Enhancing the Adaptive Capacity of the

Indigenous Peoples by Promoting Sustainable

and Community-Based Resin Tapping of

Almaciga in Selected CADT Areas

in Palawan and Sierra Madre, Philippines

Arsenio B. Ella and Florena B. Samiano Scientist III and Science Research Specialist I respectively

Forest Products Research and Development Institute

Department of Science and Technology (FPRDI-DOST)

College, Laguna; T:(+6349) 5362377; F: (+6349) 5363630

Arsie_Ella@yahoo.com; flor_samiano@yahoo.com

Project Duration: 1 year (February 2013 to January 2014)

Funding Agency: Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate

Study and Research in Agriculture – Seed Fund

for Research and Training (SEARCA-SFRT)

Cordillera Autonomous

Region

(CAR)

Abra, Kalinga-Apayao

Region 2 Cagayan Valley

Region 3 Zambales

Region 4 Mindoro, Quezon, Palawan, Romblon, (Sibuyan Island)

Region 5 Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur

Region 7 Negros Oriental

Region 8 Samar Provinces

Region 9 Zamboanga, Basilan

Region 10 Agusan, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental

Region 11 Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley

Davao Oriental

Compostela Valley

Negros Oriental Palawan

Western Samar

Aurora Province

Quezon

Cagayan Valley Abra

Zambales

Romblon

Camarines

Norte

Camarines Sur

Zamboanga

Basilan

Agusan

Bukidnon Misamis Oriental

Mindoro

SIERRA MADRE longest mountain range in the Philippines

The country’s last frontier boasting the most diverse flora and

fauna and increasing demand of the tourism industry

PALAWAN

• The forests of Sierra Madre and Palawan serve as the home to several

Indigenous Peoples (IPs)

• Known to be the source of high quality almaciga resins in the country

(particularly Palawan)

• Collection of resins is an important source of income for IPs

IPs of Sierra Madre: Dumagats,

Bugkalots, Remontados, Aetas,

IPs of Palawan: Tagbanwa, Batak,

Palawano, Cuyonon, Tawa’t Bato

ALMACIGA

• Agathis philippinensis Warb.

• ARAUCARIACEAE

• very large tree reaching 60 meters

in height and 300 centimeters in

diameters

• grows naturally on well-drained

slopes or at altitude of 200 to

2,000 meters

• wood is glossy, fine textured and

one of the most expensive woods

• listed as potentially threatened and

vulnerable species (Category B)

under the 1980 IUCN

ALMACIGA RESIN (Manila Copal)

* Philippine Forestry Statistics 2000-2011

Year Quantity (000 kilos) Value (000 $, FOB)

2011 123 226

2010 65 90

2009 128 171

2008 122 172

2007 261 306

2006 163 136

2005 191 154

2004 230 222

2003 199 175

2002 209 150

2001 204 161

2000 319 242

In starting fires

As incense in religious ceremonies

Used for torches

Caulking material for boats

paints

sizing material for

pulp & paper Patent leather

printing ink shoe polish

linoleum floor wax

varnishes

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

•Improvement on resin harvesting methods applied by the IP

beneficiaries in the project sites

•Almaciga trees in the site will also be protected leading to the

increase in species population

Specifically:

1.To educate the project beneficiaries on climate change, its impacts to

forest ecosystems and forest-based groups, as well as on climate

change adaptation strategies;

2.To conduct techno-transfer and training on the proper methods of

tapping almaciga resin for the indigenous peoples in some selected

CADT areas; and

3.To conduct initial tapping of some identified almaciga trees for

demonstration purposes and quality assessment of resins obtained in

the project sites.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

ALMACIGA TREES ARE DYING

forestland

conversion tapping

malpractices mining climate change

PROJECT STRATEGIES

1.Information, Education and Communication on Climate

Change

2.Technology-transfer activities on proper method of tapping

almacia resin

Activities

•Coordination meetings/SGDs

•Conduct of trainings (lectures, discussions)

•Actual demonstration of FPRDI’s proper resin

tapping techniques

•Documented IPs good traditional practices,

beliefs and policies on resin tapping and forest

conservation *

Coordination Meetings/Discussions

Trainings Conducted

•2 batches in Palawan

•2 batches in Sierra Madre

•144 training participants:

(53 women; 91 men)

33 – Brookespoint, Palawan

43 – Aborlan, Palawan

51 – Dinapigue, Isabela

27 – San Luis, Aurora

•Participants profile:

- resin tappers (IPs & non-IPs)

- LGUs

- DENR personnel

- resin traders

Lecture on Almaciga

•Ecology of almaciga

•Resins from almaciga

•Resin production process in a tree

•Tapping malpractices

•FPRDI’s proper trapping technology

Deep tapping Overtapping Frequent rechipping

FPRDI’s Tapping Technology

Demonstration of Proper Tapping Method

1 To the demonstration site 2 Bark cleaning 3 Measuring and marking

4 Tapping 5 Ethrel application

25% solution 6 Fresh resins flow

Lecture on Climate Change

•Climate change

•Climate system (climate vs weather)

•Review of hydrologic cycle, CO2/

Oxygen cycle

•Concepts of global warming

(greenhouse effect)

•Impacts of climate change

•Role of forests in addressing climate

change

Indigenous Peoples Good Traditional

Practices and Beliefs on Resin Tapping

• Tap the side of the bark

facing the sun believing it

has more resins

• Tap the side of the bark

where the first big branch

is

• Tap the side of the bark

where most of the leaves

can be found

• IPs provide rituals and

offerings to resin trees

believing it will give them

more resins in return

Indigenous Peoples Customary Laws

and Policies on Resin Tapping

• Each IP has to protect their claimed resin trees

• An IP that was caught tapping resin trees claimed by

other IPs will initially receive 1st & 2nd warning. On

the 3rd violation, all the claimed resin trees of the

violator will be recalled from his/her right. The IP

organization will then choose a deserving IP

member to claim the resin trees.

CONCLUSIONS

•Successfully educated and capacitated the IPs on the proper

method of tapping almaciga resins;

•IP beneficiaries now understood the scientific process of resin

production in a tree and realized the importance of applying the

FPRDI tapping technology;

•They were also educated on the basic science of climate change,

and recognized the important role of trees on addressing the

different impacts of climate change, thus, also understood their

vital roles in protecting and conserving the forests and the

resources they derive from it;

CONCLUSIONS

•Traditional forest-related knowledge, practices and beliefs on

resin tapping are functions of these IPs to survive. These may not

have scientific basis but in a way capable of protecting the

natural resource base of the environment;

•Not only the IPs, but as well as the local partners from the

government agencies also recognized the relevance of the

project.

RECOMMENDATIONS

•DENR to include the almaciga propagation and plantation

establishment in their National Greening Program (NGP) targets;

•DENR to implement policies and guidelines in regulating resin

harvesting and should make periodic survey and monitoring of

existing almaciga trees to determine if proper tapping method is being

practiced;

•Link up the IPs to direct markets of resins and train them on almaciga

resin product development like resin cleaning, varnish making, others;

•NCIP to assist the IPs in the preparation of their ADSDPP that will

integrate the sustainable management plans for harvesting almaciga

resins;

•FPRDI-DOST to continue conduct R&Ds and techno-transfer

activities that will enhance the utilization of timber and non-timber

forest products

THANK YOU!