Cornell University/Leyte State University
Country:
Philippines
Award Date:
2003
Award Amount:
$125,000.00
Cost Share:
$92,000.00
Other Funds:
$38,000.00
Other Partners:
University of San Carlos; Central Visayas State College for Agriculture, Forestry and Technology; Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center; PROCESS Foundation-Bohol; International Institute for Rural Reconstruction; Maguugmad Foundation; World Neighbors; International Center for Research on Agroforestry; Bohol Alliance of NGOs; Soil and Water Conservation Foundation; selected local government units from Leyte, Bohol, and Cebu provinces; Region 8 Department of Environment and Natural Resources; several others
Partners are collaborating to support local government and community-led efforts to improve the management of critical watersheds in the Central Philippines. Sixteen working groups are working to strengthen local governance of watersheds, increase institutional capacity to support community-based natural resource management, increase rural residents’ and local governments’ understanding of the National Integrated Protected Area Law, and develop innovative curricula and learning approaches to train community development practitioners and natural resource management specialists. To bolster local watershed management, the partners will develop and implement an approach that effectively combines the universities’ capacities in education, research, and outreach with NGO capacities in community organizing, advocacy, participatory learning, and action. The partners convened two workshops at Leyte State University (LSU) attracting more than 50 participants from 16 diverse organizations. As a result of this collaboration, LSU is preparing to establish a new major in community development and a Ph.D. program in extension education.