Marilyn Transmil, chair of IP/Women PO LORAMSECA at the Agusan Marsh, Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor
IP Women of Marsh Enhance Economic Value of Globally Important Wetland’s Biodiversity
In celebration of the Philippine Women’s Month, the DENR-UNDP/GEF Biodiversity Corridor Project presents women pursuing steps to conserve biodiversity, and investing their time and effort in BD conservation to benefit their families and communities. WE, in BD Corridor, recognize and support women empowerment as our contribution to a more equitable and sustainable world.
MANILA, 17 March 2023 — The indigenous women of Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, a globally important wetland both in the lists of the Ramsar Convention and the ASEAN Heritage Parks, have further enhanced the economic value of this protected area with their sustainable conservation practices.
Amid serious threats to the wetland’s sustainability, the women’s wise use of their local forest resources has helped improve their livelihoods in this corner of the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor.
Marilyn Transmil, chairperson of IP/ Women/people’s organization (PO) Local Researchers of the Agusan Marsh Sectoral Association (LORAMSECA), shares how their PO has been processing endemic fruits from the forest for manufacturing into jams, cookies and vinegars. In particular, the group makes extensive use of the elephant apple (katmon) and hog plum (libas) fruits.
Katmon (or Dillenia philippinensis) is an endemic fruit used in making jams while the entire tree has been used for urban greening. The sour-tasting Libas (or Spondias pinnata) is another fruit used in jams, jellies or juices, and has also been used as feeds for pigs, hence its common name as a plum for hogs. Meanwhile, its leaves and fruits have been used as souring agents in native dishes like sinigang, sinanglay or laing.
Starting with selling made-to-order items within the marsh proper and nearby town center, their products’ market potential potential, particularly that of katmon sinigang powder sachets and cookies have benefitted more or less 100 households. Katmon/libas jam and libas vinegar have quite an online presence in social media pages and groups.
Greening and Jam-Making
“Through our jam-making venture, we have been able to diversify our income sources, and most importantly, we have been reminded of the importance of conservation,” Transmil added.
This initiative not only provides the community with a source of income, but also helps in preserving the forest by encouraging the growth of these trees.
The BD Corridor Project, implemented by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Philippines with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is working with the communities to promote biodiversity-friendly initiatives related to sustainable agriculture, sustainable forest management, BD-friendly enterprises and resources extraction, as well as applying an integrated network design and management of BD corridors to ensure continued stability and sustainability of their ecosystem services and socio-economic conservation values.
Elderly Advice
This venture was able to balance the needs of the people and the conservation of biodiversity and indigenous culture. “Selling trees and other materials from the forest can lead to conflicts with us. However, we have found ways to give value to our resources by reenacting our indigenous practices, thereby placing economic value on biodiversity conservation,” Transmil said.
She thanked their IP elders for the knowledge and guidance that they impart, borne from their own decades-long of experience of protecting these forests. “As we cannot unilaterally decide or command a halt to the project or activity, we rely on the guidance of our IP elders who make decisions for us,” she shared. “I was deeply moved by how our elders have sacrificed their lives to protect the forest, while others simply damage or fail to give it the importance it deserves,” Transmil said.
Quoting group member Sabiano Reyes, she said these resources are essential to the community, noting that the government has continued to provide assistance and work closely with us to understand our culture and traditions, in line with our needs and priorities.
Screenshot from Our Fragile Earth series on Agusan Marsh
Indigenous Practices
A resident of Loreto town in Agusan del Sur province, Transmil said she is a proud Manobo like her mother. She said that it was through the efforts of local researchers in their area that everything started. Through a comprehensive conflict-sensitive resource research program with the Manobo indigenous cultural communities together with various government agencies, they were able to publish their research.
The document, called “Sugilon sa mga Kahibalo gawi ng Binuhatan sa Manobo sa Kadanawan sa Agusan nga nalambigit sa Kinaiyahan,” detailed the indigenous knowledge and practices of the Manobo people, specifically their conservation practices in Agusan Marsh.
“The knowledge passed down by our elders on the importance of preserving nature is deeply ingrained in the lives of the Manobo ICCs/IPs,” she said. “My purpose is to ensure that this knowledge is passed down to future generations.”
This was the birth of the IP group LORAMSECA, an association that focuses on the participation of IP women as members, given their critical role in decision-making within families. “The sacrifices of our elders are the reason why we have ponds and forests that provide us with food and income,” Transmil emphasized.
Marshland katmon jam from Loreto town and Agusan Marsh
From Cutter to Picker
LORAMSECA’s work has brought ripples of change in their area. Armando Cerna, who used to cut down trees like katho, libas and lanipao to build houses, has now become a picker who harvests fruits from these trees. This is primarily through the encouragement of his wife Rodilla, a LORAMSECA member. member. Armando has now turned into a more sustainable way of using the katmon and libas trees.
IP women are key in the preservation of nature in Agusan Marsh, as they can speak to families including the youth, of its importance. Ponds and forests are sources of food, fish, and natural medicine for the Manobo ICCs/IPs, making them a vital part of their way of life and a source of income to provide their children with education. “We, along with our companions, solemnly recognize the importance of preserving our natural environment, regardless of gender,” Transmil promised. (EMBC/Jewel Pagapulaan/Carl Lucero)
The Integrated Approach in Management of Major Biodiversity Corridors in the Philippines or BD Corridor Project is a Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded Project with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as the GEF Executing Agency and Implementing Partner, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as the GEF Implementing Agency. Project sites are Mindoro Island and Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridors.
For more info: (02)8 924-4082 / bdcorridorproject@gmail.com
Mindoro Corridor PMU: mbc.denr@gmail.com
Eastern Mindanao Corridor PMU: embcdenr@gmail.com
Biodiversity Corridor Project 
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