrity l Self governance and empowerment l Self-determination

CULTURAL INTEGRITY l The local and indigenous cultures are recognized, respected, protected and promoted in the course of protected area management. l Local and indigenous cultures are treated as sacred, credible, precious, reliable, sustainable, systematic, just, equitable, dependable and scientific.

CONCLUSION l Sustainable and effective management of protected areas can only happen if it is taken into practice, not in a certain period of time, but through out the life time of generations. Among the local indigenous peoples, effective management of protected areas can happen only if the VALUE of the local cultures is recognized, respected and promoted.

l “The empowerment of local cultures, like NATURE, needs critical support to be able to recover itself from centuries of oppression, exploitation and neglect. The World Parks Congress, having given the attention to issues affecting local and indigenous peoples, is indeed a beginning. ”

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